BUSINESSWOMEN across Coventry and Warwickshire have been urged to put themselves forward for a major award.
The calls came during the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce’s latest Women In Business event at the Ettington Park Hotel where there were two inspirational speakers.
The 50 regional business people who attended heard just five per cent of leadership positions in the tech sector were held by women and only three per cent of females said a career in technology would be their first choice.
But it was the personal stories of two regional leaders in technology that stole the show.
Gisela Pink, managing director of Pink Connect, spoke about how she grew up in Buenos Aires and started her own design business which she later sold before doing an MBA in New York.
After time in London and the Cotswolds, she joined forces with her husband-to-be James Pink and eventually became MD of the IT, communications and technology business.
Gisela spoke about her passions outside of work – from karate to being a mum and from philanthropy through to cookery and of the importance of ‘being human and understanding people’.
“Understanding that and making sure everyone is accountable to each other for what we are doing, that’s what helps to make the business a success.”
Clare Golby, head of public affairs at Kagool, a Coventry-based data and analytics and ERP consultancy, spoke about her journey from living in the shadow of Strangeways Prison in Salford and leaving school with four GCSEs to becoming a local councillor and landing the role with a global tech company.
Clare’s was first employed at the Job Centre and then a campaign to prevent a road development in her local community changed her life.
She highlighted the importance of having a strong team at work but also a supportive family outside of it.
Clare said: “My advice to anyone would be to try to say ‘yes’ when opportunities come along and then work out what you are going to do rather than thinking of the reasons why you can’t.”
Dr Sharon Redrobe OBE, who updated those gathered on the Women of the Year Awards scheduled to take place at the Birmingham Metropole in October, said it was great to hear from the two inspirational businesswomen.
She urged everyone to visit womenoftheyear.org.uk to find out more and to put themselves forward.
