Name: Kelly Neill
Role: Security Risk & Governance Sales Specialist, Micro Focus
What does your typical day look like?
Typically my diary is filled with meetings- either conference calls with internal or external guests or face to face meetings with customers. I spend 2-3 of these days travelling also-mainland UK usually and then try to do 1-2 days in the office.
What are you currently working on?
I have recently been promoted into a new role as the ‘Security Risk & Governance Sales Specialist’ for our top accounts within the UK. This is a particularly coveted and demanding position and it means focusing on smaller number of our top clients. I specialize in the area of security so this can mean discussing anything with my customers from their strategy for the business, helping them understand what is happening in their industry or seeing how they can modernize their current invested solution.
What inspired you to join this company in particular?
Micro Focus are the 7th largest pureplay software company in the world with market leading solutions. The opportunities for career growth are extensive as well as being at the forefront of technology and working with some of the best people in the industry.
Did you always want to work in this industry (tech)?
Always. Tech has always been innovative and exciting to me, constantly evolving and now working for Micro Focus it gives me the opportunity to show my talents
What’s your favourite part about your work?
I love travelling and getting out to meet my customers. Understanding their challenges and working with my team in Micro Focus to help shape a solution, then seeing it come to fruition gives me an immense sense of satisfaction.
What would you say to other people considering a job in this industry (tech)?
Speak to as many people as possible about the roles that exist within the tech industry and try to get some work experience. For example in Micro Focus we have an amazing graduate programme where the successful candidates can work in multiple areas of the business and see what suits them best. It may be in product development, account management, or even our legal department- there are many routes into the industry.
How do you see this technology impacting on our lives?
I work specifically in an area that affects each and every one of us- regarding the security of our personal data including GDPR. Our technologies help safeguard and protect our data that organisations hold on us and make sure they are compliant.
Who inspired you to work in this field?
I have many role models but I remember seeing Jacky Wright from (Now) Microsoft US talking about her role as CDO and specifically as a woman in her field- it was very insightful and motivating! A previous manager of mine-Gemma Morgan, has always been encouraging and she was delighted to hear I had accepted the role within Micro Focus.
What do you consider to be the most important tech innovation or development in recent years?
I think the way we use data now to send messages- Whatsapp- has been the biggest development. It’s my most used app apart from Spotify and I can’t imagine going back to regular text messages. It has a long way to go also as I think that more and more businesses will start to utilize the benefits of data messaging securely.
What tech gadget could you not live without?
My iPhone- it’s an extension of my arm!
