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Women in Leadership
Name: Mica Anderson
Role: Bid Co-ordinator
Company: Apogee Corporation Limited
A bit about you: I was born in Glasgow but due to my Dad’s work, I was lucky enough to grow up in places such as the United States, Switzerland, and Singapore. I returned to the UK for university in Edinburgh and am currently based in London.
What is it like working in your company? Apogee is a company with a rich history, and I have found that to be very important to the way we do business. While every employee works to further the mission statement of our parent company, HP, Apogee employees have their own distinctive style of business – personable, well-informed, and experienced. Everyone is not only extremely well-versed in their field, but also genuinely enjoys their work.
Why did you decide to go into your chosen field? This was a combination of family influence and a bit of post-university searching. My Dad works in the tech industry, albeit in a different sector, so I have seen first-hand all the work that goes in to being a company providing tech services in our ever-changing modern world.
When I graduated university into a global pandemic, my Dad suggested I look into jobs in tech – something I had never previously considered. I have always considered myself a creative person, and underestimated just how many creative-oriented jobs are essential to the running of a tech company such as Apogee.
What qualifications and work experience did you need to reach your current position? I have an undergraduate degree in English Literature, and have held a few part-time jobs in the service industry, as well as involving myself in voluntary administrative positions while at university.
What do you enjoy the most about your job? The process of taking a bid from start to finish is a team effort. My role is to make sure everything is where it needs to be, and the rest of the team is able to complete the process smoothly. It is always satisfying seeing that the little bits of admin work that you do daily add up to a strong proposal at the finish.
What obstacles have you overcome in your career? It certainly was not a walk in the park graduating into a pandemic without exactly knowing what career path I wanted to go down. Graduating university is nerve-wracking at the best of times, and I certainly felt a pressure to know exactly what I wanted out of my career; and, not only that, but be able to get the perfect entry-level position right off the bat.
Once I decided to not let myself be constrained into one box, and put myself out there for positions I would not have previously considered, my job search felt less anxiety-inducing.
Why do you think it is important to have a strong female representation in your industry? It is obvious that the tech industry is one that is typically male-dominated, and while Apogee is certainly an excellent example of a company that is working to create a level playing field, it comes down to culture.
The way that different sectors conduct business can be very male-oriented – everything from sales to hardware. We need to understand how and why we do business, and in what ways this can be alienating to female employees. While I would hope that client meetings on golf courses or over beers are a thing of the past, and certainly not how Apogee does business, this has created an accepted mode of communication between companies and clients, necessitating a cultural change.
It is not only important to have strong female representation in order to break that cycle, but also to create an environment that is welcoming to them, in order for female leadership to thrive.
What advice would you give those wanting to take a similar career path? Don’t sell yourself short. It is true that women are constantly apologising and whittling down their achievements to make themselves seem more palatable, especially when it comes to job in typically ‘male’ fields, and I found myself doing that a lot in my job search, and even now in employment.
This hurts no-one but yourself – employers want to see your successes! Your achievements are something to be proud of, and you should speak of your abilities with confidence. If you make mistakes (which you are going to – a lot!), do not fuss over them too much.
Thank whoever is correcting you for the learning opportunity, and move on. It is all in the recovery.
