You are here: Home Community Philippa Snare
I think it is one of the few gender focused websites that is actually very useful and focuses on broad industry issues view a female lens rather than a feminist one. I often use it to find people and also seek out who in the UK is considered a progressive employer – the more transparent and proactive to comment the organisation the more I believe them.
We can always do more, I do think there is a great deal of fantastic activities going on, there are groups, networking, mentoring, university outreach going on all the time, I love all this but I do still miss having stories or hearing stories that we can share around the industry about people who have done really well or have achieved something and having a wider platform to share it with the broadest female audience.
I have been in the “it Industry” for over 15 years and yet when I left university I really didn’t know that’s what I would be saying, all I knew was that using computers and some of the software and services I could get on one gave me the ability to find information more easily, get stuff from my friends that they couldn’t and connect with people in a less threatening and more equitable way. I wanted everyone to be able to benefit from that, I wanted to show the world that you didn’t have to be in the old boys club to become influential and that you could really help people grow their business ideas, meet new people and do things they may have had self doubt about with no other form of support. Women often get attracted to roles in industries that are about the greater good, they do roles that play to traditional female strengths like communications, collaboration and getting the best out of people. It used to be the case that IT by the very name is harder to have an emotional connection with, it seems removed in some way. But I think that is changing, you ask a teenager now to give up their mobile phone and you will see how emotional technology has become. Microsoft is dedicated to bringing back that emotional connection, to help students and graduates use their expertise and knowledge to make a difference in the world. The student scheme we have been running is about empowering students to join the IT industry, learn and develop their strengths quickly and encourage their passions and then use these to challenge they way corporations do things, so we keep ensuring that new talent and industry corporations together are growing an industry stacked with talented individuals who are bursting with ideas.
I think there are stereotypes everywhere there are humans – but I just treat everyone as individuals and I get the same in return.
Over the year I think it has alerted me to some of the issues, but mostly it has very much positively encouraged me to go and help lots of different diverse communities to get more from life and corporate responsibility.
Yes very.
I have been here for almost 10 years, but it feels like 2. There is one constant in Microsoft and that is change, if you love building things, making a difference and helping people it’s the place for you.
I have made many roles in MS over the years but each and every one of them I have done because I could see how I would learn something new, help the company and make a difference. I love collecting new experiences and Microsoft is superb for that sort of personal development.
I have launched online services that millions of people use every day, I have managed large projects for customers from advertising to acquisitions and I am now finding out all about the world of PR.
Key Work Achievements:
I think we struggled for a time deciding how we make this authentic and respectful of all sorts of diversity not just the obvious. But I feel now we have a very sustainable and positive approach – throughout the processes, people and products that we are passionate about driving. We look at this from mulitpe levels from invisible issues thought to physical ones and that I am proud of.
Proactive and respectful
Only do a job that you love and are passionate about – it’s not work it’s a personal investment of time – so spend it on something you care about.
We commit to a great deal of industry leadership events and often host, drive and sponsor events like – Geek Girls, DigiGirlz, She Says etc ... all these are about people, about connecting people and making sure we are forming strong supportive relationships that help and encourage all the women in the industry.
I just want to continue to make a difference, in areas like web technology, inclusive and diverse team building and encouraging fun and inspiring work cultures, as long as Microsoft enables me to do that in roles then I’ll continue to give Microsoft the best of me.
Stop calling it IT for a start – I have no idea why it’s still called IT – we change the way people behave – so lets make the name more sexy!
I love people, travel and trying new things out ...some of these things are:
No, I have always been a stubborn! ... I am not sure – I think I would have been the same person – but I would have been having less fun. I believe women can be themselves, have more impact and be a bit cheeky more easily than Men – we are used to diversity, being slightly different and not trying to conform – we do it naturally so it makes it second nature to us to thrive in challenging situations.
Very, my parents set the canvas, my school and friends helped me understand how to work with people and my education has been really diverse and so I have been lucky enough to learn hard lessons early about how to bring out the best in people.
I am tempted to come out with lots of generalisations here about communication strengths and approaches etc. But I just don’t agree with them – people are all individual male or female – I think we all have an even opportunity to make a difference and do something we love and are good at.
Well, that depends on your interests – for today I would highly recommend going to look at this one: http://www.twistori.com ... it is fascinating.
Find out what you love, do it to the best of your abilities and treat everyone like you want to be treated.
