On this Women Talk Tech podcast, I spoke with Iva Peric-Lightfoot. Iva has spent the last 25 years in IT with a focus on IT security and IT channel management. Iva was a recent recipient of the Women in Technology Award and is passionate about young women finding their way into tech. Like many others, Iva “slipped” into the tech sector and has been immensely grateful she did so.

In this episode, Iva draws attention to the challenges women face in IT and the gender inequality that still exists. One of the biggest issues she feels is the lack of mentorship. Three key things we discuss in relation to mentorship:

  1. It’s important to begin mentoring young girls at an early age to help change their mindset about technology.
  2. Women should seek mentors to help with confidence so they can bring new confidence to the table.
  3.  Government and education institutions need to work together to champion change.

We also discuss the McKinsey Global Institute Report, “Advancing Women’s Equality in Canada” and we encourage listeners to take a read. McKinsey Institute forecasts that at the current rate, it will take us 140 years to close the gender gap and even though more young women are getting degrees than men, only 23% are in STEM and tech.

About Iva Peric-Lightfoot

Iva Peric-Lightfoot is a passionate and driven sales and marketing leader, having worked in the IT space for the past 25 years. Most recently, as ESET Canada’s Country Manager, she spearheaded ESET’s Canadian operations with the launch of a sales and marketing office in Toronto, and partnered alongside the ESET research centre in Montreal. With more than 20 years of experience in the technology industry, she has significant expertise cultivating and implementing national and international channel strategies. Throughout her career, Peric-Lightfoot has built channel businesses, driving various consumer, enterprise and e-commerce channels and markets.
Iva’s previous experience includes Navarre Corporation and Symantec, where her responsibilities involved the strategic direction for distribution and development of new Canadian markets. Iva is well-versed in IT security and IT channel management. She has built several successful sales and marketing teams, and worked to enhance communities and corporate cultures rooted in diversity and tolerance, with a parallel vision of driving performance.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR