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What does International Women’s Day mean to you personally, and how do you choose to celebrate it each year?
International Women's Day is a moment to reflect on how far we've come and to honour the women who led the way to get us here. Equally, it is a moment to raise awareness of how much still needs to change. This year, I'm especially grateful to be part of such an amazing community as WISE, and I'll of course be celebrating by joining our community event dedicated to International Women's Day. With this year's theme being "Gain to Give," I want to use the day as an opportunity to give back. In my case, that means mentoring other women and sharing whatever I've learned along the way.
You are the chair of our WISE community—what inspired you to take on this leadership role?
Honestly, I've been fortunate to have had strong sponsors and mentors throughout my career. Not everyone has that, and I'm very aware of that privilege. When the opportunity to chair WISE came up, it felt like a natural way to pay that forward. I've worked across multiple industries and countries, and I've seen firsthand how much of a difference even one supportive community can make in a woman's confidence and career trajectory. I wanted to help build that for others at Access.
Can you share a moment or achievement within the WISE community that you are particularly proud of?
I've moved around the business quite a bit since joining Access, and I always joke that Chair of WISE is my longest-held position here! A moment that made me particularly proud was last year's organisation of International Women's Day. Seeing how the team came together, such talented women from across the business working so hard to make it happen across different geographies, was really special. Seeing pictures coming in from Kuala Lumpur, Timisoara, and Cork, and then reading the feedback from the community afterwards… I felt genuinely connected and just amazed by what we were able to achieve together.
In your view, what are the biggest challenges women still face in the workplace today, especially in the tech sector?
The confidence gap is real, but I'd argue the structural barriers are even more significant than the individual ones. Women are still underrepresented in senior tech leadership, and the pipeline problem starts earlier than many organisations acknowledge. In product and engineering specifically, I've seen how sponsorship, not just mentorship, makes a critical difference. Mentors give advice; sponsors open doors. Women tend to receive more mentoring and less sponsoring, which is something I actively try to counteract within my own team and through WISE.
How has The Access Group supported your growth and development as a woman in your field?
I genuinely love change, and Access is a great place for that. I've been at the company for 2.5 years now and have moved around quite a lot. I actually entered through an acquisition myself, and since then I've had three different roles spanning the Hospitality division, a central function, and now ERP. If you say yes and stay curious, there are tons of opportunities. With an ever-evolving organisation comes an ever-growing number of paths to explore. I've also had my first woman manager at Access, who has been an exceptional sponsor. She's given me invaluable advice to sharpen my approach and keep progressing.
What advice would you give to women who are early in their careers and aspire to take on leadership roles?
Three things. First, seek sponsors, not just mentors. Find people who will advocate for you in rooms you're not in yet. Second, don't wait until you feel 100% ready before putting your hand up, because that moment rarely comes. I've taken on roles that stretched me well beyond my comfort zone, moved across countries, and made career moves that didn't follow a straight line, and every single one taught me something that made me a better leader. Third, invest in your community. The women you support and champion early in your career will become some of your greatest collaborators and advocates later. Lifting others is a long-term strategy.