Encouraging more women to apply for tech roles, and ensuring they feel comfortable staying in the sector, is a key aim for all technology firms who want to create a thriving modern business. Initiatives like WeAreTechWomen, a networking group which has helped thousands of women enhance their careers through events and conferences, are helping address the gender imbalance in tech. But this is only one part of an approach to improve representation of women in the industry.

As a successful female tech leader, Sandrine Desbarbieux-Lloyd, European Vice President Digital at Samsung, has unique insights into what it takes to reach the top of this competitive industry.

Sandrine is responsible for digital sales, marketing and technology in 32 European countries, as well as developing machine learning and intelligent automation pilots to digitalise the company. In this Q&A, Sandrine gives advice to women who want to keep their skills up-to-date during a career break, talks about what women entering the tech sector need to consider and discusses how she first got interested in technology. 

I have quite a curious mind so technology attracted me from the start. I’ve always been interested in innovation and learning, and that has really translated to my career choices. I came from a direct marketing background, which is all about data. Many years ago when I joined the BT team, I could see Amazon setting up their first business in the US and I said to line management that we should do the same at BT.

I suggested that we create the first online catalog at the company and that's how I got started in this area. From then on, technology and digital has been brought into practically every business area, creating so much value.

Whether you're a man or woman, I'd say the best way to choose a mentor in your career is to work with people who you have a connection with. If you happen to work with somebody you find inspiring, whether they're senior to you, your direct manager or your stakeholder, I find most people will be happy to help.

I've always found it important in my career to go to someone regardless of whether they're female or male and say: “I really like the way you're working, could we have some sessions to allow me to grow in my career and learn from you?” It's an easy thing to ask and most people will say yes to having a monthly meeting with you to discuss how to develop yourself.

At Samsung, for example, I love the fact that we are offering coding classes to all the children of employees who work here. Young girls in particular have the opportunity to join coding classes during the holidays - I think that's just fantastic! It’s something I'm considering for our own children, too.

Also, we're really constantly trying to think about how we can use technology to help people live better lives and it's deep inside the DNA of our business.

We don't know what the industry will be like in the future. The world that we know today will be very different in five years due to the impact of technologies like AI because they will change approximately 50% of the tasks of humans in the workplace. That will give humans an opportunity to focus on more added-value activities.

I would say to all the young girls that it can be an advantage to have knowledge of maths because I think that it will be key to many positions in the future. To young women who come out of university now, my advice is to be yourself. Use the time to hone your strong points, whether they be emotional intelligence or maths. For me, being a woman has never been a barrier in my career.

It's an interesting one because I think the central challenge is that technology changes all the time. I'm VP of Digital and even for someone in my position it can be complex to constantly catch up on new innovations in technology. Coming back into business is more challenging if you are not staying aware of the latest developments as it will be difficult to keep up with what’s going on at work.

The advice I would give to any woman who is racking her brain about this issue would be to stay in touch with your network and major changes in the industry at all times. We’re dealing with some fundamental changes in this sector, so we have to be at the top of what's going on all the time - there is no substitute for this.