Women in tech
Carly Chesire, and Laura Harle, BenQ UK
Carly Chesire, Head of Consumer B2C and Laura Harle, Head of Marketing, both at BenQ UK
What is your professional background and how has this contributed to your current working position? Carly: I have worked in the IT sector for the past 22 years, predominantly in sales roles across various companies. This includes positions within AMD, Ingram Micro, NETGEAR and then for the past eight years at BenQ. I have explored all corners of the industry and without a doubt all these experiences have contributed towards my current role as Head of Consumer at BenQ.
What are your experiences of being a female tech leader? Laura: My experience of being a female tech leader has been really positive overall. I think it helps that I have entered the industry at a time where there is a real call for accountability for companies to address gender bias in the workplace, whether unconscious or not. Within BenQ specifically, 50% of our workplace are female and within the senior management team specifically there is a ratio of five women to two men.
What challenges have you encountered if any being a female in the tech sector? Carly: I think my viewpoint from having worked in the sector for 22 years is very different to those just starting out. 10-15 years ago there weren’t many females in the industry and the narrative around visibility for women didn’t exist. The reason you got a promotion or moved into management was
because of your hard work, dedication and because you worked extra hard to prove that you could be just as good as your male peers. Being a woman became a driving force to success because you knew you were representing and overcoming barriers that would pave the way for future generations. But this wasn’t spoken about, there weren’t days celebrating the incredible women we worked with or our accomplishments, there was just women’s resilience and strength to prove themselves as equals.
What are your interests and passions in regards to working in the tech channel? Carly: Within the tech channel, I have so many interests and passions. Everyday you are faced with a new challenge, predominantly because we work in an ever evolving industry that is drastically influenced and affected by all areas from economy to environments, and let’s not even start with the influence of global pandemics. I also think networking within our industry is such an integral part of its uniqueness, I’ll go to an event and see peers that I first met over 20 years ago alongside new inspired faces full of passion to carve new paths for our industry’s future. I think my own passion is constantly reignited working in our sector; with the evolving nature of technology, I always have something new to learn which keeps me interested.
How can the channel drive greater diversity in the sector? Laura: I think that a lot of work is already being done to drive real change within the technology community and ensure greater diversity. With groups such as Women In AV and the AVIXA Women’s Council committed to supporting and empowering women in our industry, it’s definitely an inspiring time to be part of our sector. People stay within a sector because they want to be championed
as people rather than their gender, and I think this is why there are so many women in leadership at BenQ. I feel empowered because of my performance and results. I go for promotions because I think I’m the right person for the job. I’ve never worried that I wouldn’t achieve something because I’m a woman, and I know I have so many female pioneers to thank for that.
40 | May 2022
www.pcr-online.biz
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