It's International Women's Day today, and we're taking the chance to celebrate the careers, share the challenges faced and hear the thoughts from some of the women here at Abri.
Here, we're chatting to Karen Dumper, Director of IT & Innovation about her career journey and hopes for the future.
How have you got to where you are in your career and life today?
I’m not 100% sure on the “how”… I think there is an element of opportunity/luck but like most things its mainly down to commitment and hard work. Seizing opportunities when they come, even if they push you well outside your comfort zone, is important.
I don’t think I’ve never known what I want to be when I “grow up”… just want to keep learning, growing and keep making a positive difference. When I started working in technology at 16 it was because I was on my own and needed to support myself. I needed to earn a wage so decided the best chance I had was to complete an apprenticeship. It gave me 4 years of study alongside the opportunity to work in a complex environment, with a diverse group of professionals (spending time working everywhere from the factory floor to the Exec table). It which gave me a passion for seeing what people can achieve when supported by technology and data that has never left me, despite my various sector changes along the way.
Whilst my head loves technology (the how), my heart is driven by data and insight (the why). Being able to fulfil a role which gives as much value to both feels a bit like utopia!
Have you faced any challenges along the way?
I think everyone has their own challenges in life and I’m no different! At 16 I was effectively homeless, penniless, and clueless! I took a job in a male dominated technology environment, as the only young woman I was a novelty and I was largely treated as such. Gender bias is therefore something I’m very familiar with and something I had to tackle for a good number of years.
Having a daughter and being a single full time working parent was a challenge too. Trying to balance parenting with career is never easy and I haven’t always got the balance right. In the past I have burnout and probably aged 10 additional years! Learning to look after yourself is probably a lifelong lesson, and I’m better at talking than doing, but I’ve always been honest that I’m a work in progress!
I do think that many of the challenges, with the benefit of hindsight, are opportunities too. I’ve learnt more about myself through struggle than the good times. I’ve had some incredible mentors and leaders help shape, support and encourage me – not always with a “well done”, some of the toughest but most necessary lessons come with some home truths or that piece of advice you didn’t want but actually you needed.
What do you think needs to change?
Even now I sit in CIO (Chief Information Officer) forums and am the only women present so there is still more to be done; I am really keen that we continue to encourage young women into STEM subjects and to pursue their ambitions, bringing their diverse perspectives to the table to shape our organisations.
Whatever Covid has cost, its also given us a once in a lifetime opportunity to reset the dials with respect to how we work. Removing geographic/office presenteeism allows us to be truly flexible, agile, dynamic and inclusive. That inclusivity will ensure we are a better organisation. The fact that we are already making the change, that we are putting our people front and centre means we’re ahead of the game.
Director of IT & Innovation
