C-level Briefing: Alex Tempest, Director of Partners at TalkTalk Business, talks women in tech and how “it is a privilege to be a woman in this industry at the moment.”

Following Cisco CTO Alison Vincent, techUK President Jacqueline de Rojas and Egnyte CSO Isabelle Guis, Alex Tempest is next to tackle the women in tech issue with Editor Ellie Burns.

Tempest is Director of Partners at TalkTalk Business, having joined the company in 2012 from Juniper Networks.

Responsible for a partner community of 750 resellers and a team of over 30 partner account managers, her responsibilities include channel development and helping partners realise the benefits of the company’s Next Generation IP-based converged voice and data services.

In this latest addition to CBR’s Women in Tech series, Tempest discusses an industry which she believes is “on the cusp of a major shift.”

EB: How do you think women should approach a work environment which is male dominated?

AT: I believe that the cultural and political heartbeat of any organisation lies with the leadership team, and understanding this dynamic is critical when approaching the work environment, from both a male and female perspective.

It’s essential that women recognise the importance their contribution has to a business, and this must be reflected in the attitude, energy and enthusiasm of the senior team. Fuelled by this, women should be aware of their skills and adapt them accordingly, ensuring they are clear on their objectives and their own individual path to success.

By embracing this ethos, they can be strong in their opinions and confident in their abilities, regardless of the team structure or gender scenario.

EB: Do you think a woman’s approach to work is impacted by the male-dominated environment?

AT: In a male-centric workplace, it is important for women to play on their strengths and develop skills that allow them to be confident and directive, which will help them to establish their position as a leader.

They should think strategically and define their value by understanding what they bring to the table, then emphasise these skills to drive business success.

While in my experience I wouldn’t call the technology industry ‘male dominated’, there is still work to be done to equalise the gender imbalance and I’m definitely seeing a dynamic change in terms of leadership flow as well as culture across the industry.

EB: Have you personally faced discrimination due to the fact that you are a woman? How did you deal with that discrimination?

AT: I haven’t experienced this myself, but I have seen others face it. Let’s be clear, discrimination at work because you’re female doesn’t just come from men. To this end, I’ve often been intrigued at how men unconsciously create lasting relationships and will go that extra mile to make sure they keep them.

There is definitely room for more women to echo this behaviour. Building a strong network helps to champion your career progression and that can only be a good thing.

EB: How have you learned to work as a minority in the workplace?

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