10 questions and inspiration for women in business. Wendy The

Can you please introduce yourself

I am Wendy, 44, a mother, a wife, Dutch, Chinese-Indonesian but also an avid reader (91 books so far this year), a Trekkie, an AFOL, a photographer - all with a weakness for ice cream. I am also a senior IT manager at albelli as well as Lead GDPR and have been acting PO ecommerce and data. Even though I have worked in IT my whole career I have a master in Political Sciences with a specialization in Gender Studies.

What do you think helped you the most to make a career as a woman? What’s the biggest factor that has helped you be successful? 

I believe being open and direct has been my strength. What you see is what you get and it has helped build trust and relationships which is the foundation of everything.

As a female leader, what has been the most significant barrier in your career? Have you been confronted with gender-related roadblocks in your career?

There have been minor incidents but the most significant incident was losing a job offer after I had disclosed to being pregnant. I was the final candidate and they had flown me to the HQ in London where I had a whole day of interviews and when they told me they wanted to move forward and make me an offer and then when I told them I was pregnant, they started to back paddle and discourage me from signing. It was a very disappointing experience. At the same time I was also offered a job at Tele2 who didn't have a problem with me being pregnant. In fact, I know that after I got hired, at least two other pregnant women were hired. Be the type of organisation people want to work for!

What mistakes have you made along the way and what did you learn from them? 

There were a few instances where I should have put my foot down and said NO. Not so much because I am a pleaser but because I underestimated the situation or overestimated myself. Quality comes in small doses. 

What are some patterns you’ve noticed over the years about women at work, and things they could be doing better to advance their careers? 

I have noticed that women are hesitant to negotiate when interviewing for a new job, whether it's money or working 4 days a week. They forget it's just as much an interview about the company. List your demands and see if this is a place YOU would want to work for. The interview is a two way street. Always come ready with questions of your own.

Why do you think companies would benefit from having more women at the top? 

Not to ride on the whole inclusivity train but I think not being open to different needs of different people will close you off from amazing talent that can really make a difference.Taking care of your employees and offering them room to balance work/life outside of the office hours convention creates loyalty and engagement. And I think women understand the challenges of balancing work/life as well as the importance of getting things done.

What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders? 

Do it your way. Break the mold. Play on your own terms. But also, you belong! Do away with imposter syndrome!

Do or did you have a woman leader as a mentor or are there specific women who inspired you and why?

As a student I volunteered for an organisation called Women on Waves. The founder's tiredless mission to help women take control over their own bodies is inspiring and unfortunately very relevant again.To dedicate your life to a cause that you truly believe in, takes strength and conviction. But I also admire Serena Williams who is a top athlete, a wife, a mother but also a tech investor, an activist and a philanthropist. 

You are undoubtedly busy, how do you take care of yourself and maintain a good mental health?

Me time, make sure you take care of nr 1 first and that is you. If you are not fit, you cannot take care of your team, your family or anybody else. Make time to do something you enjoy which gives you energy or helps you recharge. I enjoy working out and reading so I always try to make sure I slip one or either into my day. 

How should women support other women in their organizations?  

Pay it forward. Help, guide and mentor the next generation.