Meet Danielle, a Technical Lead at Redgate Software. In her own words, she’s a tech nerd, petrol head, dog-mom and just a little bit crazy. It’s also abundantly clear from speaking with her that she is a wonderful, kind-hearted, driven and incredible woman. Her energy and passion shine through in an instant and we’re very excited to be sharing her story. From her early years of dreaming of becoming a fighter pilot to now being a super successful software engineering manager across many amazing companies over varied industries. Her career is nothing short of remarkable and inspiring. Danielle is a compassionate leader with a hunger for leading teams to greatness through transparency, support and personal progression. She has a personal soft spot for the LGBTQI+ community & will always push to ensure a safe, accepting and loving space for all people! Now a Women In Tech Nominee and Public Speaker, Danielle continues to use her experience to drive teams to greatness, inspire others through talking at meetups and just generally being a great human. Hi Danielle, thank you for being involved with Women Rock, can’t wait to get your story out there.  Could you tell me a bit about how you first got started in Tech? Hi, thanks for inviting me! My tech journey is a little different to most I think. I originally wanted to be a fighter pilot, however, after washing out of selection I did a degree in the first thing that sounded interesting, which was ‘Computer and Multimedia Systems’. I only went to university because I had no other ideas on what I wanted to do with my life and that degree covered everything from the math and physics behind the hardware all the way up to web development and databases; things I found really interesting. During my time at university I found that software development came quite naturally to me, so I stuck with it and built a career from there. You mentioned your dream as a child was to be a fighter pilot? How hard was it for you when this didn’t happen and what advice would you give to someone whose first career choice didn’t work out the way they wanted it to? I was told I washed out exactly seven days before my 17th birthday, and honestly, I just went back to bed, cried, and then slept it off. Certainly not a healthy way of dealing with it. However, I’d also put all of my efforts into achieving that one singular goal and had no backup, which, on reflection, made everything worse.My advice for anybody whose first choice doesn’t work out is to look at what skills you have, look at what you enjoy doing and focus on the things that – even if they don’t make you happy – just make sense. I have a lot of people in my life whose initial career dreams never worked out, from a professional scuba diving instructor to a university lecturer. They aren’t doing what they dreamed they would do, but they’re living their best lives surrounded by amazing people and still finding fulfilment and enjoyment in what they do today. It can feel soul-crushing in that moment when you find out it’s not going to work. It is quite literally having your dreams crushed, and that can be truly traumatic. Lean on your friends and family for support and talk to someone, anyone, and I’ll be here for you too if you need someone to listen. You are a Technical Lead at Redgate, we love to see a woman leading from the front within a Tech company. How would you describe your leadership style and what do you enjoy most about managing people? What I enjoy most will tell you a lot about my leadership style. I love seeing people open up, push themselves, take on bigger and more exciting challenges and ultimately grow; both personally and professionally. I try and embody what it means to be a servant leader. From enabling my engineers to building cultures of trust, respect and diversity, and through the spaces I’ve built I’ve seen individuals go from strength to strength, land those promotions, land new roles and go on to inspire others. Every success that my engineers - past and present – achieve is another little success that I silently cherish. As a woman in technology, what would you say is the best and worst thing you’ve encountered within the industry over the years? How did you overcome these things and who supported you through it?  Oof, that’s a tough question. The worst thing? It’s a coin-flip between being a token hire or the silent sexism I’ve endured in some roles. I don’t want to dwell on it as it’s behind me, but it took one of my own engineers to point out the sexist behaviour I was brushing off and it was a light-bulb moment, where all the struggles and fights I’d endured in that role somehow made sense, and it prompted my resignation. The best thing is by far seeing so many other women in tech. I’d worked with a few women in project management roles associated with tech teams, but I’d never met a female engineer until I met Christine, and though she might not like me saying it, she’s my role model. Since then I’ve worked with (and hired!) several female engineers and it makes my heart glow You mentioned your role model was your old boss Christine (She sounds incredible!). Can you tell us why she was your role model? What did you first think when she came into your office? What made her so good? How and why did she in inspire you? So I first met Christine around 12 years ago I think now. I started a new role and Christine joined about a month after I started. She rocked up to an office looking like a million dollars and rather than sitting in an office and commanding from “on-high” like others I’d worked for, she came and sat down with me and the other engineers. She worked beside us, talked to us, got to know us personally and in time became integral to everything we did.Christine wasn’t a soft touch that would let us goof off, she was strict when needed, but she would listen to us all, she’d give us the space to explore our options, she’d defend us when the business pushed for too much. Christine also supported me personally through some of the most difficult times in my adult life, and I’ll always be thankful for the support and kindness she showed me. What was it like being the only female employee in the engineering team and sometimes office? How important was it for you to have other women or more diversity in the workspace? I’m pretty sure I’ve been a “token hire” at least once in my career, and you’re right, one time I was the only woman in the office. It was a really weird situation to be in, and one of the more difficult environments I’ve encountered.When you’re quite distinctly the “odd one out”, it’s not easy to form any type of relationship, and I constantly felt like I was encroaching on other people’s cliques or chuckling at other people’s