International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the incredible achievements of women around the world and to reaffirm our commitment to gender equality.
At Openmind Networks, we’re proud to support women in tech and foster an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Today, we’re excited to share insights from some of the inspiring women leaders at our company.
Diverse Voices, Shared Experiences
To mark this occasion, we spoke with three of our incredible team members: Kellie Fagan, People Operations Coordinator, Karen Lyons, Chief Customer Officer, and Valentina Novara, Director of Sales Operations, at Openmind Networks. Their perspectives offer valuable insights into the challenges and triumphs of navigating a career in technology.
Kellie Fagan
People Operations Coordinator
Karen Lyons
Chief Customer Officer
Valentina Novara
Director of Sales Operations
Q: What advice would you give to young women starting their careers in the tech industry, particularly at a company like Openmind Networks
Kellie Fagan, People Operations Coordinator: I would say don’t hold back just because it is a male dominated industry, it’s the perfect opportunity to have your voice heard and be a leader for young women coming up behind you.
Remember that tech is always evolving, there is always something new to learn. At Openmind Networks, we have so many skilled and intelligent people who are more than willing to share advice and experience with you, all you have to do is ask!
Finally, celebrate your successes and learn from your mistakes. Speak up and share your ideas, even if you feel hesitant.
Karen Lyons, Chief Customer Officer: Many young people in their early careers can be uncertain as they start to navigate the bridge from their studies to the world of professions and career journeys. For females in tech, this lack of confidence can be even more profound being typically in a minority, and even a single member of their gender in some settings.
It’s important to look at the company as well as the role itself when seeking a new role. What is the culture? Don’t hesitate to ask questions at interview that will give you an assessment as to whether that company has the right environment that is inclusive, encourages and supports all team members equally. At Openmind Networks, one of our core values is “Care for It” and it is truly lived in our company culture.
Valentina Novara, Director of Sales Operations: I’d say, first, own your expertise. You absolutely don’t have to know everything on day one, but be confident in what you do bring to the table.
Second, listen. Really spend time observing and absorbing information. You don’t always need to jump in and speak right away – understanding the landscape first is invaluable. Third, advocate for yourself. Don’t wait for recognition; highlight your contributions and actively seek out new challenges.
And finally, build a strong network. Mentors, peers, and sponsors will be your guides as you navigate challenges and open doors. Take advantage of cross-functional projects to hone and showcase your skills while ensuring you are working closely with leadership.
Q: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your career, and what did you learn from it that has helped you get to where you are today?
Kellie Fagan, People Operations Coordinator: My greatest career challenge was understanding my own neurodiversity. Discovering I have ADHD late in my life explained past struggles, and more importantly, taught me the power of self-advocacy.
By being open about my needs and working in a way that aligns with my brain, I’ve found greater success and fulfillment. This experience has shown me that authenticity and self-understanding are crucial to thriving professionally.
Karen Lyons, Chief Customer Officer: It’s tough to pinpoint one single biggest challenge. I think throughout a career, as your skills and your role evolve, challenges pop up at every stage. They feel huge at the time, of course, but once you’ve worked through them, they become valuable lessons you add to your toolkit, and that initial sense of difficulty fades pretty quickly. For me personally, what really stands out is a period of immense personal challenge. I experienced recurrent pregnancy loss over several years, and that was very closely followed by the unexpected death of my brother.
That experience has a profound effect on me and keeps me incredibly grounded in my professional life. Now, no matter how difficult a work situation gets, I can find a sense of calm, perspective, and a focus on solutions by reminding myself that, at the end of the day, “it’s just work.” No one’s life or health is on the line.
Valentina Novara, Director of Sales Operations: One of my biggest hurdles was definitely transitioning from being a hands-on expert to a strategic leader. As a technical specialist, I was used to solving problems myself, but stepping into leadership required a real shift in my mindset – empowering teams, influencing stakeholders, and thinking beyond just the immediate fixes.
What I learned was that delegation isn’t about losing control; it’s actually about maximizing your impact. Clear communication is essential; it drives alignment across different teams. And data? Data is a powerful tool for influencing decisions at the executive level. This whole shift has helped me take a much more strategic approach in my role, and it’s something I’m still working on and refining.
Q: How has Openmind Networks supported your growth and development as a leader? What initiatives or programs have been most beneficial?
Kellie Fagan, People Operations Coordinator: My manager at Openmind Networks has been a key driver in my leadership development, providing constant support and guidance. Openmind Networks presents endless opportunities to be seen and heard by the leadership team. There are no hoops to jump through to talk to our leaders. The willingness and transparency across all levels is probably one of the most beneficial things a company can do in supporting peoples’ growth.
Karen Lyons, Chief Customer Officer: Like in so many companies, I have benefitted from some great professional development programs while at Openmind Networks.
However, I would say what has been most beneficial to my personal growth has been the amazing in-role experience you get as part of a scaling, innovative team, working across every function of the company closely and learning from the company founders, this has developed and enhanced so many aspects of my previous corporate-based leadership experience.
Valentina Novara, Director of Sales Operations: Openmind Networks has been great about giving me opportunities to own high-impact projects and collaborate with leadership, which has been absolutely crucial for my growth. Some of the most beneficial things have been the cross-functional collaboration – working across different departments has really expanded my understanding of the business.
Access to mentorship and the flexibility to innovate have also been key, along with leadership support and feedback, which have been so important in shaping my decision-making skills. But honestly, the biggest factor has been the culture of trust and ownership – being encouraged to take initiative and drive change without the fear of failure. Failure is such an essential part of growth, and knowing it won’t be held against you creates the freedom to experiment, innovate and ultimately excel.
