Graziella Gioia outperformed all her colleagues in sales, even as the only woman on her team. However, like many women in the tech sector, she faced unique challenges. She needed patience, confidence, and hard work to overcome them.
As part of the #AiAllies initiative from Teneo.ai, Graziella shares the most valuable lessons she has learned. With +10 years in the tech industry, she provides support and inspiration to other women in the field today.
Learning Languages to Working in Tech
Graziella, like many in STEM, didn’t initially grasp the opportunities in tech-related industries. Yet, she achieved significant success throughout her career.
“I studied to be a teacher while working as a translator. This allowed me to use my language skills in German, Italian, Spanish and English. After my Erasmus in Barcelona and working for a tech company, something changed. I knew that I wanted a career in the tech industry. At that moment, I realized there could a lot of potential opportunities in in the future.”
After landing a junior role at Airbus and learning the work basics, Blackberry approached Graziella. There, she thrived as an Account & Sales Manager.
“It was a technical job, but I had a successful time as a sales professional. The problem was that I was almost too successful according to some members of the team. A few people even accused me of making up numbers and behaving badly as the reason for my strong performance. It was competitive but not in a healthy way. I realized their behavior came from their own insecurities. Once I learned that, I was able to dismiss the bad comments.”
“Unfortunately, it’s a fact that women working in sales have to go even further to prove themselves as competent operators. It’s just assumed that men always know what they’re talking about.”
Her Start With Conversational AI
In October 2021, Graziella was hired by Artificial Solutions / Teneo.ai as the Sales Director of the DACH region.
“Things are so different here and I’m really happy with how the business approaches diversity and equality.”
“I was thrown into a whole new world. I had to quickly learn about Conversational AI (CAI) and how the architecture and engineering of technology was structured. But, it’s been an incredible learning journey. Looking at the impact that our technology has had on businesses like Telefónica and Swisscom is amazing.”
“Our technology never goes to sleep and it operates perfectly 24/7. This means that customers calling a contact center will always have help and support. The cost of calls being sent to the wrong agent is huge. This is a big problem for consumers and businesses alike as nobody is happy with the outcome. We remove that problem completely and it’s amazing to see how it helps businesses grow.”
Achieving Success as a Woman in Tech
When questioned about her career’s vital lessons and what she wished she knew earlier, Graziella emphasized several main points.
“The good thing is that the technology sector is a lot easier to break into now than before. There are a lot more opportunities and roles that are better suited to women. There has never been a better time to get involved so if I can do it, so can anyone.”
“The industry is constantly changing and evolving. So, if you are the kind of person who likes to be involved in an exciting industry and enjoys learning, I recommend taking some online courses. This will help you understand if you enjoy learning about technology.”
The Importance of Allies and Mentors
The importance of finding allies and mentors is another key topic for Graziella. She highlights her colleague Marie Angselius Schönbeck as a source of inspiration and support.
“Having a leader to follow and learn from is really important. Especially, if that person is a woman in a senior position. Marie is really confident and has a strong character. I love working with her as she supports a lot of women across the business. If there is somebody in your organization, I recommend asking for their advice on how to progress as a professional. If they are a good person they will always give you time.”
“Tobias Renk and Andrea von Seggern are two people that have also made a big impact on my career. They have been my own allies in different situations in which I needed support. If you’re feeling isolated in any kind of professional setting, you should ask somebody to support you. They will if they’re a good person!”
Speak Up
And finally, some salient advice a lot of women, whether they work in tech or not, should follow.
“I’ve been in so many meetings with a group of men and all they’re talking about are cars or football. With time, I learned that I needed to interrupt these kinds of conversations. Then, I would ask for the subject to be changed as these were not inclusive at all. Every time I asked for a different topic, it was accepted with understanding. Nobody will ever say that they want to carry on talking about those things, so just speak up!”
“Finally, sometimes you may feel like you don’t belong in the technology sector. Just know that everyone has faced challenges on their way to the top. We have all felt like we don’t belong but it’s not true. By supporting each other and continuing to find networks, in a few years, women will never feel out of place.”
If you would like to connect with Graziella on LinkedIn, click here.