inside jokes. For me personally, having other people around me that I can relate to and form a relationship with is essential to me feeling like I belong in a company. Professionally, I crave the diversity of thought and opinion that comes from a diverse team, so having people of colour, different sexualities, different genders and religious beliefs in a team enable such creativity and healthy challenges that can never be achieved by a team of straight white middle-aged men. Having led both, I can promise you the difference is stark! Why would you say that Redgate is a great place to work for people from all different backgrounds and walks of life? What makes them a great employer and what could other companies adopt from their way of working to be more inclusive and better employers? I’ve been with Redgate for 7 months now, so my experience isn’t as deep or well-rounded as some of the folks I lead who have been with the company for years. I think the veteran on my team has been with Redgate for 10 years now!Redgate are honest from the start, and that makes the world of difference. On the second paragraph on our Diversity web page, we openly admit we’re not yet as diverse as we’d like to be, but we’re working on it; and that’s true – we are working on it! For the first time in my career, I’ve gone into a role and not had to boot-strap a people-first culture from the bottom-up. Redgate is a people-first company right down to the core. On top of that, we run internships, diversity events, provide enhanced benefits for women on maternity leave and so much more. Redgate even has a term for people who leave then come back – they’re boomerangs, and there’s a lot of them! I’ve never worked for a company where leavers actively want to come back. If you could go back to your freshly graduated old self, what advice would you give? Putting yourself first isn’t selfish. Sometimes it’s necessary.I think 21year old me would really need to hear that, both personally and professionally. What do you think is the biggest thing tech companies could do to attract more female talent? And I guess, if it was you looking – what would attract you to a company? Social responsibility and diversity are both crucial for me. Maybe in my 20s I’d have told you something different like career progression, benefits package or pay, but having chased all those things I honestly feel the impact of what I do and the values of the company I work for are way more important than my pay packet.  I appreciate that I’m in a very privileged position where I can be picky about where my income comes from and I certainly don’t take that for granted, but when choosing between an extra 5grand or a company who will embrace me with open arms – flaws and all; I’ll take that hug, thank you very much. How to attract more female talent? Honestly, there’s talent out there, but companies need to engage with them. Sponsor events, sponsor social groups, provide boot camp scholarships for women moving into tech, and make sure the wording used on job adverts actually encourages – rather than discourages – female applicants. There’s a world of research on this, so it’s definitely worth reading up on. We didn’t get the chance out speak about this on the call – It would be great to hear more about your Public Speaking, Women In Tech Nominee and anything else amazing you’ve achieved throughout your career!! Oh wow, yes. My Women in Tech nomination came before I started public speaking, so I’ll start there. While I was working for Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), we needed to expand my engineering practice from only a handful of developers to several fully-staffed teams as quickly as possible in order to deliver the digital arm of Manchester’s “Bee Network” – the local equivalent to the Oyster Card system in London. Naturally I spent a lot of time interviewing and hiring, and at each step I was focusing on building and enhancing a blame-free culture where everybody could work in concert with each other. My nomination was for building a huge engineering practice from the ground up with minimal business support, all while keeping everything together. As for public speaking, that kind of started by accident. One of my contacts in recruitment asked if I wanted to attend a talk on the future of tech, which I gladly jumped on. A few weeks before the actual event she called me and asked when my slide deck would be ready! You can imagine my panic!Anyway, rather than look daft or admit I was wrong, I promised it would be in a few days and somehow I managed to deliver. My first talk is on Youtube somewhere, and you can see how nervous I was. Since then I’ve given over a dozen talks on a variety of subjects and I enjoy it more every single time. Finally, could you leave us with your favourite quote?  “You are not worse for your association with the world, but it is better for its association with you.” Brandon Sanderson; Oathbringer, Book recommendation? Way of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson.This book was my gateway into Brandon Sanderson’s bibliography and while it’s a high fantasy setting (which isn’t really for everybody), it’s unique in its world building and its novel focus on the individuals, their plights, mental health and depression, rather than the big picture which of course is there, but it’s woven between the threads, rather than being everything. There’s so much about this book and the rest of this series that has shaped my life, from the quote at the end of the Q&A I sent you, to the tattoo I’ll be getting on my forearm, to the oaths I’ll swear if I get married. Song recommendation? Better Off Without You, by Mallory KnoxThis was such a difficult decision and I’ve gone with my favourite track from Mallory Knox because it’s one that’s always going to get me singing along, not because it’s particularly catchy but because the lyrics mean everything to me. From the open statement “You got it all wrong, you think I’m indestructible…” to the tone of managing with depression and anxiety, to the battle that the band went through on their road to releasing that album and how it mirrors the battles I faced at that time, the scars I carry despite my surviving it.Interviewed by Matt Johnson

From teenage coder to tech lead, meet Hannah O'Malley—a Full Stack Developer with over 30 years of experience in the tech world. Starting her coding journey at just 16, Hannah has witnessed the tech landscape evolve and has been a front-row observer of the shifting role of women in the industry. Today, Hannah leads innovation at Health & Her, where she leads the development of a groundbreaking application tailored for women navigating menopause. Working within a predominantly female team, she’s not only pushing the boundaries of tech but also showcasing the remarkable opportunities and rewards a career in tech can offer. Listen to the full interview below for a very insightful and interesting conversation.    Interviewed by Imogen Meston

