Empowering Women in Tech: Sharon Moore MBE's Journey

In this episode of the Elevate Women in Tech podcast, host Kellie Kwarteng sits down with Sharon Moore, MBE - CTO for public sector in the UK at IBM technology - to explore leadership, innovation, and inclusion in the technology industry. With over 20 years of experience across outsourcing, consulting and sales, Sharon shares insights from her remarkable career and her passionate advocacy for women in tech.

Key Topics Covered:

• Technology Leadership Role: Sharon leads industry-specific technical vision for IBM in the public sector, helping with business development while getting "to the heart of government" to understand what they want to do and share where IBM has a vision for how technology can help make government better and more effective for everybody.
• Career Milestones and Challenges: Sharon shares pivotal moments including graduating with a first in software engineering, meeting mentors who shaped her path as an architect, and transitioning from outsourcing to consulting to sales while maintaining her technical focus. She admits she "didn't realise that I was a woman in tech for quite a while" but gradually became aware of unconscious bias and microaggressions many face.
• Creating Inclusive Communities: Sharon's advocacy began with creating communities where women could feel they belonged in the industry: "It really started for me about creating communities and hopefully safe spaces where women could get together and feel like they belonged so that we could keep them in the industry."
• Diverse Teams and Innovation: Sharon emphasises how diverse teams improve problem-solving: "When we work in diverse groups, we think through a problem more, we bring more angles to a problem. So we're more likely to come up with some of the gotchas that otherwise we wouldn't have come up with."
• Professional Development through BCS: As a trustee of BCS, Sharon discusses how the Chartered IT Professional (CITP) certification provides "that independent standard that shows your competence, your professionalism, your accountability, your credibility in the industry."
• Mentorship vs. Sponsorship: Sharon distinguishes between mentors who provide guidance and sponsors who advocate for you when you're not in the room: "There absolutely have been people who have been voices for me when I've not been in the room."
• Advice for Women in Tech: Her guidance includes: "Grab every opportunity that you can because who knows what things will come to you... but the learning to say no is we do need to get boundaries." She also cautions against being pigeonholed into stereotypical roles expected of women.
• Vision for the Future: Sharon envisions a more inclusive tech industry: "Diversity is not about creating conflict... We want justice for everyone. I would like to see us in a world five to 10 years time where we're embracing that even more."

Featured Insights:

• The value of creating communities for women in technology
• How BCS provides professional development and networking opportunities
• The importance of the CITP certification for establishing credibility
• The critical distinction between mentorship and sponsorship
• How diverse teams create more innovative solutions

Why Listen:

This episode provides valuable perspectives for both women navigating careers in tech and leaders committed to creating more inclusive environments. Sharon's journey offers practical insights on building resilience, finding community, and driving positive change in the technology sector.

Keywords:

Leadership, Technology, Women in Tech, Diversity, Inclusion, IBM, Public Sector, Advocacy, Career Journey, Mentorship, BCS Women, CITP Certification, Diversity in Tech, Mentorship, Sponsorship, Women in IT, Professional Development, Inclusion, Career Growth, Networking

Listen now to discover how Sharon Moore's journey can inspire your own path in technology and inclusion.