International Women’s Day: An interview with members of IGEL Technology’s Executive Leadership Team

International Women’s Day is an important day to celebrate female achievements. The theme this year is #EmbraceEquity and aims to promote a gender equal world, free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive, where difference is valued and celebrated.

IGEL has transitioned over the past 6 years from a mid-sized hardware manufacturer to a global leading innovator of software for secure access to any digital workspace. At the core of IGEL is an experienced and skilled workforce, who are hired for their skills and not gender.

To mark International Women’s Day, the IGEL4Women in Tech Employee Resource Group met with three of our female leaders, Helen Carroll, Anja Schulz, and Christiane Ohlgart.

Let’s begin with Helen Carroll, Senior Vice President of Global Marketing at IGEL.

Helen is a strategic marketing leader with twenty plus years of experience in the technology sector. Having worked for companies such as, Ivanti, Heat Software, BMS Software and Sun Microsystems [now Oracle]. A worldwide team builder focused on developing individuals to grow and achieve in a result driven environment and delivering an exceptional customer experience.

Today Helen gives us insight into some of the lessons she has learnt during her career.

Q1: What leadership lessons have you learnt during your career? 

Having worked for many different leaders, I’ve witnessed varying styles. From the Dictatorial style, great if you want to increase your company attrition rates, not so great if you want a productive team. Through to All-Inclusive Leaders who are great communicators, build teams based on skills and not gender, and empower their team to drive the right outcomes.

Leadership for me is about being authentic, teamwork and trust. Treating people, the way you’d like to be treated. Be humble, accept advice, input and knowledge.

Q2: How important is it for women to support each other in the workplace and what does that mean to you?

This topic is especially important to me. My early career was in the Financial Services sector, at the time it was a very male dominated industry. I remember vividly on my second day, the assistant branch manager telling me that “girls” should be in the home producing families and not in the Bank. He said that I’d never have a career. I was shocked but annoyed, I remember thinking “how dare he tell me what to do”. I had no one to turn to and ask for advice. The Banking industry then was very male dominated, there was no support network. From that day on, I’ve never let anyone get in my way of doing what I want with my career I’m glad the world is changing and becoming more inclusive, I wish it had been like that for my younger self!

Q3: As a woman in a senior position in the technology sector what do you think are the most important characteristics to get you to that level?

Teamwork. Without a team, I wouldn’t have my role today [or any of my previous leadership roles]. Empathy, Transparency, Clear communicator, Inclusivity and Trust. Be confident. If you have a dip in your confidence, there’s no shame in seeking reassurance from others. Having a mentor as you grow your career is a great way to receive constructive input.

Q4: Based on your own experience working in technology, what advice would you give to women looking to progress in the tech industry?

Be determined and ask for help when you need it. If you know where you want to go to but are not sure how to get there, just ask. With IGEL, we have many great female leaders that would be delighted to provide advice and share their personal experiences. There will always be someone that can help you.

Q5: Can you name one woman who has inspired you?

It’s not just women that have inspired me as leaders but men too. I’ve been lucky to work with and for inspirational male leaders. If you look back at historical figures, there have been many inspiring female and male leaders that have broken the mould and gone beyond what was previously possible.

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Anja Schulz, Managing Director & General Counsel Legal Compliance

Anja offers extensive experience in legal advice and consultation to management boards in digital environments and in building and leading legal teams focused on adding value to the company. Experienced in contract negotiation as well as employment law topics.

Anja shares her experiences in her career in the technology sector.

Q1: What leadership lessons have you learnt during your career?
“Walk the talk” – build trust by being reliable and transparent in your decision making and share the information your team needs to do the best job they can.
Listen and foster the personal growth of your team members, give them the opportunity to grow, develop new skills and encourage them to learn new things.

Q2: How important is it for women to support each other in the workplace and what does that mean to you?
I think it is key to equality. Men have been supporting each other for the past hundred years, it is time for women to stop being afraid or envious of other females and start supporting each other. Look out for other talented females and encourage them to take on new projects. Present and open opportunities to female colleagues for which they would not ask by themselves.

