By Insight UK / 2 Sep 2019
1. Can you give us a bit of background on yourself and what you do at Insight?
I have quite a varied working background that has definitely helped shape who I am and what I know today. I’ve worked as an Administrator, Personal Assistant, Corporate Support and Corporate Event Planner, Project Coordinator, Project Manager while also managing the workload and effectiveness of a Helpdesk of 15 Technical Engineers.
Right now, you can find me putting everything I've learnt across all of these roles to good use as Services Improvement Specialist. As a subject matter expert, I like to keep hands-on with designing, building and implementing customised developments within our EMEA project management information system (Clarizen). A great example of my recent development is the EMEA Skills and Capabilities module the business uses today. In the shadows, I work heavily on streamlining processes to ensure my teammates across the Services business not only receive accurate information but the right tools and guidance to help them be more productive. This role is constantly evolving and I never know exactly what I'll get stuck into next.
2. What tech industry trends do you predict for the next decade?
Something I'd love to see within the next decade is a Virtual workplace. Advancing the Connected Workforce and Modern Workplace by giving everyone the ability to join a workplace virtually with an enhanced interactive experience. It would help those who ordinarily work from home feel less isolated and disconnected from their colleagues. Not to mention, it would also save businesses money in the long term.
3. What’s the most frustrating thing about the tech industry?
The most frustrating thing about the tech industry is the lack of appreciation of what technology is capable of. Nowadays, it feels as though businesses are continuously competing with each other deploying technology in the same way as opposed to coming up with brand new ideas and being more creative with it to return that element of surprise to consumers.
4. What’s your earliest tech memory?
Other than having a pack of rainbow coloured floppy discs and a USB stick that seemed to hold EVERYTHING? I'd have to say my most vivid memory is probably in my much younger days when Word Art on the PC was the most amazing thing ever. Being quite tech-savvy I remember creating my own journals and photo albums in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint by using everything I learnt at school to make these insanely colourful documents that I'd add photos and links to every single day.
5. How would your best friend describe you in 3 words?
I had to ask a group of them as I honestly couldn’t make an assumption and other than ‘Utter World Domination’ I did get the following more sensible responses: passionate, committed and unassuming.
6. What one piece of tech could you not live without?
I’d probably have to say the internet. We are heavily reliant on it and nearly everything has a link to the internet so without it I’d definitely feel lost. It provides us with information at our fingertips and it drives nearly all of today's key communications.
7. What’s something most people don’t know about you?
My role model growing up was Alice in Wonderland because she was curious, friends with all creatures and always on an adventure which I could relate to (and still do). I also won many fancy dress contests as Alice. I have a tattoo of her on my forearm to remind me to be more Alice. To always be curious to learn, to be friends with all creatures because we are equally all the same, and always look at new opportunities as a new adventure as you never know where the rabbit hole will lead.
8. What do you need to be successful in the tech industry?
I don’t think there is a written criteria which needs to be met, as the industry is constantly changing. Creativity, imagination and a willingness to try something new will definitely help as the industry evolves.
Look out for the next instalment in this series on Insight’s nominees for the Women in Channel Awards
