BEING CONSCIOUS AND AWARE IS THE FIRST STEP TO INJECTING DIVERSITY

By: Sumi Shukla, Vice President Global Partner & EMEA Marketing, at Riverbed

aware of gender bias. We are seeing strides being made to drive for more inclusivity but sadly challenges do occur. Personally, some challenges that stand out for me as not only a woman in tech, but one of colour centres around the theme of being heard. This is a common challenge for women. Being spoken over, or simply dismissed, not only by men, requires women to remain confident and resilient.

What advice would you give to young women who are interested in pursuing a career in your industry?

The technology industry is a great environment for any young woman, as there are a variety of disciplines from Product Development and Engineering to Sales and Marketing. My advice would be to identify a role model and seek mentorship, as my mentors have been so instrumental in my journey.

What motivates you to continue working, and what keeps you inspired?

Sumi Shukla VP Global Partner & EMEA Marketing, Riverbed Technology

Can you tell us a bit about your journey and how you got to where you are today in your industry?

I have been honoured to work for some fantastic companies during my career. I would really say my career in IT started when I left university and was fortunate to secure a sales position at a Distributor. I was lucky after this to move to Cisco, where I spent the best part of my career in various roles. Cisco is a phenomenal environment to learn the importance of vision, purpose, and structure. I then moved to Riverbed six years ago and I’m now privileged to lead two fantastic teams here – the EMEA Marketing organization, and last year, taking on an extended scope to build and lead a Global Partner marketing team.

What challenges have you faced as a woman in your industry, and how did you overcome them?

As you progress within the corporate environment, and your experiences develop, one becomes more acutely

I am the proud mother of two amazingly talented daughters. They are my purpose, my inspiration, and my world. It’s important for me, that I show them the value of independence, aspiring and a career and to continue to champion an inclusive, equal world for them and their generation.

How do you balance your personal life and work, and what strategies do you use to maintain that balance? This is a very real challenge. Having the backing, encouragement and support of an amazing husband has been key in my career. It’s important to prioritise your family and ensure quality time is dedicated to your personal life, just as it is for your work life. Setting boundaries, ensuring your team recognise this is important. It’s also key to lead by example. Being mindful of your team members, and/or colleagues personal time is important and for them to reciprocate.

What are some of the biggest misconceptions people have about women in your industry, and how do you address them?

Women in technology are stereotyped into careers either in HR or Marketing. At Riverbed, we are taking tremendous strides and we’re proud to have women leading our Engineering, Product and Channel teams. Being conscious and aware is the first step to injecting diversity into the workforce.