National Women’s History Month: Channel Women Recall ‘the Best Thing’
There’s no better feeling than the one you get when someone believes in you.
![Best Best](https://eu-images.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt10e444bce2d36aa8/bltc0cefd4b210ec650/6524023a51b6a50c93b16c9c/Best.jpg?width=700&auto=webp&quality=80&disable=upscale)
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Kelly Danziger
General Manager & Vice President of Channel
Informa Tech
Being nominated for and winning an Alliance of Channel Women ACW LEAD Award.
Hilary Gadda
Co-Founder
Alliance of Channel Women
My CEO and SVP allowed me the time and encouraged me to co-found the Alliance of Channel Women.
MeiLee Langley
Senior Director/Head, Channel & Field Marketing
LiveVox
This isn’t one specific thing, but one of my favorite things about the channel is how generous many people are with their time, knowledge, network and advice. I have had dozens of individuals (men and women) of all titles within the channel hop on the phone with me to give advice or feedback, instantly connect me with those in their network with I needed expertise or a connection and even put their name on the line to sponsor me for a position or recognition. As a woman in this male-dominated space, it is incredible to know that I have a “rolodex” (did I just age myself?) of colleagues, from presidents to managers, that will take the time to lend me a hand when I need it. If you have not built up your “rolodex” of mentors, coaches, and sponsors, I would highly advise that you make a list of those you feel could fill each of those roles and reach out to see if they have the bandwidth and desire to take on that role in your career.
Jasmina Muller
Vice President, Global Channel Sales
ScienceLogic
Back in the days of PlanetOne, I had with Ted Schuman. We were talking about my background and how I decided to switch to the channel sales org. During that conversation he said something to me that I will always remember. He said, “Jasmina, you were on the direct sales side for over 20 years and you recently started working with our teams. Honestly, you caught on to the channel business, and the dos and don’ts much more quickly than most It’s exciting to see someone be such an advocate to the community and roll up their sleeves, regardless of the challenges. It’s nice to see a fresh perspective.”
That was the best feeling for me, hearing that from the CEO of one of the larger partner companies. Especially since I had started in the partner ecosystem less than a year before. I will never forget that day.
Darcee Nelan
CEO
IQ Wired
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work for IQ Wired since 2010. IQ Wired is a woman-owned, woman run-company. Coming to IQ Wired was the best career decision I’ve ever made and it turned out to be one of the most pivotal decisions I’ve ever made from a personal standpoint as well.
Tatiana Finkelstein, the founder of IQ Wired hired me, and became a mentor to me. She had faith in my abilities and gave me the latitude to try new things. This gave me the confidence to keep challenging and stretching myself, ultimately leading me to becoming the CEO of the company. I’m so grateful that now I’m in the position to help mentor other people and watch them flourish in their careers.
Mayka Rosales-Peterson
Senior Manager, Partner Marketing
Intelisys
The nicest thing someone has said to me in the channel is that my advocacy for change in this industry is making a difference. Whether it’s having hard conversations surrounding DE&I and the inclusion of women or promoting changes with industry norms such as MDF programs, I always speak up when others feel afraid to speak. So that was amazing for me to hear.
Janet Schijns
CEO
JS Group
I think the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me was that I was the person they think of when they think of women helping women in the channel.
Between starting Tech World’s Half, the 50% club, and Womwon to help women, it was lovely to hear that I was having an impact. After all, if we don’t give back and help other women, all is lost!
Janet Schijns
CEO
JS Group
I think the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me was that I was the person they think of when they think of women helping women in the channel.
Between starting Tech World’s Half, the 50% club, and Womwon to help women, it was lovely to hear that I was having an impact. After all, if we don’t give back and help other women, all is lost!
Whether it was a gesture, a comment or an acknowledgement, channel women can tell you without hesitation the best thing they have encountered.
Did you know DE&I can help you increase your competitive edge, boost employee performance, improve your CX and more? Sign up for our live and on-demand “DE&I Dialogue: How the Right DE&I Initiatives Can Propel Your Business” to get all the details from a panel of experts. |
Women celebrating other women is nothing new in the channel. They’ve been mentoring, counseling and consoling one another for decades. Think Alliance of Channel Women. This organization is a one-stop-shop for networking, education, mentoring and advocacy — in short, exactly what our respondents cited as being the best or nicest thing they ever experienced.
We asked channel women, “What is the best/nicest thing that has been said/done to you as a woman in the channel?” Their responses are in the gallery above.
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Want to contact the author directly about this story? Have ideas for a follow-up article? Email Buffy Naylor or connect with her on LinkedIn. |
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