Critical Careers - Women Building Careers in Digital Infrastructure - Book - Page 99
What shifts still need to happen at an
industry level to ensure long-term progress
for women in this sector?
“It’s genuinely exciting
to be so involved in the
global infrastructure
which underpins
modern life.”
How would you describe your leadership
style today and how has it evolved from
earlier in your career?
I care a lot about the people I work with, and I try to create opportunities
for them that are slightly outside their comfort zone but still feel safe.
That is how I developed, and I think it is a really effective way to
build con昀椀dence.
I am also very conscious that the work can be quite high intensity, so it
is not just about whether people are delivering, but also about how they
are doing more broadly. Checking in on that is important.
I think I have become more openly empathetic over time. Earlier in my
career, there was more of an expectation to lead in a certain way, which
was less emotional and more traditionally “professional”. Now, I lean
more into my empathetic side because I think that kind of leadership
matters. It is where you build loyalty, where teams really come together,
and where people feel valued.
During a recent face-to-face negotiation meeting, everyone there on my
client’s side of the transaction was a woman. That felt really empowering.
It was, however, noticeable and it struck me how unusual it still is. It was
not in any way remarkable that everyone representing the counterparty
was male. My hope is that we get to a point where an all-female team is
just as unremarkable as an all-male one is today.
When I was made partner in May 2024, I was honoured to have
two fellow female data centre partners be promoted alongside me.
Celebrating each other’s successes matters.
There are still situations where you might be the only woman in the
room, and there are still some underlying biases that exist. Alongside
that, there are differences in how people put themselves forward. Men
are often more likely to be vocal about what they have achieved and
what they want to be involved in, which means they are the 昀椀rst people
thought of.
I think there is a role for everyone in the room to challenge that and ask
whether the right people are being given opportunities, rather than just
those who speak up 昀椀rst. At the same time, encouraging people to feel
comfortable putting themselves forward is also important.
There is also a broader point around the industry itself. Digital
infrastructure is still not particularly well understood, and that lack of
clarity can put people off. If you do not fully understand what the role
involves or what the industry is about, you are less likely to feel con昀椀dent
applying for it. So continuing to demystify the industry and make it more
accessible is key.
The other point is around how we frame the conversation. I think often
it is positioned purely as a gender issue, whereas in reality a lot of it
comes down to caregiving responsibilities and how those are balanced.
Shifting the conversation to focus on that more broadly would make it
more inclusive.
I think it’s important that we speak up if something doesn’t sit right; that
we empower people to advocate for themselves in rooms where they
have a voice; and that we advocate for them in rooms where they do not.
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