Q3: As a woman in a senior position in the technology sector what do you think are the characteristics most important to get you to that level?
Stamina and resilience, work hard and make yourself visible to the management. Take credit for your achievements and ask for opportunities to develop your skills and take on new projects. Be self-confident even if you don´t know it all (yet). Also, be patient your time will come.

Q4: Based on your own experience working in technology, what advice would you give to women looking to progress in the tech industry?
Build a network and look for mentors, female but also male mentors who support and inspire you on your way. Don´t give up after setbacks. Don´t take things personal, which are often institutional discrimination rather than personal attacks. Stay curious and ahead of new technologies to become of source of knowledge for others.

Q5: This year’s International Women’s Day theme is #Embrace Equity” and aims to get employers talking about why “equal opportunities are no longer enough”, what does that mean to you?
There is no “one size fits all” equity is picking up someone where they are coming from to help them getting to where they aspire to be. Look at the individuals needs and don´t let bias rule your decision. Don´t assume what people/women want, find out by listening and adapt the workplace environment to the needs. Equal is not always just or fair, as an employer we have to be conscious about that.

Q6: Can you name one woman who has inspired you?
Unfortunately not, not a lot of female role models in my childhood or in the early days of my career. What inspired me at one point was this quote by Shirley Chisholm: “If they don´t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair”. Become part of the conversation, don´t shy back from having and articulating your opinion, it matters as much as anyone else’s opinion.

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Christiane Ohlgart, Chief Financial Office at IGEL Technology

Christiane is an experienced finance leader and business professional with excellent leadership qualities and a broad range of skills and experience gained within the Software, SaaS and Cybersecurity Industry.

Christiane shares her experiences gained throughout her career in the technology sector.

Q1: What leadership lessons have you learnt during your career?
We can be our worst enemy. We question and doubt ourselves much more than men do. This reduces our self-confidence and belief in ourselves.

Q2: How important is it for women to support each other in the workplace and what does that mean to you?
It is important to share each our thoughts and observations, because we typically have a different meeting and communication style then men. For example when men can start a meeting talking about all kinds of sports leagues, women often think, can we come to the point, I have more things to do today😊

Q3: As a woman in a senior position in the technology sector what do you think are the characteristics most important to get you to that level?
I think it depends on the role you have in a technology company. I don’t think that there are specific characteristics that make us more or less successful in different industries, I think it is more a question of how many women “select” a specific type of job, and what is important to them.

Q4: Based on your own experience working in technology, what advice would you give to women looking to progress in the tech industry?
Independent of the industry or role, you need people that back you up and that support you. You need that support in the job, in your network as well as at home. We need to also learn to ask for help. Believing we need to do everything ourselves will not necessarily make us successful.

Q5: This year’s International Women’s Day aims to get employers talking about why “equal opportunities are no longer enough”?
Equal opportunity has a lot of different characteristics. On the one hand, we live in a world that is more and more global providing more opportunities for women, on the other hand we see and hear about more and more traditional thinking and traditional role models surfacing in some cultures impacting women’s rights. Even if there is progress for women’s rights and opportunities in the western world, male dominance, and traditional views may result in the reduction of women’s rights.

We also should not forget that equal opportunity is very closely related to education. Education is expensive and not everyone can afford to get educated. In addition, education often correlates with fewer children, as women want to gain work experience or pay off their student debt before they have children. In my view, it is important that education and careers do not negatively impact the ability to have a family. I am a firm believer that equal opportunity means there is choice and opportunity for both genders.

Unfortunately, it is not easy to answer this question with a simple short answer.

Q6: Can you name one woman who has inspired you?
I have been inspired by many people, but I don’t think I could point to one woman or man specifically.

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If you would like to influence the future of technology, be part of IGEL’s journey as a software-only vendor and lead the end-user computing market with the innovations that enable the digital workplace. Be confident, find an area that interests you and go after it!

If you’re looking for a role in the tech industry that embraces equality and offers equal opportunities then have a look at IGEL Careers.