In July 2016 at WPC in Toronto, I presented at the IAMCP Charity Women in Technology (WIT) luncheon and talked about my ambition. One of the ambitions I set out was to join a board of an organisation and here today as I write I am delighted to share that I am now part of the IAMCP board in the UK and accepted the position of WIT chair.
I have big shoes to fill with Julie Simpson formerly taking this role but I know I feel just as passionately as she does about encouraging women within the Microsoft channel partner community to fulfil their ambitions in the technology space. I have been working with IAMCP WIT in the UK since Julie created the group and I am excited about how we can take this forward even further and build on the great work already in place.
A little bit about me (for those that want to know). I have worked in technology marketing all my life, I like nothing better than geeking about with the latest bit of tech and get very excited when something new and shiny comes out. With a background in UK, EMEA and global marketing roles I have been fortunate to work for some great technology companies and some great leaders who have inspired me to develop my ambition and career. I have been with Jabra (a leading sound company specialising in intelligent audio devices for personal and business use) for 11 years. During this time I have worked my way across and up the organisation experiencing roles that work within the channel and our strategic alliance partners such as Microsoft. Currently I am the Senior Director for Channel & Retail Marketing at Jabra looking after a team of regional and central channel marketers around the globe who are passionate about enabling our partners to recommend and sell solutions in particular with Skype for Business. As a full time working mother who travels (a lot) I really believe in providing flexible working environments and balance. I don’t always achieve it myself but I am constantly striving to somehow get it right. Within WIT we want to encourage all women at whatever stage of the career to get involved. You could be juggling motherhood and a career like myself or perhaps returning from work after a long career break raising children or just at the start of your journey as a young woman joining the workforce. Any woman who has an ambition however big or small who wants to be more than she is today is what we are IAMCP WIT is all about.
Watch this space for more exciting developments from IAMCP WIT in the UK and sign up to Microsoft Inspire to meet us all in person.