Women are becoming an increasingly important part of the tech landscape, but they still have a long way to go in terms of equal representation and treatment in this male-dominated industry. devmio wants to give inspiring women the opportunity to introduce themselves, share why they chose a career in technology, and encourage other women to do the same.

Every Wednesday, we celebrate women in the tech world. This week, we’d like to introduce you to Siki Giunta, Executive VP & Head of HCL CloudSMART Offerings Strategy & Industry Cloud Consulting at HCL Technologies.

Today’s Woman in Tech: Siki Giunta, Executive VP & Head of HCL CloudSMART Offerings Strategy & Industry Cloud Consulting at HCL Technologies

With over 20 years of experience in international operations, marketing, and sales, Siki Giunta is a seasoned executive with extensive knowledge of the global software, cloud, and internet of things (IoT) services marketplace. Siki leads the HCL CloudSMART Consulting Practice and Offering Strategy, coordinating resources and messaging for the HCL Cloud portfolio, collaborating with the Ecosystem Business Units, and orchestrating the HCL GTM & Practice Delivery Teams to deliver continuous modernization to HCL clients through agile, cloud native processes and platforms.

When did you become interested in technology? What first got you interested in tech?

My journey into technology was not straightforward. My educational anchor was civilisation, and my gender didn’t really draw me into technology — it was my curiosity that drove me there. I quickly understood that the world was at a crossroads and that technology would accelerate change. I took a calculated chance!

Could you tell us about your career path? How did you get to where you are now?

My journey to technology was atypical. I studied literature and art history at a college in Rome, Italy, and then pursued a second degree in French language and civilisation at La Sorbonne in Paris, France. Life was taking me on new adventures. Years later, I landed my first job in "technology." Being multilingual and having a strong logical thinking ability put me in a good position to learn new concepts. Being a woman with no prior experience in technology in Europe in the late 1970s didn't really help open doors. While the culture of working women has steadily improved, cultural acceptance of women in technology has been slow — and continues to be slow. I have always been an independent thinker, and this was fostered by my professors and colleagues. Today we call it “thinking outside the box.”

Did you receive support from your family and friends? Do you have a role model?

I have always been an independent thinker and led an independent lifestyle. My studies didn’t expose me to mentors in this field. My family was in a completely different line of work. I have been fortunate to have worked for and with strong and capable men and women who respected my capabilities. I still call on them today. In the last decade, there have been many more women in senior positions that have informally become my tribe of advisors — we are well-placed in many different companies.

Hiring and inspiring professionals is a gift I've been given, and the teams I've worked with have been my greatest source of pride.

Did anyone try to impede your success?

I am a force of nature — if there were people who tried to stop me, I ignored them and kept my own counsel. To succeed in any profession, at any time, you must provide your own energy and momentum. You must love learning and always be prepared to defend your position — whether you are managing people, managing a business, or your board of directors. Facts are your best friend and successful developers, engineers, and managers rely on facts.

What is your current position, and what company do you work for? What exactly do you do there, and what is a typical day like for you?

My workday is long and diverse. In my current position as Executive VP & Head of HCL CloudSMART Offerings Strategy & Industry Cloud Consulting at HCL Technologies I am a change agent and innovator. The best part of my day is working with our clients. I understand what they are trying to achieve. I am a good listener and a quick learner. Meeting with clients, listening to their vision, and understanding their challenges enables me to provide clear answers to their difficult questions. When I am not with clients, I work with my colleagues to accelerate HCL's growth. On behalf of HCL, I have hired and I work with a team of consultants to develop game-changing solutions for our clients. Life at HCL is both busy and rewarding.

What are you most proud of in your career?

We use the word "team" without fully understanding its power or the effort required to hire and grow a team. The first step is to hire the best people, followed by providing them with a vision of what we hope to achieve and enabling them by providing them with the tools they need to succeed individually. As a result, the team is a cohesive group of independent thinkers who bring their A game to work every day. A well-coordinated team is a critical success factor in many businesses. Hiring and inspiring professionals is a gift I was given, and the teams I have worked with have been my greatest source of pride.

