What's the best career advice you've ever received?
Be happy - it's that simple. We spend a lot of time at work, so doing something you enjoy is really important.
How did you choose what industry you wanted to work in?
In first instance, I really wanted to work for a prestigious and well-recognised, global organisation. I actually chose the company, IBM, not the industry.
What difference do you believe being a woman has made to your career?
In IBM, gender is irrelevant in terms of career progression. We have a female CEO, Ginni Rometty.
What have you had to risk/sacrifice to get to the position you have?
I work long hours but that it is because I am very committed to my job, and I love it as it brings great career and personal satisfaction.
What advice would you give to aspiring graduates looking to work in your field?
Be inspired by what technology can do. IBM's supercomputer Watson is already making great strides in medical diagnostics - so changing people's lives for the better.
What have you struggled most with since starting your career, and do you have any advice on how to overcome it?
Self confidence - and this appears to be something that women in particular can suffer from in the work place. Self knowledge is all important and recognising your own inherent characteristics and then working to address development points, makes a huge difference.
Do you feel diversity is an issue where you work?
No, I don't, but in the industry as a whole we do have challenges in attracting women, despite multiple schools and university initiatives.
What do you enjoy most about working in this industry?
The world around us is constantly changing, becoming smaller, flatter and smarter. At IBM, we want to be at the forefront of technological innovation. We want to infuse intelligence into the systems that make the world work - into things no one would recognise as computers: roadways, power grids, clothes, even natural systems such as agriculture and waterways. We see change as an opportunity and this is what makes working here so exciting.
