Women in tech: From paper-based accounting to Head of Solution Architecture

Jaqui started her career with clerical and transactional levels and worked her way through every type of finance role to encompass FP&A, Financial Controller and Finance Director. It took her 5 years to go from a sales administrator to her first Group FD role and become a Qualified Management Accountant at the same time.

It seemed that every company she worked for had a system implementation or upgrade that she was heavily involved in. Having realised that she enjoyed the problem-solving, leadership and guidance from implementations, she set up her own Company to support small businesses transitioning from paper-based accounting  (yes paper!!) to Accounting systems including Audit sign-off.

As is the way of the world, it was a friend who introduced her to “AX”, and “Functional consulting” and she very quickly realised she had found her niche and her passion.

That was back in 2006 and now nearly 20 years later that has naturally evolved from functional consulting, solution architecture and enterprise architecture – all fundamentally geared to help organisations and fix problems.

It moves a lot faster now than it ever has and it is even more important to stay ahead. Everyone has such great expectations, but it still needs the respect any software/technology requires. For example, AI on its own will not fix all your problems.

You first need to understand the problem and what you are trying to achieve or overcome, this enables the right design using the right technology and implemented correctly will deliver the expected business value/benefit.

This is a difficult question as I firmly believe that you make your own path.

However,  acknowledgement that there is increased focus on diversity and inclusion, promotion of women in leadership roles and mentoring programmes.

What I think would be beneficial is to improve the marketing of roles within the Tech Industry to appeal to Women, to aid understanding and awareness.

Treat everyone with respect and fairness. It is ok to be strong, focused, driven, ambitious but do not step on people to get where you want to be.