Meet Dr. Humera Noor, a distinguished technology expert with an incredible background. Holding a PhD, she specialises in Computer Vision, Machine Learning, and cutting-edge technologies. Her educational journey began in Pakistan, followed by the US, where she honed her expertise in advanced computational techniques. Now based in Germany, Dr. Noor has made significant contributions as an engineering leader. She has held key leadership roles at eyeo, Cliqz, and co-founded 4Pilots, a startup focused on automotive safety solutions. In addition to her professional achievements, Dr. Noor is committed to fostering personal and professional growth. She is dedicated to empowering her team members and helping them reach their full potential.  Can you tell us about your journey into the tech industry and what initially inspired you to pursue a career in engineering? I was a trouble-maker as a kid: always looking for tricks to dodge the homework and splitting open the electronic devices to see what’s inside. Growing up, sandwiched between two sensible sisters and under the supervision of a civil engineer father and a lawyer mom, it was crystal clear right from the beginning that education would be our superpower. My papa guided me towards computer engineering. It was an emerging technology in the 1990s and suitable for the next generation of female professionals. My undergrad studies in my homeland Pakistan not only helped me build my foundation but also uncovered my love for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and teaching – the two have remained with me ever since. I started my teaching career, at my alma mater, right after final year exams, and stayed over a decade full-time in the field – as Assoc. Prof. and departmental Co-chairperson in the last few years. In parallel, I continued my journey of Ph.D., a joint program with University of Central Florida and finally postdoc at Technische Universität München going more in-depth into AI, machine learning and computer vision. A lot happened during that journey, including me landing in Germany after getting married (interesting stories there ☺) and finally moving from academia to Industry where I get to find my new love – Big Data. There has been no turning back. What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced as a woman in tech, and how have you overcome them? I’ve been fortunate in my journey as a woman in tech, and I acknowledge that not everyone has the same experience. I’ve had the unwavering support of my husband, who has been instrumental in helping me maintain a healthy work-life balance and navigating the corporate world. He’s a torchbearer of education and women empowerment, always encouraging me to pursue my career aspirations while also valuing our time together as a family. This support system has taught me the importance of being there for others. I’ve learned to uplift those around me, offering support and encouragement whenever I can. I believe that by fostering a culture of support and empowerment, we can help each other overcome the hurdles that come our way. Of course, like anyone in this field, I’ve faced my share of challenges. But I’ve learned to approach these situations with a mindset of seeing the glass as half full. By focusing on the positive aspects and opportunities within each challenge, I’ve been able to turn difficult situations into learning experiences, ultimately making the most of whatever comes my way. What has been your proudest achievement in your career so far, and what impact do you believe it has had on your team or the industry? “Ms. Humera Noor, we congratulate you on becoming Dr. Humera Noor” – my most prized achievement, which never gets old, is getting my doctorate. It gave me a rock-solid foundation not only in my further academic research life but also in my transition to the industry. Moreover, it taught me the lessons of resilience, the power of being focused & dedicated, not being afraid of exploring uncharted territories, etc. It helped me become the kind of leader that I am today.  More recently, and on a technical front, I led eyeo’s initiative to become the industry pioneer in commercially applying machine learning to automate online ad detection for over 15 million users. In the process, I ensured that ethics in AI are given due consideration. One of the ethical aspects of technical advancement in general and AI in particular is to ensure that no harm is done to the environment. Hence, I led efforts to make eyeo’s machine learning infrastructure environmentally friendly. Compared to the industry standards, eyeo’s models save more than 1000x the energy than the standard Large Language Models for training. During inference, the energy consumption of the models is 200 times more efficient than a fluorescent light bulb and 600 times than that of an incandescent lamp. I’m proud of finding the balance between using technology for innovation while ensuring that we don’t harm the planet Earth in the process.   Can you share some advice for young women who are considering a career in tech or who are currently working their way up in the industry? For women starting their careers in tech, here are 3 concrete pieces of advice from my side: Pick your niche and become an expert in that: Many people ignore this tip that the more you excel in your field, the more your confidence will naturally grow. Focus on what you love to do and go all in. Believe in yourself: Have confidence in your abilities and believe that you belong in the tech industry. You have unique perspectives and skills to offer, so embrace them wholeheartedly. Establish your Brand: Speak up in public and share your knowledge. Make your achievements and contributions known, and establish your brand. Be visible! What initiatives or projects are you currently working on that excite you the most, and how do you see them shaping the future of technology? AI, AI, AI - I started my journey with Artificial Intelligence (AI) over 25 years ago, and the technology and growth still amaze me. I'm excited about artificial intelligence because of its potential to revolutionize various industries and improve countless aspects of our lives. AI's ability to analyze data, recognize patterns, make predictions and especially the pervasive use of large language models opens up numerous opportunities for innovation and problem-solving, impacting both large tech and small business. Its ongoing advancements promise to make our world smarter, more efficient, and more accessible. What do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges for women in tech over the next decade? The biggest challenge that I see is that we do not encourage our young girls to enter STEM fields. It is important that we address this issue at its root, and start supporting our school-going girls to develop interest and skills in tech, engineering and Maths. Programs like coding camps, robotics clubs, and mentorship initiatives can make a significant difference. A stronger inflow at the foundational level will give more opportunities at the lead level. We’re in a spiral that we need to break.  