I recently had the privilege of moderating the ‘Women in Tech Alliances Launch Event’ at our London offices, and I am still buzzing with excitement from the energy and inspiration shared in the room.
The event brought together exceptional female leaders from the tech industry, including Sarah Walker, Chief Executive UK&I, Cisco, Jemma Byrne, SVP EMEA Alliances, Salesforce, Orla McGrath, Global Partner Solutions Lead, Microsoft, and Albi van Zyl, Chief Sales Strategy and Operations Officer, NTT DATA, Inc who shared their journeys, challenges, and invaluable insights into advancing women into executive leadership roles.
From the panellists’ candid reflections to the audience’s thoughtful engagement, the discussions reaffirmed the importance of creating spaces where diverse voices can be heard, amplified, and celebrated.
The conversation around diversity, inclusion, and leadership was enlightening and a powerful reminder of the journey ahead. The event also served as a great reflection of NTT DATA’s commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Leadership stories that inspire
The event began with our panellists sharing their professional achievements, while also opening up about the personal stories and defining moments that shaped their careers.
Sarah Walker recounted her early days at BT, where curiosity and competitiveness propelled her into a leadership role she hadn’t initially envisioned for herself. Her advice? “Have a personal purpose - stand for something, and let it guide your career.” Sarah’s reflections on resilience, especially in balancing motherhood with leadership, struck a chord with many in the audience.
Jemma Byrne shared how her career in sales began almost serendipitously when a colleague recognised her potential. She emphasised the importance of self-belief, even when doubts creep in, saying, “Many women don’t feel ready for the next step, but your competency and allies can help you shine.”
Orla McGrath highlighted the power of stepping out of her comfort zone, describing how bold moves, staying at the forefront of new technology trends and innovation during a pivotal market shifts, helped her build expertise and seize opportunities.
Albi Van Zyl spoke of her global journey, balancing career challenges with personal responsibilities, and the role of luck and calculated risks in her success. Her perspective on women often being underestimated in sales, and how that can be turned into an advantage, resonated strongly.These stories were inspiring and relatable, showing that success is rarely linear and that resilience, purpose, and support systems are essential.
Breaking barriers and building bridges
The discussion then moved onto common barriers the panel had faced during their tech careers, and how to overcome them. The themes discussed brought important insights into the role businesses and everyone in within can play in creating a more inclusive workforce:
The importance of allies
Each panellist underscored the role of allies - both male and female - in helping them navigate their careers. From mentors who provided confidence-boosting advice to managers who championed work-life balance, the panellists highlighted how allyship can create pivotal career moments.
Resilience in leadership
Sarah’s personal journey in particular, including overcoming the challenges of motherhood and personal loss, highlighted the resilience required to thrive in leadership. Her message was clear: Resilience shouldn’t be needed as much as it is, but when required, it’s a critical skill.
Representation matters
Several panellists emphasised the need for women to see others like themselves in leadership roles. As Orla noted, “Seeing it to believe it” is crucial for inspiring the next generation.
Mentoring and coaching
The power of mentorship was a recurring theme, with all panellists sharing how mentors had shaped their journeys. Albi spoke of how mentoring isn’t just about guidance; it’s also an opportunity for self-reflection and growth for the mentor themselves too.
The engagement from the audience, both in-person and virtual, was phenomenal. The questions posed were insightful and reflected the real challenges faced by women at different stages of their careers. Topics ranged from early-career strategies to balancing family and work and the importance of diverse hiring practices.
A standout moment during the discussion was the emphasis on the barriers presented by unconscious bias and how critical it is for organisations to take active steps to address these issues. One of the key takeaways was that real change begins when women witness other women advancing and growing within an organisation, creating a ripple effect of inspiration and possibility.
A commitment to diversity: NTT DATA’s role
Our UK&I CEO, Niccolo Spataro, closed the event with heartfelt remarks about the importance of diversity in the workplace. Drawing inspiration from his own family, he reminded us that diverse work environments aren’t just good for business, they are essential for creating a better industry and society.
Niccolo acknowledged that, while NTT DATA has made strides, there is still work to be done. His openness and humility were refreshing and reinforced the company’s commitment to learning from our partners and accelerating progress toward gender equity.
As the moderator of this event, I was deeply moved by the authenticity and openness of our panellists. While their journeys are unique, the common thread was a commitment to creating opportunities for others, particularly women, to thrive in tech.
Looking ahead
The Women in Tech Alliances launch is just the beginning. We are excited to continue this important conversation, collaborating with our partners and clients to create tangible change.
As Sarah said during the event, “Leadership is about standing for something and believing in it.” At NTT DATA, we are committed to standing for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and taking action to make these values a reality.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this incredible event, especially our panellists and attendees. Together, we are breaking barriers and building bridges for a more inclusive tech industry.
Stay tuned for updates on future events and initiatives. If you’re interested in collaborating or sharing your story, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me: Amandip.Jheeta@nttdata.com
