Claroty chief customer officer Shira Bar Yosef
“Early in my career in the cyber security domain, I recognised I want to align my professional journey with my passions.
This led me to transition from software coding to focus on customer engagement, a field I find deeply fulfilling. Since then, I've had the privilege of leading global organisations with a primary focus on crafting exceptional customer experiences. My guiding principle is: when you do what you love, you approach it with passion. And when you approach things with passion, you inspire others to follow, creating a collaborative environment where everyone can soar. Success is never a solo act. Collaboration is at the heart of everything I do, and I am incredibly fortunate to have a talented and dedicated team by my side. Together, we consistently conquer every challenge and objective we set for ourselves.
In light of International Women’s Day, I can tell that being a woman has never shaped my career goals or impacted the selections I have made throughout my professional journey. However, the more I have been in this field it became evident to me that despite of the growing numbers of women that we see today, we still have a way to go, and our landscape is missing more women.”
Cloudera senior vice president Asia Pacific and Japan Remus Lim
"Working professionals are often concerned with their pathway to success and want the confidence of being set up for success as they take on elevated roles. This is the kind of environment that Cloudera has long established where individuals feel ready and supported as they progress upwards, and we did so by implementing two targeted initiatives.
Firstly, we ensure our employees have the resources required to advance their careers. Our human resources team works closely with them to provide the necessary support and tools that can help chart their progress and strengthen their competency to take on leadership roles.
Secondly, we have implemented a mentorship program to connect women executives with successful women leaders. Through coaching programs and networking sessions, it inspires and creates confidence for them to progress to the next role. Recently, Cloudera promoted several women leaders in the region, including positions such as country leaders for Singapore and Indonesia.
Most importantly, we found that being open and listening to what our employees need in order to take the step forward has been crucial. By collecting feedback, we draw insights on how we can support them better, taking a leaf from how we help our customers do better with data."
F5 chief product officer Kara Sprague
“This International Women’s Day serves as a reminder that we need a wider variety of voices and perspectives across all organisations. And to achieve that, we need more women and people of underrepresented gender identities to rise through the ranks as leaders. Yet, the path to progression doesn’t come without challenges.
“I’ve experienced several occasions in rooms in which my voice was not heard, or ideas not acknowledged as mine. My way of navigating these microaggressions is to mentally note them, but not let them get in the way of driving to a successful outcome from the meeting. If your contribution was ignored but you still feel strongly that it can help advance the agenda of the meeting, then repeat it or say it differently. If your idea was acknowledged but misattributed, find a way to set the record straight without interrupting the progress of discussion—for example, by building further on the idea or following up with stakeholders after the meeting concludes.”
F5 regional marketing director APCJ Jade Meara
“The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day celebrations is #inspireinclusion and I am inspired by the progress I’ve seen in the last ten years I’ve been volunteering for inclusion groups and not-for-profit organisations committed to furthering inclusivity. Last month, Australia for the first time released data reflecting the gender pay gap at every private company with over 100 employees. Whilst the data paints a unfavourable picture, with some of the country’s largest employers posting gender pay gaps of up to 40% in favour of male employees, there is hope that awareness leads to action. I am of the opinion you can’t fix what you don’t know is broken. I am inspired to keep up my personal mission of #inspiringinclusion in the Technology industry, and hope by the time my daughter enters the workforce, we can see the gap reduced to nil.”
Equinix vice president human resource Asia Pacific Hwa Choo Lim
"This International Women's Day, we celebrate the achievements of women who have overcome obstacles and shattered stereotypes. For years, Equinix has championed the empowerment of women through WomenConnect, which provides mentorship and support, ensuring every woman can excel within our organisation.
Most recently, Equinix introduced “Equinix Hire Up Program," an initiative incorporating Equinix hiring principles and a refined six-step hiring process alongside comprehensive interview and talent selection skills training. This initiative underscores our dedication to fair and equitable hiring practices, attracting top talent to bolster Equinix's transformation journey.
Our proactive efforts to address gender bias and inequality have led to a notable increase in gender representation in recent years. Establishing 9 Employee Engagement and Collaboration Networks (EECNs) and 35 WeAreEquinix teams demonstrates our commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture. These endeavours yielded tangible results, with a significant 13% year-over-year increase in our global female workforce as reported in our 2023 earnings.
At Equinix, we recognise that diverse perspectives drive continued innovation and advancement. We remain unwavering in our commitment to creating opportunities that empower women and contribute to a more balanced and thriving organisation."
