Sheree Atcheson, Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Executive
Listed as one of the U.K.'s Top Most Influential Women in Tech and an international multi-award winner for her services to Diversity and Inclusion in industry, Sheree is a Global Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Senior Executive. Advisory Board Member, Women Who Code, Contributor, Forbes. She is the author of "Demanding More" (with Kogan Page Publishing) - a book that aims to teach readers about how deliberate exclusion has been in systems and society, so we can be purposefully and deliberately inclusive moving forward. Order anywhere now! Sheree is a Global Diversity and Inclusion Senior Exec (ex. Deloitte, Monzo and Peakon), having worked in many regions developing tailored, data-driven DE&I strategies, with clear goals and lines of accountability to embed success and inclusion that scales. As a passionate advocate for gaining/retaining women in the industry, in 2013, she launched and led the award-winning U.K. expansion of Women Who Code, the world's largest non-profit globally dedicated to women in tech, where she now sits as an Advisory Board Member.
As an industry leader, she has spoken at many global events, conferences and leadership sessions and is regularly profiled for her work, having been featured in many publications, such as Forbes, Business Insider, BBC, FastCompany, Evening Standard, HuffPost, Business Post, Marie Claire, Wired, ComputerWeekly, The Guardian, Sunday Telegraph, Newsletter and many more. The aim of her career is to ensure people are aware of the fantastic opportunities the industry has to offer and make certain that all humans are able to benefit from these and reach their full career potential.
What is your favourite social media platform, and why?
Twitter because it enables people to have a voice that has been voiceless for many years. Previously, those who were able to be amplified were typically only those who are financially privileged or from privileged backgrounds. That barrier has been removed. There is work to do to ensure online safety is prioritised, but nonetheless, I think the power of Twitter is phenomenal.
Tell us about you and your current role or area of interest.
I am a global DE&I executive with almost a decade of experience, and previously I was a software engineer. My work in diversity, equity and inclusion is to ensure people of all backgrounds can thrive and succeed in the tech industry. It's about understanding how the world has been purposefully excluding people and defining measures to breaking down those structures, and rebuilding them with everyone in mind.
What do you like about your career or area of focus?
I like that it has the ability to make real changes in people's lives.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
Listen to your own opinion of yourself as much as you listen to other people's opinions of you. Challenge the bias you have against yourself too.
What inspires you, motivates you, or helps you to move forward?
The ability for change to happen inspires me. To leave things better than I found them. Having the privilege to play a role in that keeps me motivated.
What are you proud of in your life so far?
I am a published author at thirty, a senior exec in my field and have accomplished things many people like me don't get the opportunity to achieve. I'm proud of all of those things because I know it's an anomaly.
What is your preferred way to meet new people/network?
I like meeting people in person as much as I like online. I dislike "business networking", which feels super forced, but nonetheless, everything has its place.
What skills or qualities do you feel have helped you?
Being open to being wrong and being confident in my own skills. I am confident in my work and the skillset I bring, and I'm also open to being wrong, too - this means I've learnt lots along the way and been able to really hone my skills as a leader by never assuming I know the best all of the time.
What do you wish you had known when you started out?
Being confident is ok and that you should embrace it - especially as women and even more so as women of colour.
Who do you most admire in business, academic or creative circles and why?
Jackie Henry, the Managing Partner of People and Purpose of Deloitte U.K. Jackie's been my mentor for years and has opened a lot of doors for me. Her own career is phenomenal, from an accountant at Deloitte Northern Ireland to now leading the firms to work across diversity and inclusion, wellbeing, people and purpose. Phenomenal.
Outside of your professional/work area, what hobbies or interests do you have or what other areas of your life are of real importance to you?
My partner is the most important person to me, and our life together is the most important thing to me. For hobbies, I love travelling (when we could!), going to the gym and spending time with my partner and our dog Alfie.
Has the pandemic had a positive or a negative effect on you and/or your business, and how have you been managing it?
It's a mix. Personally, I was made redundant earlier then moved on to much better things. I started my own business too and bought our first home. But it's not been easy - I lost my Dad after a year of not seeing him due to COVID (he's back in Ireland, and I live in England). I try to always remember it could be worse, even when it's still been pretty rough.
Do you have a mentor, or have you ever mentored anyone?
I mentor quite a few people. I believe it's important to do that and actively support other folks in their career too.
What advice would you have for someone looking to get into the same area of work or interests?
Remember that this work is more than passion. It's a skillset. Spend time honing those skills, learning and researching - ensuring the work you do does not only benefit those you directly identify with.
What do you feel is the most common reason for people failing or giving up?
Continuous negative comments from outsiders and a lack of access to resources to push through.
How do you define success, and what lessons have you learned so far that you could share with our audience/readership?
For me, success is having the privilege of being able to rest. Being able to sit back and take a break is usually because a level of stability has been achieved to enable that. It's taken me years to get there, and I know some people never reach that. The main lesson is to challenge your own bias against yourself and against those around you. Remember that you will be wrong - that's ok, move forward with purpose.