Gemma Kirkham

Gemma Kirkman - The Times Top 50 Employers for Women blog

Published on : 4/24/19
  • Gemma Kirkman is the Business Intelligence team lead with Sodexo’s Information, Systems &Technology team. Passionate about raising the profile of women in technology and being a role model for future generations, she’s involved in activities both at work, and in the local community.

    Returning to work after having my daughter, who is now 19 months old, really changed my attitude and made me want to make a difference to the profile of women working in technology. I believe it’s vital to be a role model for her, and also for other young women coming through the business, and Sodexo provides me with the perfect platform.

    Every day I get to demonstrate that working in technology isn’t just about sitting in front of a computer - it’s about team work; about analysing the way we work; about communicating, and about designing creative solutions using technology to help make our business work smarter.

    The opportunity to become co-chair of the UK and Ireland’s SoTogether employee network, which aims to drive gender balance, has been a great way to push this forward. I can talk about my career story and the challenges and lessons that I have learned and really demonstrate how IT and technology can benefit everyone.

    Through SoTogether, we’ll continue to release newsletters and podcasts, notably our Speaker Series, as well as holding events and identifying more role models to talk about women in our business. As a new mother I have also experienced the benefits of connecting with others in Sodexo’s Working Parents Group, launched through SoTogether in 2017.

    Having been part of the network since its launch in 2010 (after building the first membership enrolment system!) and then being part of the SoTogether leadership for some time prior to becoming co-chair, I can testify first hand to the value there is in having and participating in networks to boost your personal and professional development.

    By creating the SoTogether and other D&I employee networks and allowing their employees to experience, learn and practice new skills through these outlets in addition to their primary role, Sodexo holds firm to their underlying ethical commitment towards putting its people first. I certainly feel I have benefited from these opportunities to stretch myself and gain new skills to complement the traditional science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) development I have made in my career path.

    Apart from my work within Sodexo to promote gender balance, I’m also passionate about working to encourage girls to continue studying STEM subjects at school, and consider a career using these skills.

    Research shows that, at primary school age, there is little difference in aptitude or desire between males and females when it comes to science, technology, engineering and maths subjects, but this can drift away in the secondary school years. I think this is due not only to peer pressure, but to the lack of role models. If girls at school don’t see women working in technology, they are less likely to brave the IT lesson filled with boys. It’s true what they say: ‘You can’t be what you can’t see’! I was lucky that, at my school this wasn’t an issue and I felt confident and empowered to follow my interests and what I wanted to do and be.

    Since returning to work after maternity leave, I have also become a STEM Ambassador, and visit schools to talk about my career with Sodexo and the opportunities that exist. I’ve also got involved with The Great Science Share for Schools, which is an online platform for anyone working professionally in STEM careers where they can share their experiences with students — an initiative pioneered in Manchester and backed by Manchester University.

    It’s been 13 years since I joined Sodexo and now it is more important to me than ever to help create a culture that values women and the balance they can bring to all roles at all levels of our business. This means nurturing talent, recognising and addressing unconscious bias and spreading the message of the advantages of a gender-balanced team.

    I’d like to think that my own daughter will grow up in a world where men and women can work in a balanced way in all careers, and at all levels. By engaging with young people on career prospects - and STEM subjects and roles in particular - I hope to be that positive role model within Sodexo and beyond.

    At Sodexo we are committed to the importance of promoting equal opportunities, valuing diversity and creating an inclusive working environment for all our employees. Find out more about a career with us.