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Describe your background and how you got into IT.
I studied Manufacturing Engineering at University, and was sponsored by Jaguar. I started working as an engineer at Jaguar, but rapidly spotted that IT underpinned everything we did and started to move towards the technology-lead initiatives which were more leading edge and faster paced.
What is your current position / situation.
Currently I am the COO for the Technology Services Division of Capgemini in the UK. I am responsible for around 1700 staff across the UK and India, and a business with revenues of around £250M.
What do you like best about working in IT?
- The people - driven, intelligent, challenging
- The clients - chance to work with talented people across UK industry and public sector, addressing real business issues
- The technology - at the forefront of using technology for business advantage
Why did you choose a career in IT in the first place? e.g. was it a choice or a natural progression from something you'd done previously?
Definitely a progression. Found that IT consultancy drove change through an organisation faster than many other catalysts.
What have been the highlights of your career so far?
- Being on the winning side on a number of deals.
- UK MD of a consultancy at the age of 31. Scary, challenging, but learnt a tremendous amount.
- Involved in M&A activity (both acquiring and being acquired)- really interesting, particularly the cultural side.
What are your career aspirations?
I really enjoy the management side of IT consultancy. I want to continue to manage operations like the one I am responsible for now, but on a larger scale, and to take on more global responsibilities.
What are your tips for success?
- Choose some role models. A few, not one, From different organisations if you can. No-one can be great at everything so pick things you really admire from each of your mentors and study why they’re good and what you can apply for yourself.
- Have a career plan but be prepared to be flexible and re-adjust when you need to. I haven’t always enjoyed the jobs I’ve done, but I’ve tried to stand back and work out what each one has added to me and what I’ve taken away from it. This allows you to have a more positive attitude towards the inevitable temporary setbacks.
- Network; Make time to keep in touch with people you’ve enjoyed working with. At the very least, you’ll have a rich source of ideas and experiences to tap into.
Do you think it might have been a different story, of "how you got to where you are now", if you'd been a man?
I don’t really think like that. There are opportunities I wish I’d made more of at the time, but I can’t say gender played a part in that. More that ‘it just wasn’t the right time’ for me.
There are things that I think I approach differently as a woman: conflict resolution, influencing skills, managing a broad portfolio, delegation. I’m not saying women are better at these things - just different, and a variety of styles definitely adds to an organisations strengths.
Tell us a little about your life outside of work.
Mainly centred around my children (aged 7 and 10). My partner is also a partner at an IT services company so managing two little people through school, ballet, football, horseriding… alongside two careers leaves little time left over!
Are you aware of any preconceptions or stereotypes of women in IT, and if so what do you think of them?
I think IT generally has a poor image. ‘The IT Crowd’ certainly hasn’t helped. My job has always been far more about working with and influencing people, rather than sitting in a darkened room banging out code.
What do you think could be done to actively encourage more women to join the technology market place in general?
Get across a better understanding about what we actually do! I work with some women who are great technologists, but others are great business women who understand technology, others are great business consultants, who ‘get’ technology and can help clients exploit it. The range of jobs and roles in IT is vast and we as an industry fail to portray that. |
