women in business The impact of success


“Winning the WiB award was a wonderful external tick for what myself and my team were doing” - Linda Christmas


All four of the past winners agreed that the WiB award had had a fantastic impact for both themselves and their businesses.


Turness enthused on the speaking opportunities that the award had opened up, such as a recent invitation by a local Winchester school to talk to the sixth form girls and inspire them about women in business.


McQueen recalled how she had been ‘deeply embarrassed at first’, but was subsequently delighted by the ripple effect that the award had created in Capita when it was promoted internally.


Hothi observed that ‘participation in these events creates awareness’ and that the young male workers in her company had all been inspired after attending the WiB Awards.


STEM Panel Discussion


STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) continues to be a focal point for WiB in 2017.


Vikki Hemming of Barclays (event sponsor) introduced the STEM panel discussion, highlighting the wide disparity in males versus females who would currently consider a career in technology-based industries.


The panel:


• Sheridan Ash – technology and investments director, PWC


• Jacqueline de Rojas – president, techUK


• Leona Shepherd – general manager, corporate sales, marketing and business services, 3M UK


In a wide-ranging discussion, the panel discussed the importance of role models, the need to use open, non- jargonistic language when recruiting for technology positions, and the importance of creating ‘bridges of communication’ to inspire the next generation.


Ash talked passionately about technology as a career choice, a sector currently under- represented by women both in terms of intake and leaders; for example, in a recent survey of 2,500 university students, almost 80% were unable to name a female role model in the technology sector.


Tamsin Napier-Munn, Sheridan Ash, Jacqueline de Rojas and Leona Shepherd


Ash suggested that there had never been a better time for women to enter technology, emphasising the soft skills that are now so vital for relationship-building and understanding customer journeys.


De Rojas emphasised that good things were starting to happen for females in technology, citing the example of ‘Mums in Tech’, a seven- week coding course for mothers out of the workforce, complete with a free sponsored crèche next door and the joy of seeing mothers present with their babies during the graduation ceremony.


She highlighted the need to make technology more accessible by cutting out the jargon and three- letter acronyms: “We need to land it in a way so that everybody can get it.” This accessability should also extend


to the language used when recruiting, so for example, rather than advertising for a ‘programme engineer’, a ‘problem solver’ might be a more appropriate job title?


Shepherd re-emphasised de Rojas’ point about not being “derailed by jargon” and Ash’s comments about the importance of attracting females into the profession from a young age. She noted that this was where female tech graduates are so important, since they can “connect to the next generation down” far more naturally than middle-aged executives.


There remains a misconception that young people are either bound to their degree or to their first job. Nowadays, soft skills are so important and the tech industry is changing so quickly that, as Shepherd stated: “I’m doing a job which didn’t even exist three or four years ago.”


From Malta to London


Elizabetta Camilleri, founder and CEO of Shopological, the award-winning fashion platform that brings consumers closer to the brands they love, gave an entertaining presentation to the audience, sharing her enthusiasm for discovering innovations.


Camilleri recounted her working life journey, from starting out with a Maltese export business, through to consulting with PwC, and onto all the travails of setting up an online business in London.


Her unfailing optimism and willingness to push herself forward struck a huge chord with the audience; her mantra for success would seem to encapsulate the message of WiB:


"If you have the courage to jump, a net will appear ... and I seemed to have the godmother of all nets."


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – MAY 2017


businessmag.co.uk


27


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44