Event Recap: Fail Forward

Stefania on -Turning Setbacks into Success: The Art of Failing Forward

Stefania, also known as DevStefOps, provided powerful insights into the science of failure. In her talk, “Turning Setbacks into Success: The Art of Failing Forward,” Stefania not only shared her personal journey of burnout and recovery but also delved into neuroplasticity—the brain’s remarkable ability to reorganize itself through learning from experience. She explained how each setback forms a feedback loop of decision, action, and reaction, offering the chance to grow and adapt.

Stefania introduced the “FAIL” framework, a structured approach to handling failure:

Face the mistake – Confront it without fear or avoidance.

Analyse what happened – Break down the causes and effects of the failure.

Implement changes – Adjust processes and actions to improve.

Learn and share – Use the lessons learned to grow and help others.

She highlighted that every failure triggers neuroplasticity in the brain, reshaping it based on the feedback from the experience. This means each failure isn’t just a setback; it’s an opportunity to strengthen decision-making and build resilience.

Stefania also challenged attendees to think about a recent mistake or failure and reframe it as a win. She asked them to consider what they learned or gained from that experience. By shifting from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, she encouraged women in tech to view failures as essential steps in their journey to success.

The event left attendees with valuable tools for personal and professional growth, reminding everyone that failure is just the First Attempt In Learning. Through Stefania’s approach, women in architecture can embrace mistakes, learn from them, and continue moving forward with confidence.

Deconstructing Failure The Architect's Way: Insights from Alejandra

Our second speaker Alejandra, founder of Cloudha, shared her expertise on why deconstructing failure is critical for achieving long-term success. With extensive experience as a Senior Salesforce Technical Architect, she has worked with industry giants like Salesforce, Accenture, and CGI across diverse sectors, including financial services, telecommunications, and non-profits. As a thought leader in cloud architecture and generative AI, Alejandra is passionate about helping others turn failure into a stepping stone for growth.

In her talk, Alejandra emphasized that failure is not something to fear, but rather an opportunity to reflect, learn, and adjust. She explained how breaking down failure through structured self-reflection can lead to greater clarity and success in the future.

Alejandra laid out a four-step process to help individuals navigate failure:

1. The As-Is Diagram - Objectively describe the situation at hand. What exactly happened, and what were the outcomes? This step helps remove emotion from the equation, allowing you to assess the situation clearly and factually.

2. Self-Exploration - This is where emotions and personal reflections come into play. Alejandra emphasised the importance of embracing the feelings and fears associated with failure. Using tools like the Feeling Wheel, she guided the audience in understanding the emotional impact of their failures, as self-awareness is key to future growth.

3. The To-Be Diagram - In this step, envision the ideal future. How would you like the situation to look after addressing the failure? By mapping out the desired outcome, you can create a clear vision for what success will look like moving forward.

4.  Action Plan - Finally, Alejandra explained the importance of creating a concrete plan to move forward. This plan should include specific actions that will help you bridge the gap between the current situation and the future you want to achieve. By giving yourself a clear path forward, you can tackle challenges with confidence and a roadmap for improvement.

Alejandra also introduced the use of AI, specifically generative tools like ChatGPT, to assist in this self-reflection process. By using AI-driven prompts, individuals can gain new perspectives and unlock fresh ideas for moving beyond their setbacks. She offered a variety of resources including Cloudha, a platfrom founded by Alejandra, providing ChatGPT Mastery training and AI prompts to help attendees continue their journey of self-discovery long after the event.

Overcoming Setbacks to Success – Insights from the Panel 

The evening closed with powerhouse panel discussion titled Overcoming Setbacks to Success: Learning How to Build Resilience, Speak Up, and Stand Your Ground brought together seasoned professionals in architecture and tech. Hosted by Women TechMaker Ambassador Czarina Barnsby, the session began with each panellist sharing highlights from their career journeys.

The panellists, Terence Stamp, Dr Charlie Coleman, and Salma Pervez, shared personal stories of setbacks, discussing how each challenge became a learning experience that helped shape their resilience. Terence spoke about overcoming a significant failure early in his tech career, initially struggling but ultimately reframing it as a learning moment. As well as how changes in your personal life can be a true reflection point. Charlie shared how maintaining resilience and confidence in a male-dominated field meant standing her ground despite being told she didn’t fit the role. Meanwhile, Salma discussed how, as a CISO, major setbacks often required her to pivot her strategy while advocating for her approach and building resilience within her team.

In her closing remarks, Czarina emphasised that setbacks are not the end, but opportunities for growth and innovation “persistence without insight, will lead to the same outcome” the Book of Boba Fett, the quote speaks to the idea that simply pushing forward without reflecting or learning from failure will keep you stuck in the same cycle. In the context of failure, this means that perseverance alone isn’t enough—you need to gain insight from your mistakes, adjust your approach, and adapt. Failing to do so leads to repeating the same errors. The key is to learn from setbacks, evolve, and make informed decisions to truly move forward. The session provided valuable insights, inspiring attendees to embrace resilience, speak up, and turn challenges into stepping stones for success.

Embracing Setbacks: Reframing Failure as a Path to Success

Through Stefania and Alejandra’s talks and the powerful panel discussion, attendees left with actionable strategies to embrace failure and build resilience. The event was a reminder that setbacks are not to be feared but embraced. ArchitectHer continues to foster a community where failure is reframed as a step toward success, inspiring women in architecture to fail forward and thrive in their careers. Together, we can change the narrative and create a supportive space for growth.

💐A big massive thank you to Jason Bellissimo, Director of The Cedarvale Group and sponsor of the Fail Forward event, for his generosity.💐