Tatum Mares-Mandy, Account Executive
‘This is a man’s world..But it wouldn’t be nothing, nothing without a woman or a girl.’ James Brown’s iconic song immediately pops into my head when I think about being a woman in the tech world.
It can be extremely daunting as a young woman in such a male-dominated environment. But being part of the minority has certainly made me learn the importance of holding my own and the importance of not letting it become a barrier to my growth or success. I also realise how important my role is as a woman in tech, yes I am just Tatum. But I have a responsibility to be a voice for women and to help push for more women to enter the tech space!
Personally, the Women at Zayo UK ERG has been a great support network. I am able to speak to like-minded women in the company and together we work towards improving the support women get in the workplace and how we can attract more female talent.
I’ve also recently been accepted onto the 2023 Female Leadership cohort, a fantastic opportunity to develop my skills from a personal perspective but also a brilliant initiative to improve leadership diversity within Zayo. My advice for women in tech is to show up as your authentic self. You don’t need to toughen up or be one of the lads. Be YOU. Because it is more than enough!
Many of the incredible qualities that women have have previously been looked at as weaknesses, but actually, these traits are what make women great leaders. Women aren’t weak or too sensitive. But actually, women are proven to be better listeners, more compassionate, and more open, traits which we see in the very best leaders!”