This lack of presence causes more challenges, like: Persistent Gender Bias and Stereotypes: Despite progress, gender bias remains a significant hurdle. Women often face stereotypes that question their technical abilities and leadership potential, which can hinder their career advancement and lead to a lack of representation in senior roles. Underrepresentation in Leadership Roles: Women remain underrepresented in senior leadership and decision-making roles in tech. This lack of representation perpetuates the cycle of bias and limits the influence women have on shaping the future of the industry. Combine these with imposter syndrome, balancing career and family, and lack of role models and mentorship makes it even more challenging for women to enter and excel in tech. However, it’s not all doom and gloom! We’ve now started talking about diversity and creating awareness to empower women. Women themselves know they need to lean in and get a seat at the table.  The biggest opportunities that I see out there are: Entrepreneurship and Startups: The tech startup ecosystem continues to grow, offering women more opportunities to create and lead their own companies. Increased access to venture capital specifically targeting female entrepreneurs also presents a significant opportunity for women to shape the future of tech. If you can’t get a share in the pie, create your own pie. Increased Focus on Diversity and Inclusion: Many companies are recognizing the value of diverse teams and are implementing more robust diversity and inclusion initiatives. This focus can open doors for women in tech, providing greater access to leadership roles, mentorship opportunities, and equitable pay. Moreover, we’ve communities and forums like Women Rock that highlight women's journeys and give them the boost that they need. What are some common misconceptions about women in tech, and how can we work to dispel them? The  biggest misconception that I’ve seen is that: Women are too nice and kind to be a strong leader. This is not true. The empathy and emotional intelligence of women give them an edge that is still not digested by the masses. It’s a different kind of leadership, however no less in any way than other leadership styles.. According to recent research (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S004873332100127X) companies with female CTOs are more innovative than those with males.   The solution is two-fold: create awareness and invest in getting more females in tech. What is your favourite song? Counting Stars by OneRepublic - It’s motivating, rebellious and energising at the same time.   What book would you recommend for our Women Rock bookshelf? Oh, this is the toughest question because I have so many 🤩. If I can pick only one, that would be Atomic Habits by James Clear. This is because habits make us who we are, and if we can control our habits, we can control our destiny. Some others that I keep going back to, depending on the context: Radical Candor by Kim Scott - How to be a kickass manager without losing humanity The four by Scott Gallaway - eye-opening read for business owners and consumers alike Culture Map by Erin Meyer - if you’re part of, and especially leading, multicultural teams, this is a must-read. Interviewed by Ryan Delaney

Meet the fabulous Louise, Head of IT Operations at Northumbrian Water Group (NWG). This incredible advocate for "learning while you earn" has been a game-changer with NWG's Digital Degree Apprenticeship, offering practical experience and a debt-free degree. Talk about opening doors to tech careers! Louise is all about creating inclusive workplaces that celebrate diversity and help individuals thrive. In her interview, she dives into some of NWG's amazing initiatives like the Young Citizens Work Experience Festival, the Women in STEM working group, and female-only assessment centres. No wonder NWG has been recognized as a Great Place to Work for Women for three years running! Get inspired by Louise's journey and the fantastic work she's doing at NWG.   Hi Louise, thank you for taking the time to speak to us. Firstly, please can you start by talking me through your position at Northumbrian Water Group?  My name is Louise Patterson and I am Head of IT Operations and Resource Management at Northumbrian Water Group.  I look after our Service Desk, User Experience, Cloud & Infrastructure, Networks, Service Management and Quality Assurance teams. Please tell me about your story so far. How did you get into the world of Tech?  Whilst I was studying for my Marketing degree at Newcastle University, I decided to do a year in the industry for my third year.  I worked at IBM in the Office of the CIO which gave me great insight into IT telecommunications and I got the opportunity to work on some of their key projects, which I went back to support with during the summer after I graduated.  This placement was invaluable as it gave me experience in the workplace which helped me stand out against other graduates and really helped me work out what I had a passion for and ultimately led me into a career within Technology.  Following my final year at university, I joined the Asda Technology Graduate scheme starting as a Project Manager and this gave me a great platform into working in Tech as I spent 10 years getting the opportunity to move around various roles within their Technology team including Service Management, Governance and Programme Management. Before moving to Morrisons Technology team where I became Head of Service Management before moving back to the North East to my current role with Northumbrian Water. Work experience counts for a lot, and university isn’t the only pathway to a career. Please can you tell me more about why you are an advocate of being able to “learn while you earn”?  Absolutely, I have my year in the industry to thank for the opportunity I got when first leaving university.  Times have changed from when I went to university, young people are leaving with a degree, a lot of debt and little to no work experience.  