293: Women in Tech Leadership: Why You Don't Need a Perfect Career Plan to Reach the Top (With Sarah Walker, Cisco UKI CEO)
About this episode
In this episode, Sarah Walker discusses how women can succeed in tech leadership without a perfect career plan.
You don't need a perfect career plan to succeed in tech. In this episode of Leading Women in Tech, I sit down with Sarah Walker, Chief Executive of Cisco UK & Ireland , to talk about women in tech leadership, non-traditional career paths, AI in the workplace, and why backing yourself matters more than ticking every box. Sarah didn't follow a traditional route into tech. She didn't leave school with perfect results. She didn't move to London (despite being told she should). And she certainly didn't have a 20-year career plan mapped out. Yet today, she leads one of the most influential tech organisations in the UK and Ireland. In this conversation, we explore: ◾ Women in tech leadership and representation ◾ Career advancement for women in tech without a rigid plan ◾ How to become a leader in tech without ticking every box ◾ Leadership mindset and backing yourself before you feel ready ◾ AI in the workplace and how it unlocks human potential ◾ Why social mobility and regional leadership matter ◾ Sustainable leadership and authenticity at the top If you've ever questioned whether you "fit" the mould of a tech executive — this episode will change how you see your path. 🔗 Connect with…
People in this episode
Host: Toni Collis
Guest: Sarah Walker
Topics covered
- women in tech leadership
- non-traditional career paths
- AI in the workplace
- leadership mindset
- social mobility
- sustainable leadership
Keywords
- women in tech
- career advancement
- leadership
- AI
- social mobility
- authenticity
Sponsors
CISCO
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Cisco UK & Ireland
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- 297: AI Leadership Strategy: Your 90-Day Blueprint for Winning with AI — with Charlene Li
- 296: Office Politics for Women Who Hate Office Politics
- 295: Authentic Leadership in the Age of AI: Diversity, Change & the Future of Product with Catherine Wong
- 294: Burnout-Proof Leadership
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