By Insight UK / 13 Sep 2019
1. Can you give us a bit of background on yourself and what you do at Insight?
I’ve been working at Insight for 14 years, starting out as a buyer for networking, moving up into a senior buyer role where I took on the Special Bid team. After the acquisition of Software Spectrum, I was asked to take on the EMEA countries outside of DACH and France.
I have had a number of roles across the business;
In 2013 I was promoted to Purchasing Manager for EMEA and was asked to move onto the iCare project. At the end of 2013 the Purchasing Director and Senior Purchasing Manager both left Insight so I stepped into those roles supporting the SVP of Operations until 2015 when an Operations Director was appointed. In 2017 I was promoted to Head of Procurement EMEA, and since my return from maternity leave in February 2018, I have taken on alongside the EMEA Procurement, Product Operations EMEA, the Special Bid & Deal Registration Team, ERP Operations Specialist. At the start of 2019, I was promoted to Head of Procurement and Product Operations EMEA which is my current role.
2. What tech industry trends do you predict for the next decade?
The ability for AI to do some of the thinking for us … automating business processes to help us operate more cost effectively.
For example, reviewing deal registrations can be a time consuming task due to the volume we receive – we could look to bots to help speed up the process in the future. This would not mean we replace people, they still have their place in the team. I would see them adding value through becoming subject-matter experts working on some of the more complex tasks and upskilling in specialist areas.
3. What’s the most frustrating thing about the tech industry?
The perception that the IT industry is male dominated still exists. Friends have often wondered what my role involves working in the IT industry – many think a lot of the roles are still very IT-centric such as coding.
When I first started at Insight, the majority of Industry leaders were male – I would regularly be the only female in a meeting room with 10 male managers or directors from our distributors or vendors.
It has now become a much more diverse environment with a more gender-balanced leadership team.
4. What’s your earliest tech memory?
Mario Brothers on the classic Nintendo games console in the 80’s - I think they are classed as vintage now!
5. How would your best friend describe you in 3 words?
Kind, resilient, forthright.
6. What one piece of tech could you not live without?
My phone, although I am sure I would find a way if required.
7. What’s something most people don’t know about you?
I can play and can read music.
8. What do you need to be successful in the tech industry?
You need passion for it and a good team to support you.
Look out for the next instalment in this series on Insight’s nominees for the Women in Channel Awards
