Yvonne Matzk

CRN: What is your proudest achievement in DEI to date?

YM: " Founding and building The Channel Community, along with other industry friends. The community has been created to help and support individuals reach their full potential through mentoring or offering advice and support on specific issues and challenges to individuals from all demographics who aren't already privileged to have access to it."

CRN: How much progress do you believe the industry has made in diversity since you started working in IT?

YM: "Since I started working in IT, the industry has made great progress, especially in terms of awareness and gender."

CRN: What should senior management teams be doing more to help create a more inclusive industry for everyone?

YM: "Lead by example, and when they have reached senior positions, make more of an effort to pay it forward and create more opportunities for those people less fortunate than them."

CRN: How did you first get into the IT industry?

YM: " I came into the industry, originally as a recruitment consultant for an IT Recruitment agency, recruiting salespeople for resellers and MSPs. Then, one of my clients, Genisys Enterprise, whom I was recruiting for at the time, convinced me to go and work for them in sales."

CRN: What have been some of your experiences (both good and bad) with how the channel has historically approached diversity?

YM: "It's an interesting one, as diversity was never a thing when I came into the industry. You got your job because you were good at it and never felt I was treated any differently. What I hadn't realised at the time was that as a female, you had to make a lot of sacrifices to have a successful career, like choosing to delay having a family as there wasn't the flexibility there is now.

"You were judged a lot more on the hours you worked rather than the output you produced and working from home was frowned upon. I remember having a conversation with a very senior female leader who, at the time, had the opinion that you can't have a successful career and have children. I also got asked by another very senior individual, after having my daughter, if I planned on having any more, which, of course, you would not get away with now and am pleased to say both now have a different view."

CRN: Who have been your biggest role models in your professional life, and how have they helped you to succeed?

YM: " One of my first role models was Bernadette Whiteman. I was a Cisco specialist at the time, and she was leading the UK Partner Team at Cisco, she was the first senior woman I had encountered in the industry. Even though she was incredibly successful, she treated everyone with the same level of respect regardless of their job title or background.

"Then Wendy Bahr, who was the global head of Channels for Cisco, who was the most senior female in Cisco at the time, always made time for you and treated everyone with respect. Both taught me that no matter how successful you become, you don't have to fundamentally change who you are as a person. I was also very fortunate to work very closely with Chris Leahy, CEO of CDW, as part of the integration of Kelway, and she always gave honest and constructive feedback on how to improve, which I always appreciated and took action on."