The Lorraine Chase of IT – “were you truly wafted here from Paradise?”……. No Basildon!
I’m not an adventurer or much of a risk taker, in fact just down to earth with a face that tells you exactly what I’m thinking. Imposter Syndrome is real, very real. Overcoming it as a woman working in a man’s world is very challenging, so whilst I don’t climb mountains or jump off cliffs with elastic bands round my waste, some days those challenges were just as exhilarating.
I started my degree journey a little later in life, coming from a working-class family, youngest of 6 I have come to realise over the years that I got my grit and determination as well as my energy from my late Mum. A true force to be reckoned with!
Having had the most amazing start to my working life, working for Gerald Ronson at Heron Corporation in the very early ‘80’s where there was no voicemail, no mobile phones, no Google, no expectations and certainly no worries about job security or life in general – I was an original DINK-ie (Double Income, No Kids) – life was one big party.
I always loved technology and as it evolved, I was determined to be part of that journey. Marriage came, kids came, financial crash came…..
I wanted to break free from the rest so decided to pay for my degree. When I think back now, I understand why people laughed – I had nothing, and we could barely put food on the table.
I worked nights in document production to pay for my degree, dabbled with my own training company but the feast and famine of owning a business wasn’t sustainable so of a night-time I got a part time job training to make ends meet. Law has always been my passion and whilst working nights at O’Melveny and Myers, not knowing where it would end and how far I would get on my degree journey, I got my break. They offered me a full-time night role and it was a no brainer. As much as I wanted to run my own business, I had to face facts, I needed regular income and had to make the sacrifice.
When you have had to make a decision that means saying goodbye to your pipe dream it’s tough – real tough. Not wanting to show defeat to the doubters it made me even more determined. Determination is a great adrenaline feed – the more determined the more the adrenaline would kick in. Being able to work all night, be mother to two young children, study all day, party in-between and take care of a strong powerful woman who had been slain by Dementia, took all the true grit and determination that powerful woman had taught me over the years.
Forward fast 10 years, 2:1 Honours degree, Bsc, I regret my Mum didn’t see the end of that journey, but more that I had the determination and stamina to see it through. I had made IT Manager by then, via a short stint at Fried Frank, following my departure from O’Melvany & Myers. And fast forward another 10 years and I made it to the Top 100 IT Leaders in Computing Magazine.
I found networking would be my key and this brief story is about one night which taught me so much about the industry I loved, so much about how many men in that industry had a perception of women and about how much I loved the outcome of this encounter!
A young man who worked for me at the time – I will call him “M”, joined me for a Legal Technology Event (which will remain nameless).
We were relatively new on the circuit and whilst he was suited and booted, and I have to say as being part Portuguese quite easy on the eye (well if you were 20 years younger than myself!).
I went to get us a drink from the bar and came back to find “M” talking to a another quite enthusiastic young man. I soon realised that he was a salesman, again remaining nameless. He was very engaged with “M” and as I joined the discussion, it was clear he didn’t like my intrusion in his “soft sell”. I let them chat, he moved me more and more out of their small circle to the point I was virtually peering in from the outside. Inwardly I wanted to punch his lights out. Outwardly I kept my calm, sipped my wine and watched on.
As the conversation was drawing to a close – the kill – the young man said to “M” “perhaps I can come to see your offices at Milbank, buy you a coffee and talk more about our services”.
The Golden Moment…..
“M”’s response was priceless for me. He said, I’m sure that would be lovely (the ever polite gentleman) BUT you will have to ask Annette who is our IT Manager
Going back to the face that can’t hide what it’s thinking I said very few words… possibly two if my memory serves me well.
Lessons:
Never underestimate the person who is buying the drinks
Never make assumptions
People aren’t always who you perceive them to be
Men and Women are all capable of things that aren’t stereotypical of their sex – if you think differently, it may come back to bite you
Don’t mess with me – I’ve had a journey that has taken me on many roads and they have all led to where I am today and I wouldn’t change a thing.
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