So, I’m a real advocate of apprenticeship schemes which I think give young people a far better start in their career.  Earn as you learn and a degree completely debt free - it’s just a no brainer for me and why we have launched our new Digital Degree Apprenticeship scheme earlier this year. NWG’s Digital Degree Apprenticeship sounds incredible! Please can you tell me more about it and who will be able to access it?  Of course I’m really excited to be welcoming our new apprentices starting in September.  They will spend 4 days a week working in our head office in Durham and then spend every Friday at the University of Sunderland to study for their Digital Technology degree.  We’ve worked with the University of Sunderland to put together a broader technology degree which is the IT consultant pathway.  This allows the apprentices to study a broader range of topics rather than specialising in one area.  Throughout the 3 years they will move to work in a different teams, around every 6 months, which will give them a taster of the various roles they could go into once they’ve completed the scheme and they can gauge from the learning in their degree and from their work experience, what direction they want to take their career in.  As a Women in STEM myself, it’s fantastic to see that around 70% of the apprentices that are joining our Digital Degree Apprenticeship are female. You mentioned that you are also setting up a work experience programme for Year 10s. Why is it important for students to make the most out of work experience and how can employers make their work experience offering more valuable to students? Yes, alongside our Innovation Festival at the Newcastle Racecourse in July, we’re also holding our very first Young Citizens Work Experience Festival.  This is open to Year 10 or above students, to attend onsite at the racecourse between 9th – 12th July.  We have a fantastic programme where they will have the opportunity to build up specific skills e.g. teamwork, communication, critical thinking, creativity amongst many more.  As a takeaway they will be able to put together a CV of all of their skills online.  There is also an opportunity for schools to get access to our online work experience if they can’t attend in person.  It’s so important for young people to gain key transferable skills which will help them to be successful when applying for apprenticeships or jobs in the future.  And employers need to put more focus onto the younger generation to give them these opportunities as they are our workforce of the future.We spoke about the importance of diversity in the workforce and whilst there needs to be a drive to get more women in STEM, it is also equally important to foster an inclusive culture that welcomes everyone, and which will in return mean being able to retain great talent. Please can you tell me more about the work NWG are doing to foster an inclusive environment? Diversity is something I am incredibly passionate about and I am part of our Women in STEM working group where we look at how we can foster a more inclusive environment.  It starts with recruitment, and this is something we’re really working on and have seen some great results just recently.  When recruiting for the Digital Degree Apprenticeship we reviewed job adverts and our website to make sure this would attract a diverse group of individuals and adapted our recruitment process.  As an example, we held a female only assessment centre, as research shows that females have more confidence and perform better when they are not a minority in group exercises, and it is important for us to be inclusive and give everyone an opportunity to perform at their best.  This received positive feedback from female candidates.  As an employer NWG is well known for being a great place to work and we’ve been recognised as a Great Place to Work for Women for the past 3 years.  But we are always reviewing how we can continue to make it an inclusive environment, whether that being flexible working amongst many other support offerings. We spoke about the importance of having great role models. Who is/are your greatest role model/s and why? I’ve always been surrounded by strong female role models in my family from grandmothers, my mother and my older sister, which has probably had more of an impact on me than I’ve previously realised.  My whole career has been in Technology, where women are a minority, but I think this early influence has given me the confidence when I have been the only women in a room, to not feel intimidated. If there was one book, song, and/or podcast you would recommend, what would it/they be and why? A book I’ve just recently read is ‘Zcomomy’ by Jason Dorsey and Denise Villa.  It looks at how Gen Z will change the future of business and what to do about it.  It’s an interesting read and gives some great insight for leaders to think about when recruiting or working with Gen Z.  I think sometimes different generations can be critical of each other, so it’s important to better understand young people better as they are the future of our workforce.  Any last words of inspiration?  Say yes to opportunities that come your way to help work out what you are passionate about and always be your true authentic self.Interviewed by Bella Snell

In this episode of Women Rock, Alicia and Kelly discuss Kelly's recent bipolar disorder diagnosis and the need for more awareness and understanding of the condition 🫶 They explore the challenges of misdiagnosis, the importance of early intervention, and the coping strategies that have been helpful for Kelly. They also touch on the stigma and misconceptions surrounding bipolar disorder and the need for better support from employers and the healthcare system. Kelly shares her plans to create a well-being plan and a book to help others navigate their own journeys with bipolar disorder ✨ Some key takeaways ⭐ 💚 Early intervention and accurate diagnosis are crucial for individuals with bipolar disorder to receive the appropriate support and treatment. 💚 Coping strategies such as meditation, journaling, and exercise can be beneficial for managing symptoms and promoting well-being. 💚 There is still a stigma surrounding bipolar disorder and a lack of understanding, highlighting the need for more awareness and education. 💚 Employers can play a role in supporting employees with bipolar disorder by creating a supportive and inclusive work environment. 💚 Individuals should trust their instincts and seek further evaluation if they suspect they may have a neurodivergent condition. 💚 More resources and information are needed to help individuals navigate their journey with bipolar disorder and other neurodivergent conditions Thank you so much Kelly for sharing your story, we hope it reaches folk it needs to.

