Woman of the Year (Large Business)


This category is for women in organisations with over £10 million turnover – entry nominations were received for board directors and senior managers in the private, public and third sectors


Judging was led by Deloitte and director Cath Ingham revealed that each of the finalists had stressed the importance of diversity, the need to be yourself as a leader, and the value of developing peer networks and encouraging others. She presented the award to:


WINNER: Claire Vyvyan of Dell.


Claire Vyvyan proves without a doubt that women can change an industry. Recently, she was ranked 10th in Computer Weekly’s 25 Most Influential Women in IT.


She is director and general manager of Dell Public Sector but is currently transitioning into her new role as vice president Enterprise Solutions Group, where she will be responsible for over 1,000 employees. In this role, she will be only the second female to achieve such seniority within her organisation.


As a role model within her organisation and also her profession, she believes that she has a “huge responsibility to develop women and to foster diversity“.


A frequent commentator on the issues women face in the technology sector, Vyvyan has actively supported the ’IT is not just for Geeks’ industry initiative, and participated in Little Miss Geek workshops encouraging schoolgirls to select technology as a career. She is also heavily involved in Dell’s IT transformation programme that uses technology as a way to engage children in underprivileged schools.


Interviewed after accepting her award, Claire Vyvyan spoke about championing diversity in the


Claire Vyvyan receiving her award from Cath Ingham, of awards sponsor Deloitte, and Dame Stephanie Shirley


workplace: “I have just picked up a new EMEA role and it has already taught me that diversity from a gender perspective is very much cracked in the UK, but as I go into Saudi Arabia, UAE, northern Africa, I see all the challenges that you (Dame Stephanie) probably lived through, coming into play.


“I focus on trying to help everybody from all walks of life. I am all about bringing the whole person to work, and everybody contributing.“


Has it always been possible to promote the diversity agenda when faced with Dell’s corporate imperatives? Diversity is even more important now, said Vyvyan.


“Michael Dell bought the business back last year, so it is a private business again. He says it’s now the largest entrepreneurial startup in the world.


To drive that agenda on a global basis you need people contributing from all levels of diversity: gender, multi-race, multi-culture, and disability. Actually, IT itself is all about enabling everybody in the world to contribute and succeed.


“Scan back 10 years in terms of what technology has delivered to life, and then imagine what’s going to come in the next 10 years for the world that we and our children and grandchildren will live in. I think it will be a very exciting but different place.“


And, what does the award mean to Vyvyan? “Having come here tonight and met so many inspirational women, it just inspires me to do more in the world. I haven’t done enough yet, and this award will go front and foremost on my desk to remind me.“


The other category finalists were: Cheryl Adams, Santander


Fiona Dalton, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust Jayne George, Guide Dogs Julie Palmer, Begbies Traynor Jagdeep Rai, Barclays


Finalists received commemorative Women in Business Award certificates from Dame Stephanie Shirley. Their career profiles can be viewed by downloading the Women in Business 2014 event programme pdf at: www.businessmag.co.uk


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Finalists from second left, Cheryl Adams, Jagdeep Rai, Julie Palmer, Jayne George with Nadine Dereza, Dame Stephanie Shirley and Cath Ingham


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – OCTOBER 2014 www.businessmag.co.uk


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