This week, Helen Kelisky, MD at Google Cloud UKI joins Gareth to discuss her leadership journey; from securing a role in juggernaut IBM, marking her entry into the tech space, to joining the powerhouse that is Google Cloud as the Managing Director UKI.
A proud advocate for diversity in tech, Helen has been recognised on Computer Weekly’s Most Influential Women in Tech list for the last 6 years, exemplifying both her career successes and her external volunteering in organisations such as Women in Telecoms & Technology (WiTT).
Helen gives us insight into her leadership success and how to manage a team in the most effective way possible, ensuring that ‘every day is a learning day’, even for leaders. This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious to know more about cloud computing or anyone in need of some stellar leadership advice— we’ve got you covered.
Timestamps
- What does good leadership mean to Helen? (01:36)
- Inclusivity in tech (04:42)
- An introduction to Helen (07:22)
- Helen’s journey into tech (09:30)
- The workplace cultures of IBM, Salesforce and Google (13:15)
- What problems are Google Cloud trying to solve? (19:10)
- Helen’s productivity and work-life balance tips (29:26)
- Advice to her younger self (32:20)
- Helen’s charitable initiatives outside of work (33:44)
*Book recommendations: Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting Out of the Box, Arbinger institute Leadership and Self-Deception: Getting... by Arbinger Institute (amazon.co.uk) / The Tipping Point, Malcom Gladwell The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference: Amazon.co.uk: Malcolm Gladwell: 9780349113463: Books / Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About The World - And Why Things Are Better Than You Think, Hans Rosling & Ola Rosling & Anna Rosling Rönnlund Factfulness: Ten Reasons We're Wrong About... by Rosling, Hans (amazon.co.uk)