‘I joined Swift Strategies because of the people and their ambition to change the way things are.’ Meet Carolyn, the Head of Business Operations at Swift Strategies.  From her early days marketing in the music scene to online sales, Carolyn's journey has been nothing short of inspiring. She's not just about business; she's passionate about making a difference with everything she does. Passionate about equality, Carolyn founded The Reach Free School, an inclusive institution that recently earned the Equalities Gold Award. It's a place where diversity isn't just welcomed—it's celebrated. She's also a strongadvocate for breaking down gender stereotypes, pushing for inclusive uniforms that reflect today's realities. If you're pondering a career change, Carolyn would tell you  find what you love and don't settle.  With Swift Strategies focusing on social value and welcoming new team members, Leading the charge for more diversity in tech and beyond. Hi Carolyn, thank you for taking the time to speak to us. Firstly, please can you start by talking me through your position at Swift Strategies? I’m Head of Business Operations – responsible for the back office functions at our very busy Tech and transformation consultancy. Ops should be the invisible scaffolding behind the business. If something’s annoying or time consuming, I want to make it better Please tell me about your story so far. How did you get into the world of Tech? I started my career in marketing, and had an amazing job with a music, video, games and book distributor organising new release activity and in store promotions for our retail clients. Release dates set the pace, and the industry was evolving fast towards being able to buy online. It seems so normal now, but it was a huge challenge to take orders for individual items and deliver to individual addresses when the industry was set up to fill shelves in high streets. We created a new way of working very quickly, and amending IT systems to meet our needs was a big part of the task. I took some time out to have a family, and stepped away from the glitz of premieres and award ceremonies. ‘Making things happen’ was always something I enjoyed, and business operations became a natural choice. I’m not very good at accepting the status quo, and know how important tech is to improving our lives. I joined Swift Strategies because of the people and their ambition to ‘change the way things are’. What advice would you give to anyone looking to make a career change? Think about what it is that you really enjoy, what makes you feel worthwhile, and don’t settle for less. If you feel passionate about an industry or a role, it shines through and others will support you.  You mentioned the importance of having a network of supporters around you. Please can you tell me more about this and is there anybody in particular who has inspired you/been the most significant influence in your network. There have been some amazing people who, I suspect unknowingly, have provided support and helped to dispel my inner imposter syndrome! Early in my career, I worked with a videogame buyer who had joined the company in a junior role, and was progressing in a very male environment to be a highly respected member of the commercial team. She taught me about not panicking, keeping things in perspective and taking the time to reflect when you are in danger of being overwhelmed. Others have supported my campaign to change the school situation in South West Hertfordshire – a topic I knew absolutely nothing about and was a political hot potato. The belief people had in me, regardless of my experience, was invaluable. You founded a school that has recently celebrated its 10th Anniversary and is an incredible achievement, making sure thousands of students have had access to a good education. Please can you tell me more about how this came about. I’ve mentioned already that I’m not very good at accepting the “way things are”. When I discovered the lack of local school places and how the council were effectively shrugging their shoulders in response, I joined a small group of local parents campaigning for changes to admissions criteria and the ability to open a new school. However, the introduction of the Free School programme in 2010 meant that if we wanted a new school, we had to roll up our sleeves and do it ourselves. I had to learn about site allocations, the planning inspectorate, the process to open a school and how to prove we needed one. We rapidly discovered that we needed education experts, so joined forces with three local teachers who shared our ambition. We also needed pupils, so spent weekends persuading families to add our imaginary school to their application forms. Just over a year after receiving approval from the Department for Education, we opened The Reach Free School in a temporary home of an empty office block. It took another five years for us to move into our brand new purpose built school, but we were determined to negotiate our way through the planning, budget, design and build process to get the best possible school environment for our community. My biggest inspiration are my four fellow school founders. It was, and still is, a phenomenal journey, and one where we’ve shaped the lives of so many young people. You mentioned the importance of making sure that the school was “non-selective” to ensure everyone in your area had the ability to fulfil their potential. Please can you tell me more about this and the importance of making a welcoming space for everyone within education. Our community is surrounded by partially selective schools, where children at age 10 sit an exam and are ranked according to their test score. We believe this has a negative impact on many children and families, and wanted to establish a school where the test result was irrelevant. The ethos is ACE or “Achievement, Community and Enjoyment”, and recognises that if you do not enjoy school, you will not achieve, and you cannot have either of these without a strong community The school has also recently won the Equalities Gold Award which is amazing! Please tell me more about this. Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is an important part of our Community ethos, and the Equalities Award enabled us to take another look at the school, its processes, policies and resources to ensure we were creating an environment where everyone was valued. Nothing was off-limits – library books, displays, uniform, curriculum design, policy wording and evidence of equality in every area. It’s amazing what you overlook, just because it has always been that way! We are one of the first secondary schools to be awarded the highest Gold standard, in recognition of the approach taken to ensure every pupil is valued – not just by staff and their classmates, but by themselves as well. We wanted to make sure pupils could see themselves reflected in the lessons, as “if you can’t see it, how can you be it?” Gender constructs are formed from an early age, and we spoke about how seemingly simple things like uniforms make a difference. How important is it that we make uniforms more inclusive and what difference does it make? Uniforms are excellent at removing social barriers at school and developing a sense of belonging. But it isn’t necessary to divide pupils into boys and girls for the majority of their time at school and differentiate pupils through clothing. The school should decide on appropriate uniform options for learning regardless of sex. For example, as an adult, I do not choose to wear a short pleated skirt to exercise in, I wear sports leggings or shorts. When I am sat at my desk working, I may be wearing a smart skirt, or I may be wearing trousers. My job is not impacted by my trousers vs skirt choice, and it’s crazy that we continue to teach young people that gender specific school uniforms are a valid identifier. We should step back and ask ourselves why we don’t send 4 year olds to school in jogging bottoms and a T-shirt, rather than pinafore dresses, tights or clothes with buttons and zips. I suspect we are abiding by tradition, and are inadvertently continuing to embed gender stereotypes into our classrooms.       What are your thoughts on the current IT courses students have access to and what do you think needs to change in the current education system to make courses better? Technology is hugely important to our school. We have been a Google Classroom school since opening in 2013, and all our pupils have their own Chromebook throughout their time at school. We offer Computer Science at GCSE and A Level, and ICT vocational qualifications, and it is always a popular subject. But it takes a long time to develop and introduce a GSCE or A level course, so they aren’t as up to date and inspiring as you’d hope. Children use tech all day, every day, and they are amazing at creating their own content. We need to tap into the joy they have from interacting with tech and match it with a course that shows them how to create and develop new applications. AI will change everything. Teachers and pupils are already using AI, and it’s important we learn how to best utilise the latest tech tool. It’s an exciting time. It’s clear the difference you have made so far, and the amazing work is never done! What challenge are you taking on next? Swift Strategies’ Social Value strategy is firmly within my sights. We’re all really keen to make sure our work, effort and impact is worthwhile. I’m looking forward to 3 new women joining our team this month, and it will be amazing to support the development of more women in tech!  Interviewed by Bella Snell 

“Confidence is a behaviour, not a personality type. It’s something you can learn!” Clare Young is a Director with DXW a leading employee-owned digital agency that works with the Public and Charity sectors. Clare shares her story, how she practices confidence and how that’s transformed her at work. On ED&I she explains how it’s everyone’s responsibility to understand the problem and take ownership. How recruitment can help address the balance (always happy to help!). Why it’s important that businesses and teams do everything to support diverse workforces, and what it means to offer genuine flexible working - whether that’s study support or going to the other side of the world to watch the cricket. She shares her journey and the importance of having the confidence to challenge people correctly. How DXW have achieved a 50:50 gender split including some practical tips on how you can improve things in your organisation. And that a business is the people that are in it and not the shareholders. PS how her skills as a Delivery Lead supported Comic Relief as they raised the small sum of £78 million. Interviewed by Ben Dennison

Meet Zara Weston, a Creative Producer with over 16 years of graphic design expertise. From the serene landscapes of Somerset to the bustling streets of London and back to the South-West, her journey reflects a passion for precision and creativity. With a childhood filled with art and creativity, led her to pursue graphic design at Bridgwater College and later at the University of the Arts London. Her love for detail and precision guided her towards a career in print design, where she flourished and eventually became a Creative Lead at Motability Operations. But Zara’s path wasn’t without its challenges. As a young woman navigating the corporate world, she learned the importance of self-belief and resilience. Now, as a mentor to young designers, she imparts the wisdom gained from her own journey, encouraging others to pursue their passions with determination and perseverance. Beyond her career, Zara finds solace in the great outdoors, indulging her love for running and CrossFit. With her two beloved dogs by her side, she embraces life’s challenges with a mantra that has guided her every step of the way: trust your instincts. Thank you for taking the time to talk with us today, Zara, Can we start by you telling us about your background and what inspired you to start a career in Graphic Design? My name is Zara Weston. I am a Creative Producer and specialist with over 16 years industry experience. I trained in graphic design at Bridgwater College in Somerset as well as completing two degrees in graphic design at the University of the Arts London. I lived and developed my career in London for 14 years, then relocated back to the South-West to run a design agency in Bristol 5 years ago.  