O
ne of the friendlier faces at First Distribution,
Allison clearly doesn’t let the stresses of managing the distributor’s Oracle offering get her
down.
Having been in the IT industry for the last seven and a half
years, she’s seen her fair share of ups and downs and says
that she has been lucky enough to have had an opportunity
to work in many areas within distribution, including account
management, logistics and various roles within brand.
Allison graduated from varsity with a B.Com degree and
was looking for an industry which she knew would be challenging, and admits that she made this decision based on
knowing very little about the IT industry.
Now seven years later, she is addicted to the fast pace of
her business environment, and the feeling of being a part of
her various vendors’ and business partners’
success stories.
“I like that First Distribution allows you to handle your
business within the company as if it were your own” she
says. “There is nothing more empowering than seeing your
own business grow and succeed as a fruition from your
ideas and efforts. I would like to see more investment in the
brands, but I have also seen definite improvement at the
same time.”
Allison sees her primary objective in her position as Oracle
brand manager as continuing to be the value added distributor (VAD) of choice for both her business partners and her
vendor when it comes to Oracle hardware and software.
“I truly enjoy the faith that I have in the strength of the Oracle brand. My passion is definitely fuelled by the passion
that most people working at Oracle exude. There is a great
sense of feeling like I’m an extension of the Oracle
Channel Team.”
As a woman in IT, does Allison feel that attitudes towards
women have changed at all?
“Most definitely, attitudes have come on in leaps and
bounds!” she enthuses. “The industry is becoming far more
accepting of women and I think it is now more a case of
women actually just wanting to step up into those
senior positions.”
“I think there is always going to be sexism to a degree, but
I think it is very much about how you, as a woman, handle
it. From personal experience I have felt marginalised and
judged, but it only makes me work harder, be better prepared, be more professional and speak with
more conviction.”
What advice would Allison give to other women looking to
enter the IT/distribution industry?
“Remember that your performance is not determined by
your gender, but by your character traits, qualities and attitude. If you’re happy with that, go for it” she says
matter-of-factly.
Allison feels that women have an advantage in today’s
business environment owing to the culture being very socially driven. Women naturally have values of participation,
engagement, collaboration and relationship-building - all of
them potentially very positive within a
business environment.
And what about role models?
“I have had so many people that have taken me under their
wing throughout my career with the belief that I have the
potential to do and be something great. But, when looking
The greatest
lesson I have learnt
is to surround yourself
with great people, as
they will determine your
success
for a role model, I look to someone with extreme passion for
what they do and the drive to make it happen. The greatest
lesson I have learnt is to surround yourself with great people, as they will determine your success.”
Allison admits that she struggles to balance her work and
personal life sometimes, but as she grows in her role, she
is finding it easier to rely and trust her team members to
deliver without her constant involvement.
So what does she do to relax away from First Distribution
and Oracle?
“I am blessed to live in a game reserve just outside of
Johannesburg, so conservation is extremely important to
me. I am also a keen member of a bootcamp club”
she adds.
27 | www.firstdistribution.co.za