Sara Gemmell

Marketing director at Tech Data

Career history: Managing director at Networks First; head of marketing at Telenor Business Systems; sales and marketing at HP.

Measure of influence: Responsible for investing more than £12m marketing funds and works with more than 8,000 channel partners. Fifteen marketing managers report in to her.

Activities to advance women in the channel: Presented at Women in industry events and at schools

How significant an issue do you see the lack of women in tech?

I am disappointed that in the last 30 years I still have not seen a significant increase in the number of women in senior roles. I have met many talented women in the channel who are confused about why they are not progressing into leadership roles.