Key takeaways include:
1) Explore ways to best navigate and manage day-to-day challenges
2) How can the industry at large best engage with female talent and improve retention
3) The importance of mentors and sponsors in the advancement of women
Moderated by Capacity reporter, Natalie Bannerman, speakers include:
Funke Opeke
Funke is founder and CEO of MainOne. MainOne is a broadband infrastructure services provider that built West Africa’s first privately owned, open-access submarine cable system interconnecting Lagos, Nigeria; Accra, Ghana; and Seixal, Portugal in 2010. In January 2015, the company launched operations of MDXi - West Africa’s largest commercial Tier III data centre, and in Nov 2015, it launched a submarine cable extension from Lagos into Kribi, Cameroon. The company recently announced plans for expansion into Cote D’ Ivoire and Senegal.
Main One has grown to become the leading provider of Wholesale and Enterprise connectivity and data centre services across the West African region and the company partners with major global technology companies to deliver services to its customers. The company continues to grow its footprint with major network interconnection facilities, extensive terrestrial fibre build out, regional Points of presence, and delivery of services into 10 countries in West Africa.
Amy Marks
As CEO of XSite Modular, Marks has become the preeminent prefabrication consultant and design-builder of Critical Infrastructure Buildings, worldwide. As the CLS and modular data centre business has exploded, Marks has been at the forefront of this evolution and is a pioneer in the shaping and advancement of the Modular CLS industry – and is an expert in other critical infrastructure building types across the terrestrial infrastructure space including data centres, PFE shelters and ILA huts.
Amy is committed to using her extensive experience, thought leadership, and high profile within the subsea space to promote participation, innovation and advancement across all industry segments. She considers a key element of that goal is bringing critical attention to attracting a diverse talent pool while educating about inclusion issues as a means to bring new perspectives and skill sets into the industry.
Katia Gonzalez Gutiérrez
Katia is Head of Fraud Prevention Operations and Services at BICS, a leading global wholesale carrier in the Telecom industry. With more than 14 years of experience in the Mobile and Wholesale Telecom industry, Katia has held different positions in the Wholesale Carrier Business that allow her to understand the various aspects of the business as well as its challenges. Katia also chairs the i3Forum Fraud Group, which brings together the communications expertise of more than 40 telecommunication providers, representing a combined retail base of over 1.5 billion customers across 100+ countries.
Sarah Calveley
Sarah Calveley is a Senior Business Manager for the UK and Ireland at Amazon Web Services (AWS) where she is responsible for leading a team and driving strategy to help customers adopt the cloud and digitally transform their business. Sarah joined AWS in 2016 and has more than 13 years’ experience working in some of the UK’s leading technology companies.