I have always been creative as far back as I can remember, as a child I loved art, painting, drawing you name it - at primary and secondary school I always excelled in this area. I was a very quiet and reserved individual when I was younger and I found I could truly express myself in art. I transitioned to Graphic Design at college when I had two paths to decide on: that on fine art and graphic design. My work has always been detailed orientated and neat, I felt more drawn to the opportunity of Graphic Design – I loved learning the Adobe programmes and experimenting with print. I quickly became passionate in print design and this was the path I took through to university.    What is your current role?  Creative Lead at Motability Operations.  You moved from a small town in Somerset to London at only 18 years old, big change, what did you learn from that life move at such a young age? When I think back now I think I must have been crazy! I have always been hugely ambitious – the sky is the limit in terms of what we can achieve in life. I had thought about moving to London as a teenager for a while, the life and spirit of the city very much appealed to me – there was a bus that used to go from my local Asda there and I would always go up to visit. When I applied for University, I went straight there for my interview and just thought: ‘this is it’.  Moving there fully was a scary and thrilling experience – I loved the freedom and the opportunity to discover who I was as a person. I learnt that if you don’t go after what you want, you will never have it – if you never ask the answer is always no. I grew in confidence and learnt to speak up for myself in what can be a harsh environment.  Moving home, working in London at such a young age, takes a lot of self-belief, what would you say to someone whose in a similar position to you in 2024? I would say that even against all odds if you want a career in any subject enough it will be yours. You must be true to yourself and belief in yourself because you are the only person that can do it.  As a female Designer, have you faced any unique challenges in your career? How have you overcome them?  I graduated at 21 and went head first into the industry, one challenge I had was that I was always the youngest and least experienced person in the room no matter the qualifications I had. I learnt to overcome that by reminding myself of where I was at, always asking questions and working hard to learn what I needed to learn to get to where I want to be. There is real value in hard work and graft, you could be the most gifted person but if you are unwilling to work hard you won’t progress.  You started your life working with cooperate clients, what did you learn from being a young female in those sorts of environments? The corporate world can be tough, especially in London. I have sat in many large board meetings being the only female in the room – I have learnt the importance of learning to stand on my own two feet, believe in myself and skillset along with trying not to worry about what people think of me. Being confident in my own skin has taken time, but I have always been extremely headstrong and have used this as a tool to get me to where I am today.   You have led design teams, How do you use your experience to support and guide people who may struggle with self belief? I am quite an emotional and passionate person, which I struggled with up against challenges early on in my career. But now I believe it makes me a good leader and able to connect with people on a deeper level – I am always interested to understand the person first, what do they want to achieve, what makes them tick – who are they as an individual. I understand from experience the struggle with self-belief, sometimes it’s about simply not giving up, putting one foot in front of the other and showing up for yourself.  You have helped teach young designers at colleges over the last 10 years, what advice would you give to someone first starting out in Graphic Design? To go for it! A career in graphic design is truly rewarding and you will never work another day in your life if you love what you do. The first five years in the industry can be tough, you have got to really want to be a designer to be successful – perseverance is critical.  What do you do outside of work? I am a keen runner and love the outdoors – I have run marathons in many different countries and raised thousands for charity from doing a million bake sales. Since I moved back to Somerset, I have been getting more into trial running – I love a challenge. I also took up CrossFit two years ago and not looked back, if I can manage to do a hand-stand at 5.30am in the morning then I can do anything.  Other than that, I have two gorgeous dogs (one golden retriever and one black lab) and you can often find me out in the country walking them.  Finally, do you have a mantra you live by? I would always say go with your gut feeling because it is usually right. Interviewed by George Booth 

"Authenticity is the courage to embrace our differences, and diversity is the celebration of those differences."  Anne-Lise joined us to share insights on a range of topics, including her remarkable journey to becoming a partner at one of the world’s leading management consultancies. She offers practical tips to support ED&I efforts, such as advocating for part-time opportunities, promoting shared leave for fathers, and partnering with external agencies for comprehensive D&I training.  She emphasizes the power of speaking up when witnessing injustice, the significance of allyship, and the importance of recognizing personal biases. Additionally, Anne-Lise underscores the critical role of refining hiring practices to attract a diverse talent pool.  She also touches on her experiences with imposter syndrome, stressing the value of finding one's voice and having relatable role models. And lastly, she ventures into the age-old debate: skiing vs. snowboarding.   Interviewed by Ben Dennison