Women in Tech Series: Kirsten Hurley Managing Director at Thoughtbot shares the importance of diversifying your talent pool.
Description
Welcome to the Women in Tech Series from the Global Tech Leaders Podcast. Today we are speaking to Kirsten Hurley Managing Director at Thoughtbot, helping make product teams a success. She has a background in professional services and business development.
We kick off by asking Kirsten to share her career journey and what has led her to where she is today.
- Steered into journalism.
- Always been interested in psychology and communication.
- Student debt.
- Technology evolving.
- Computer literacy.
We ask Kirsten what makes her successful in sales.
- Empathy.
- Love understanding what makes people tick.
- Genuinely interested.
- Consideration and benefit of the doubt.
- Prompt you can coach people on.
Then we ask Kirsten what advice would she give young women wanting to get into technology sales.
- What company does something that you think is sexy and innovative?
- Exceeding targets.
- You doing well, so stay there.
- Weaknesses in your skillset.
- Unconscience bias.
- Valued for contribution.
- Make an impact even in the background.
- Living the values.
Next, we ask Kirsten to share what Thoughtbot is and why are things exciting over there.
- 20-year anniversary next year.
- They build web and mobile applications.
- Team of designers and developers.
- Opensoucre technology.
- Just over 100 people globally.
- From the US to London.
- Remote working company.
- Diversify their talent pool.
- Build better products.
Then we ask Kirsten what a diverse team has brought to the business.
- Translations.
- Fixed addresses.
- No landlines and more mobile phones.
- Geographically diverse.
Next, we ask Kirsten more about her role and how many people she takes care of.
- 25 people
- Directors and Product Manager.
- 5 designers and others are developers.
- She is responsible for sales.
- Always has a team member in those sales meetings.
- The marketing team works closely with her.
- A lot of inbound communities.
We ask Kirsten how one gets into leadership.
- Coaching realm.
- Skillsets to be nurturing.
- Learn from advice.
Then we ask Kirsten, does she have a tool that is key to keeping her organised.
- A pen and paper lady.
- Prioritising a to-do list.
United States
