U.S. statistics show that around 50 percent of computer science graduates are women. Yet, when you look at the middle management layer in most IT organizations, women fill less than 20 percent of these positions. Leadership coach Mary Patry believes several factors are at play here. Aside from the unequal impact the global pandemic has had on women’s careers – they more often than men are the ones to put family first and sacrifice their own careers – Patry believes that women frequently struggle to find their “voice”, a fact that can hold them back from entering the executive layer of a business. This is despite many women being well equipped with the “soft” skills required for executive leadership – those that focus on people and process – as well as the “hard” technical skills of IT operations and middle management.
It’s clear that leadership teams require diversity and a range of talents to succeed. Having women in executive leadership positions promises many demonstrable benefits that organizations can no longer afford to ignore. Patry’s mission is to help women navigate a route toward leadership. She focuses on helping them build the confidence they need to take a seat at the leadership table and guiding organizations on how to put in place structures specifically designed to support and grow female talent. Get comfy on the couch and listen in to this discussion about leadership development for women in technology.
Meet the host
Lois Coatney
Lois Coatney is Partner, Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI), leading the firm’s work across those industries, with additional responsibility for global sales operations. Prior to assuming this role, she was Partner and President, EMEA Sales and Consulting, relocating from the U.S. to the U.K. to drive growth and further expand the firm’s opportunities in the region.
Lois joined ISG in 2012 and built the Service Integration and Management (SIAM) service line. She subsequently led the ISG GovernX® business for four years and successfully launched and expanded the third-party risk management platform. She also led ISG Americas sales and sales management and co-architected the ISG Women in Digital program.
Throughout her career, Lois has advised clients on the operating models and organizational designs that will enable them to work most effectively. Prior to joining ISG, Lois managed large global service delivery and governance transformational change in multiple positions at Hewlett Packard. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance from Minnesota State University.