To be successful as a woman in technology today you must accept the fact that you may have to work hard to be better than your peers.

Why aren't there more women in tech? What is your take on that?

Women play a variety of roles in technology and technology-related companies. When we talk about women in technology, we often refer to developers or engineers. These are certainly roles women play in technology companies. But there are many other roles in technology that are equally important as writing code. Technology companies are desperate for product managers, UI designers, customer service professionals, and sales and sales engineers. These are all jobs in technology. From my experience, women often have critical skills that allow them to excel in all of these roles. Women are often better listeners, consistently follow through on commitments and are creative — “think outside the box.” These are traits that are highly valued in technology companies. I have worked with several women who are technically intuitive, which means they don't have formal training as developers or engineers but can understand highly technical products and services.

Furthermore, the concept of being a "nerd" does not always appeal to young women in school. This concept is not well received at a young age. It is important to participate in school, learn to work in groups, and explain difficult concepts. Technology runs our world. We all use technology at every age and in every aspect of our lives, so we're all a little "nerdy."

What are some challenges women in tech face?

The problem is that in technology, people do not always appreciate the value of what we call “soft skills.” If you want to work in technology, you must first learn about human nature. Kindness goes a long way; patience is a virtue that is vastly underappreciated. To be successful as a woman in technology today you must accept the fact that you may have to work hard to be better than your peers. Another skill that is often undervalued but highly desirable is the ability to communicate or explain an idea. Several women I work with today are extremely good at presenting and explaining ideas. This is the one skill that has helped them gain acceptance and influence among their peers. Many developers and engineers are poor communicators. If you can develop this skill to complement your engineering skills, it will be a huge asset.

Some colleagues, regardless of gender or age, may have difficulty listening to and respecting opposing viewpoints. This places an additional burden on women to overcome their colleagues' lack of emotional intelligence.

Would our world look different if more women worked in STEM? What would be the benefits - socially, professionally, culturally, and economically - if there were more women in tech?

Without a doubt, any industry would benefit from more STEM resources, and without the female gender, it would be nearly impossible to meet any enterprise's human capital requirements. The world is adopting technology at such a rapid pace that every qualified individual, regardless of gender, race, or location, is needed.

I believe that more women in the workforce and in technology would benefit some geographical areas of the world, such as the African continent. Working women have a large economic footprint and impact when they get a job; they bring more completeness to social contributions and a clear recognition that motherhood is not an impediment but a complement to the social structure.

We cannot legislate diversity, but we can develop consistent ways of dealing with adults who have not learned the basics of respect and acceptance.

The conversation about diversity is heating up. How long will it take for the current debate to produce results?

I may be oversimplifying here, but diversity adds value and requires adults who respect one another and can accept an idea regardless of who contributed it. We cannot legislate diversity, but we can develop consistent ways of dealing with adults who have not learned the basics of respect and acceptance. This is, in my opinion, a generational issue. As parents, you can teach your children to be respectful and accepting of others. As more children grow into adults, each generation will be more accepting and respectful. It is the continuous improvement of human behaviour. Each generation is incremental. I do not think we can impose acceptance. We can pass laws, give tax breaks, and use other means to encourage acceptance, but none of this provides any guarantees. I am aware that companies lose valuable talent when they are unable to provide a respectful work environment.

We must be grateful for our accomplishments, but more work remains to be done; for example, equal pay remains an issue; we require a framework that is both just and inclusive.

Do you have any tips for women who want to enter the tech industry? What should other women know about working in the industry?

It is financially rewarding and provides limitless opportunities for intellectual and emotional growth.

Be curious because working in tech requires lifelong learning, experience, and stepping outside of one's comfort zone. I enjoy every day of work and cannot imagine doing anything else. If you are adaptable to change, enjoy learning, and are willing to constantly improve your craft, this is the perfect career for you!