Emma de Sousa

Managing director of Insight UK

Career history: 15 years at Insight in roles such as managing director of Germany and operations director of Europe; revenue manager for Japan and central Asia at British Airways.

Measure of influence: Runs the entire Insight UK operations, which according to its latest accounts turned over more than £424m.

Activities to advance women in tech: Has a 50:50 gender split on her team of direct reports.

What are the key business benefits of having a diverse workforce in general?

I'd just love to see more talent and I want everyone out there to see us an industry as somewhere they can come and thrive in. That's what matters to me, not gender. We need to be very careful not to stereotype.

Women have plenty to offer - like anyone with talent has - and we shouldn't generalise and stereotype. We're all individuals and we all have unique combinations of skills and experience. We should take everyone on their own merit.