» SPOTLIGHT
Women's Day Supplement
CONFIDENT AND INSPIRED Loubna Imenchal, Head of video collaboration, Africa, Middle East, and Central Asia at Logitech speaks about how she has focused on being assertive and persistent in meeting her and the company’s objectoves What made you choose technology as your professional path? How has this journey been so far in terms of achieving professional success and personal happiness? There are many things I like about working in the technology sector. One of the main aspects is working at the bleeding edge of Innovation: It is inspiring work that fulfils a real need. Technology drives the way the world functions and the way people live. It is a must in the present and it creates the future. Technology is a broad, diverse sector with countless opportunities to develop and grow. This makes it the ultimate ‘portable’ career, meaning you can find a suitable, interesting role almost anywhere. From app development to computer forensics, cyber security to web design, the range of job roles and industries that fall under the technology umbrella is huge. More specifically, in my current role as Head of Video collaboration for AMECA region (Africa, Middle East Turkey, and central Asia) at Logitech, I believe that connecting people through technology is a valuable mission. Along with my team I am helping to enhance peoples’ relationships and give them the freedom to choose their way of working and studying. Does gender matter in channel sales in terms of expectations and recognitions? What are some of the common attributes as key differences between women and men in such roles? There are many stereotypes around the differences between men and women in the workplace, and particularly in sales and leadership roles. Men are often portrayed as being more aggressive, and women as more empathetic. When looking at the skills needed to succeed in demanding roles including technology leadership, I would say that it’s more important to be assertive than aggressive, and the ability to empathize is vital, because it is imperative that you understand what your partners and customer need, and to see things from their perspective. It's worth noting that the technology industry has always been male-dominated, and while the gender balance is slowly improving, there remains a lot of work to be done. For many young women interested in a career in technology, this imbalance can be intimidating.
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CXO DX / MARCH 2022
