Woman in Tech Series Q&A

1. Over the course of your career have you seen the number of opportunities for women working in business, or tech, increase or change? What would you put this down to?

It’s difficult to quantify this but I’d say that opportunities for women have certainly increased within businesses, and the technology sector since I started my career. For tech, we’re still in at a place where there are considerably fewer women in senior level positions – but as we begin to see younger generations move up the corporate ladder, we can expect this to change for the better. This can probably be put down to shifting societal attitudes, and an increased focus on DE&I in hiring practices. I’m excited to see the day when women hold at least 50% of senior leadership positions across sectors.

2. Recently you've been working with HP on its Work Relationship Index, can you tell us a little more about the findings of that research, and anything that particularly resonates with you as a business leader??

Yes – it’s been brilliant working with HP on the Work Relationship Index. One of the most surprising findings from the global survey is that 74% of Brits would take a pay cut if it meant being happier at work – as part of this answer, respondents said that they want more emotionally intelligent leadership and a better work/life balance. As a business leader this jumps out at me because when we think about career goals, we often think about salary and pay rises, but for many people to say ‘I’d take a pay cut if it meant my work life balance was better and my bosses were more emotionally intelligent’ outlines where the focus should really be.

3. Over the years, have you changed your leadership style? If so, how has it evolved?

You’d probably have to ask those I work with for a more accurate answer, but in my mind I’d say yes. Today, I really try to lead by putting employees first in everything we do as a business. For instance, deciding roles we need to hire for, what tech we need in the office, the company perks... everything that impacts staff needs to have staff buy in.

4. And for business leaders dealing with a changing workplace, what is some advice you would offer to them??

My advice would be to embrace new ways of working and engage with your employees to find out more about what they really enjoy, and what they don’t! I wouldn’t send a blanket questionnaire, I’d hold break out meetings in smaller groups to really understand what people within the company want, and what could be changed to ensure staff are happy and motivated long term.

5. Knowing employee happiness is the key to any business' success, what advice what would you give to leaders who are trying to improve employee morale in 2024??

What’s great about HP’s Work Relationship Index is that it has shed light on different drivers of happiness in the workplace that all business leaders can look to implement. These include implementing people centric practices, having empathetic leadership, and ensuring there are skills development opportunities for employees. For me, the underlying factor of these drivers is that ultimately no matter who the person is or where they work, everyone just wants to be valued, supported, and able to be the same person at work as they are at home.

6. If you could boil it down, what is the fundamental aspect of creating a strong company culture??

Ultimately, employees want to bring their whole selves to work – if you can create an environment where everyone feels free to be themselves, you’re more likely to have a productive and happy workforce. At the end of the day a strong culture relies on strong connections between employees across different departments and teams. To do this, team bonding is a must – ideally at least once a month, and preferably off site. Whether it’s a team dinner, drinks, or an activity. Bringing the team together outside of the office pays dividends for the work that happens inside the office.

7. This is one question I always ask: What’s a piece of advice you’d give your younger self??

Seek help and advice, listen and learn and then make your own decisions on what is the right course…and if you get it wrong, correct course quickly.

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Short Bio:

As a self-made businesswoman, and host of BBC Dragon’s Den, Deborah Meaden is one of the UK’s most notable business leaders. Deborah had always endeavoured to forge a career in business, attending business college once she left school and starting her first business at 19 by leveraging the money earnt from previous jobs.

Deborah has partnered with HP on its Work Relationship Index, a global study that aims to understand the world's relationship with work. As someone who has experienced the highs and lows of the business world in a career spanning 45 years, there are fewer people more informed to discuss this topic and provide sound advice for business leaders looking to improve employee morale.