CIO OPINION

We need to have a mindset shift and reframe misconceptions that the tech and cybersecurity industry is reserved for men only .

Joanne Wong , Vice President , International Markets , LogRhythm

Joanne Wong , Vice President , International Markets , LogRhythm , tells Intelligent CIO about the challenges of being a working mother in the male-dominated IT industry .

You never planned to be a technology leader so how did it happen ?

Indeed , I was trained as a lawyer and spent the first years of my career working at a law firm .

My big break in my tech career happened when I joined Business Software Alliance – a non-profit organization – back in 1998 , as an anti-piracy and marketing manager . This built a strong foundation for my next role at Microsoft , where I oversaw IP compliance and anti-piracy programs , before expanding into various business growth roles within the company .

A six-year stint in various marketing roles at SAP followed , and today , I go to work as the Vice President of International Markets at LogRhythm , where I oversee the overall marketing , as well as media and analyst relation efforts in APAC and EMEA .

What challenges have you faced as a woman in technology and a working mother in a male-dominated industry ?

When I first became a new mother , I was very conscious of what my male counterparts might think : would they judge me for being less of a team player and for not pulling my weight ? This anxiety led me to cut short my paid maternity leave to resume work . Looking back , I realized that my actions may have subconsciously pressured other women to do the same .

44 INTELLIGENTCIO APAC www . intelligentcio . com