Print IT Reseller - issue 52

PRINT IT RESELLER.UK 39 WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY before being appointed Director of Technology Services in November 2011. My current responsibilities include the management of the internal IT infrastructure and development of solutions to support the business and the membership. I am a strategic planner, problem solver and persuasive leader with demonstrable success in business analysis, project management and supply chain with expertise in developing systems, processes and procedures to increase productivity, efficiency and minimise costs. I am currently overseeing the management of a number of group initiatives including the development of Integra’s Workwear web solution to support diversification and a new membership website. I represent the group and members and am an avid contributor to the BOSS Synergy Committee, driving initiatives to support the dealer channel. I have been instrumental in the creation of the Catalyst program which provides managed technology to partners, and am committed to the development of solutions and processes to take cost out of dealer businesses, whilst also supporting partners with diversification strategies to grow their business. I believe technological advances have seen the traditional OP market declining and the development of additional sectors such as education, healthcare and workwear as important to the development of dealer business. What’s the best thing about your job? The diversity of the role. Technologies are changing and updating all the time. Diversification and expansion into new industries sectors presents challenges for dealers. My focus is on developing solutions and services to support the changing business models of our members and to eliminate the complexity by providing robust data and support to give them time to devote to sales and growing their business. I’m fortunate in that Integra is a great company to work for and supports the development of its staff. I also have an incredibly supportive team who go the extra mile. My work with the Boss Synergy Committee is also rewarding, the establishment of industry standards are vital to the support of the dealer channel. Initiatives such as the Uniform for product set-up and the development of the Boss Attribute Standards maintained by Fusion data have been paramount in the development of robust data to support the dealer community. What would make your life easier at work? More hours in the day! Tracey Rawling Church, Independent Sustainability Specialist www.csr.guru I’ve recently left corporate life after almost 25 years, to become an independent consultant and non- executive director specialising in corporate social and environmental responsibility. I didn’t set out to have a career in technology – I applied to Kyocera because I was excited by the opportunity to work on the first sustainable B2B product I had ever seen: its Ecosys printer range which launched in 1992. I joined as PR manager and one of my proudest moments was when our campaign beat the Windows 95 launch to the Best Technology Campaign of the year at the PR Week awards. We were also the first Kyocera division worldwide to have a website, although it was shockingly rudimentary by today’s standards. Progressing through several roles in marketing, I retained a strong focus on environmental and social responsibility and it became woven into culture and strategy. My team launched the first green business network in 2000 and later the first green channel partner programme. The advent of managed document solutions provided the opportunity to work with customers on embedding sustainable document practice in their organisations alongside the technology. As the sustainability agenda matured, my role at Kyocera gravitated towards it; the marketing element of my job was gradually subsumed by CSR and environmental matters and I was eventually appointed Head of CSR. Through partnerships with Green Alliance, Forum for the Future and Responsible100 I had the opportunity to study best practice from sustainability leaders both within and outside the tech industry and to work on innovative and inspiring projects. What’s the best thing about your job? The best thing about my current job is that ‘aha’ moment when a client realises that embedding environmental and social responsibility into strategy will reduce costs and enhance competitiveness. Technology has much to offer when it comes to doing business in a more resource efficient fashion, and the knowledge I gained from working in the industry is extremely helpful when helping clients optimise their infrastructure and business processes from an energy and waste perspective. What would make your life easier at work? Now I work from a home office, I rely heavily on technology and it’s remarkable how little difference there is between the corporate and home office environment. However, I’ve yet to find a 100 per cent reliable super-fast home internet provider – now that would certainly make my life easier. My team launched the first green business network in 2000 and later the first green channel partner programme Tracey Rawling Church Margaret Reilly