Q: What do you see as the most important issue facing women in tech today, and what can companies like Openmind Networks do to address it?
Kellie Fagan, People Operations Coordinator: The most critical issue facing women in tech today is the persistent lack of equitable representation and advancement opportunities. It stems from unconscious bias and systemic barriers, and that creates a “leaky pipeline” where we see women underrepresented at every level, especially when you look at senior leadership and highly technical roles. This bias also creeps into hiring and promotion processes, where women can be unconsciously overlooked.
So, what can a company like Openmind Networks do? Well, I think tackling unconscious bias head-on is crucial. We also need to actively promote visibility for women in tech and create clear pathways to leadership opportunities. And finally, investing in STEM education and outreach programs to encourage the next generation of women in tech is essential for long-term change.
Valentina Novara, Director of Sales Operations: I think the most important issue facing women in tech today is representation in leadership. Women are still underrepresented in senior roles, and that really impacts decision-making and career growth for other women coming up through the pipeline.
Openmind Networks, though, has made remarkable progress in fostering gender diversity. We’ve significantly increased the number of women not just across the company, but also in leadership and managerial roles since I started here. What other companies can do is actively sponsor women for leadership roles.
Mentorship is great, but sponsorship – advocating for promotions and key projects – is even better. We also need to address unconscious bias in hiring and promotions by making sure we have equitable evaluation processes. And finally, build a strong network. Internal women’s groups, cross-company networking, and leadership programs can help women gain visibility.
Q: What’s one thing you’re most proud of accomplishing in your career so far, and what are you looking forward to achieving in the future?
Kellie Fagan, People Operations Coordinator: I’m most proud of my work in promoting mental health awareness and support in the workplace. Completing my QQI Level 6 in Mental Health and becoming a certified Mental Health First Aid Responder for the workplace. I’m passionate about creating a workplace culture where mental health is prioritized and employees feel supported.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to collaborate more closely with other departments and contribute to building an even stronger company culture at Openmind Networks, making us best in tech!
Karen Lyons, Chief Customer Officer: Probably that my path to today has not been a classic straight line plotted in advance but that I have stepped out on my own route through steadily adding to my portfolio of experience through every position I have held.
As I look to the future, I will always continue to seek out that sweet spot that served me well on my route so far, which is the combination of bringing my experience and skills to benefit a role, combined with new learning and growth that I can get from that position. That’s also one of our Openmind Networks core values – “Evolve It”!
Valentina Novara, Director of Sales Operations: I think the most important issue facing women in tech today is representation in leadership. Women are still underrepresented in senior roles, and that really impacts decision-making and career growth for other women coming up through the pipeline.
Openmind Networks, though, has made remarkable progress in fostering gender diversity. We’ve significantly increased the number of women not just across the company, but also in leadership and managerial roles since I started here. What other companies can do is actively sponsor women for leadership roles.
Mentorship is great, but sponsorship – advocating for promotions and key projects – is even better. We also need to address unconscious bias in hiring and promotions by making sure we have equitable evaluation processes. And finally, build a strong network. Internal women’s groups, cross-company networking, and leadership programs can help women gain visibility.
Q: How important have alliances, support organizations, or mentorship been in your career journey? What advice would you give to women looking to build these types of supportive relationships?
Kellie Fagan, People Operations Coordinator: I wouldn’t be where I am today without the guidance and support from some of the other women in my career so far. From a young age, I was mentored by one of the best in the hospitality industry, who taught me that people would always be your most valuable asset in any job. You pay attention to them, give them your genuine time and commitment, and they will give it back to you ten times over.
I’ve grown personally and professionally because of the women I’ve had the pleasure of working with. My best advice would be to put yourself out there, find a mentor that aligns with you and your values, be a mentor yourself, build genuine relationships, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Karen Lyons, Chief Customer Officer: They have been really very important, and I would go so far as to say that from the time I started to include these supports and organizations as part of my working life, my career and leadership moved up a gear in a very tangible way.
When I was first invited to a Women in Tech event, I will admit I was not particularly comfortable at the prospect – too far from my comfort zone of many years in a male-dominated environment right back to university days studying engineering. However, it proved to be a real lightbulb moment and I started to understand the importance of profiling females in tech (you cannot be what you cannot see) and the benefits to me personally of sharing experiences and supports with others in the sector.
I would encourage all females to actively connect to associations that are relevant to their role or sector and leverage the wider perspective, support and platform this can give you. For personal mentorship, I would say maintain and cultivate a personal network of people that understand your context and that can support you in a constructive, confidential way. Finally, make sure to have diversity of both male and female prospective across any supportive relationships you build… just like any business team, strength comes from the mix of as many diverse perspectives as possible – gender, age, background, etc.
Valentina Novara, Director of Sales Operations: Mentorship and alliances have been absolute game-changers in my career. Having people who have been in my shoes – especially women in leadership – has helped me navigate challenges, negotiate better, and think much bigger.
My advice for building these relationships? Seek mentorship intentionally. Identify leaders you admire and ask for guidance on specific challenges. Be proactive in networking. Attend industry events, join professional groups, and connect with women in your field.
And finally, give as much as you take. Offer help, share knowledge, and build two-way relationships—it strengthens your network. The right support system really accelerates career growth, and I definitely aim to pay it forward by mentoring others as I advance in my own journey.
These conversations with the women of Openmind Networks highlight the power of mentorship, the importance of resilience in the face of challenges, and the value of a supportive and inclusive workplace. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, let’s continue to champion the achievements of women in technology and work together to create an industry where everyone can thrive.
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