EXECUTIVE INSIGHT
For me personally , allyship is about being very public with my support and advocacy . During Pride Month , for example , I had the chance to do a fireside chat with our US LGBTQ + KIN , but I also got to participate in the Pride Parade in Madrid where the local KIN leader is one of my mentees . I think it was important for everyone representing Kyndryl there to know they had support even beyond their country and immediate workplace .
I truly believe that being an ally is an active state . It ’ s not allyship if it ’ s passive , in my opinion . It ’ s about showing up , being visible , and actively working to support and shine a light on others .
Q . WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO ASPIRING WOMEN LEADERS IN TECH , AND WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING THE INDUSTRY TODAY ?
» We ’ ve made some progress on diversity and inclusion in tech , but we still have a long way to go . One of the main reasons we need to keep pushing on this , even if we just look at it from a business perspective , is that technology is rapidly changing .
We all walk around with tech in our hands every day . Kids grow up with it , so there ’ s a huge opportunity to use that excitement for tech to create a whole new generation of people who want to come into tech roles . They inherently get it because , in many cases , they ’ ve lived it since day one .
But we need to help people – particularly young women – believe that they could have a career in tech . We need to give them more role models – more executive women they can look at and say , “ Okay , I can aspire to be that .” We also need to help them with that first step forward , saying , “ I will try this ; I can see myself there .”
I remember when we hosted some high school students at our headquarters in Manhattan . We had fewer girls attend than expected , and we found out some had dropped out at the last minute because they weren ’ t sure they ’ d fit in or see people who looked like them , particularly women . It honestly broke my heart , but it also reinforced how important it is for people to see someone who looks like them to think it ’ s possible for them , too .
28 December 2024