‘A career in technology is not limited to technology’

Continuing our series of ‘9 questions with Women in Tech,’ today’s spotlight is on Emma Davies, Regional VP Global Alliance at Fortinet.

What inspired you to pursue a career in technology?

My degree is in Pharmacology so whilst totally unrelated to technology it gave me the scientific background to explore a new career in tech.   Expanding and honing other skills e.g. sales, communication, networking has enabled me to follow a new direction which has opened up so many new opportunities in my life.   A career in technology is not limited to technology – there are so many avenues to explore and so many countries to explore them!  Point of advice – there’s nothing you can’t try – if the opportunity is there then give it a go!

How have you dealt with challenges throughout your career?

I tend to deal with challenges head on, avoiding them or walking around them only creates extra work or confusion. A challenge shouldn’t always be seen as a negative thing – it is something that needs to be addressed in order to move forward and nine times out of ten will teach us something we didn’t know and make our next decision easier to make.  Try and approach them in a methodical way – knee jerk reactions rarely have the best result.

How do gender balance and a diverse workforce contribute to the success of an organisation?

If everyone was the same the world would be a very boring place.  Different people all have separate qualities and skills and a successful organization recognizes how to bring the best out of their workforce in order to harness the strengths of everyone’s uniqueness.  Having a room full of alpha sales people doesn’t necessarily give you the best sales team…..Also having an adaptive workforce allows an organization to grow in an organic direction – being aware of a changing dynamic means that we can adapt together.  I love the fact that Fortinet embraces everyone’s identities and sees us all for what qualities we bring to the table. One of the main bonuses of my job is meeting so many different people and learning about their lives and cultures – I feel very lucky to experience this as so many people’s work world’s are very small.

Do you have a female role model? If so, who is she and how has she inspired you?

My mother inspires me – she raised five children whilst supporting my father’s medical career, holds university degrees in History of Art, Accountancy and Radiography, there’s nothing she can’t turn her hand to.  She just encouraged us to work hard and enjoy a good and kind life.  I admire women who are confident in themselves and treat others how they’d like to be treated.  Too often women can read another the wrong way and we should make more of an effort to really help each other.  Kindness and respectfulness in the workforce are absolutely critical in our joint success and progression.  Be yourself and feel confident enough to navigate your way forward without having to act unnaturally.

What is it about your work that excites you?

I love the fact that the whole industry changes so rapidly and I am constantly having to adapt.  This means I can’t get tired or bored as I’m always dealing with new situations.  I also really enjoy the diversity of my organisation, from different roles to different cultures and personalities, I’m constantly learning and experiencing new things – keeps me young!

With technology moving so fast, how do you remain updated?

I rely on my team – I’m confident enough to recognise talent and delegate so that people around me are masters of their subject matter.  This means I can be kept up to date and feel at ease that we have our ever changing environment “mostly” covered – we also have to deal with unknowns but that’s what keeps us on our toes.  I also make sure I’m connected with all facets in my organisation so I understand what their roles and challenges are which means I have a wider awareness of the bigger picture.  Of course it’s important to be subscribed to key publications and when time allows you to read and follow the industry updates but it is also realistic to understand you can easily be swamped by data and firstly it’s important to understand your remit and what you need to keep up to date on.  We can’t singularly do and know everything which is why it’s so important to understand and respect your colleagues roles and responsibilities.

What’s your favorite motivational quote?

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper he should sweep the streets even as Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry.  He should sweep the streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say “Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”

Martin Luther King Jr – my version it doesn’t matter what role you have as long as you know you are doing your absolute best then there’s nothing more you can give.

Among all the gadgets you use, which is your favorite?

Ironically I’m not a massive gadget fan but I do have a bagel slicer which is just very cool!  I also really love well designed and efficient websites or apps for boring admin purposes like car tax or vaccination passports!  Anything that can save me time really – one day when I have more time I’d love to design an app but I’ll put that on my list

When it comes to progressing in a leadership role, what are the most important traits? Can you give one piece of advice to young females who are considering careers in tech?

I think my first piece of advice for a young female considering a career in tech is to not focus on being a young female!  You should consider all the options available to you – there are so many, legal, technical, finance, marketing, development, training, HR, the list goes on.  Whatever field you find exciting or interesting then ask for some time with someone in that department and start to explore what a career path could look like. We all bring different qualities and we are constantly learning and it’s this acknowledgement of not needing to know everything all of the time which will help you to continually better yourself.  It’s ok to be the quiet one in the room as long as you’re listening, it’s ok not to have the answer as long as you make time to go and find it out, be heard and create a network.  Most of all be credible, respectful and just be the best person you can be – then you will find your path.