Ahead of IWD we spoke to our team about their experiences as women in a male-dominated industry, the progress made and where work is needed. In line with this year’s IWD theme, 'Accelerate Action,' we're excited to announce the launch of our Women in Channel initiative this summer.
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To celebrate International Women’s Day, we spoke to some of our brilliant team to get their insight and real experience working as women in a traditionally male-dominated sector. What’s going well, what still needs work, and what are they most proud of in their careers.
But one day every year is nowhere near enough to successfully foster the diversity our industry needs. The theme for IWD this year is ‘Accelerate Action’, so it seems a brilliant opportunity to announce our Women in Channel initiative, which we’ll be formally launching on the 19th June, at Balfour Winery in Kent.
Read on for the insights from our very own Emmeline, Teigan, Stacy, Leah and Pam. And if you’re interested in hearing more about Women in Channel or attending our inaugural event please register your interest here or reach out to Emmeline or Teigan to get involved.
Emmeline Spann, Wholesale Account Manager
I’ve spent nearly nine years working in a predominantly male industry and have been fortunate to win a few awards along the way. Those awards - from being recognised as one of the top 20 people in Virgin in 2020, to a sales award within ITS Technology in 2023 - immediately stand out as huge accomplishments, and I’m very proud to have made a mark in such a male dominated field.
However, what I’m most proud of isn’t just my achievements; it’s the meaningful friendships I’ve built. The most defining moments of my journey have come from seeing our partners feel valued, knowing they’re more than just a number at Elevate - they truly matter.
Teigan Kemp, Wholesale Account Manager
Joining Elevate Wholesale has been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my career so far. The support has been unparalleled, and has helped me really start to build my reputation within the industry, which is especially important as a young female looking to make my voice heard, and make an impact.
My degree was in Musical Theatre so it was a massive switch when I first joined the world of telecoms three years ago, so I’m really grateful to all the wonderful leaders and mentors who have helped me get to where I am today.
My highlights change everyday as there is so much to love about the industry. I get a real kick out of supporting our partners and solving their problems. I also recently took part in a podcast discussing ‘Women in Tech’, and it was so eye opening to see how much the industry has changed over the years and continues to evolve and adapt. I’m excited to see where my career takes me, and hopefully continue to be inspired and help empower other women along the way.
Stacy Trolan, Head of Delivery Operations
One of the biggest highlights of my 25 year career was moving into the ISP industry 15 years ago. This shift has given me the opportunity to continuously learn, broaden my knowledge and challenge myself in new ways.
My proudest achievement is working my way up from a Service Delivery Coordinator to Head of Delivery Operations, this has been an incredible journey, and I’ve grown both professionally and personally through it. Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of building incredible relationships with staff, customers and partners, which has made the experience all the more rewarding.
Leah Hobson, Head of Infrastructure Operations
I’ve spent 11 years in the industry so far, the last six years of which I’ve spent at Elevate - in a role where I’ve really concentrated on developing myself, my wider knowledge and building the department I now manage alongside all its processes.
Becoming Head of Infrastructure Operations has been an exciting journey. Even though I’d already spent three years creating and maintaining a high performing team, this was the key goal I was consistently striving to hit. It was everything I’ve been working towards since joining the company.
My greatest achievement to date though is the development of my team; they have the knowledge, confidence and tools to consistently deliver to the highest standard. We have an incredible collaborative spirit, we all take ownership of our work, but we also work brilliantly together and support each other to overcome any challenges. It’s a real pleasure to work with them.
Pam Southern, Group HR Director
I began my HR career at Tesco, but it was only after moving into the fitness industry and other sectors that I truly recognised the impact HR can have, especially in businesses without a corporate blueprint.
That challenge excited me and ultimately led me to Elevate, where - with my team - we built the HR function from the ground up, shaping people strategies, policies and benefits to support both employees and managers.
For me, HR is about creating real impact, not ticking boxes, balancing business needs with people priorities. Being the only female on the Executive Team, I’m proud to say respect here is earned, not dictated by gender, and that’s reflected across the company.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to continue building a workplace where people thrive, grow, and love what they do, because HR is about empowering people, not just policies.
We will continue to listen to the women that make our channel offer and our wider business a success every day, and commit to moving our industry forward in a way that fosters diversity and gives women the tools and opportunities to succeed. We’re really excited to continue to drive this work forward. Keep an eye out for more information on our Women in the Channel initiative in the coming months.
