Being a woman in a leadership role is no different from being a man in the same position. The responsibilities remain the same – work relentlessly, collaborate, and foster a shared vision and personal development.
My journey started 15 years ago when I joined Redington as a Management Trainee. It was a sink-or-swim scenario at that time, and I am thankful for all the mentors in my life who acted as lifeguards, ensuring I only swam. Since then, I’ve embraced countless challenges, learned from each experience, and gradually worked my way into the leadership role I hold today.
Every step, every challenge, and every lesson has been crucial in shaping the leader I am now, and I continue to grow and evolve with every opportunity. The path to leadership is defined by hard work, resilience, communication, and the ability to identify talent—those who will swim faster and better than you, as you have been doing it seven days a week and twice on Sundays.
I have had a very varied experience within Redington, probably being the only one who has never dealt with the logistics team in the region’s #1 distributor as my portfolio has been primarily with software brands rather than hardware. I have been extremely fortunate to work with forward-thinking technologies and to have had guidance and mentors who supported me in experimenting. I’ve had the privilege of working with more than seven different technology vendors over 14 years at Redington. This has enriched me with a well-rounded experience in building things from $0 to $100M software brands, while also overcoming challenges that no one at Redington had ever faced before.
The only reason I have been able to achieve what I have and be where I am today is because of the people in my life, both professionally and personally. Professionally, I feel I have had a “unicorn” experience in terms of how my managers, mentors, and colleagues have always worked with a single motto: Shared Success. This comes from enjoying what you do, when you do it, and how you do it. Personally, my husband has been my biggest cheerleader, along with my family, who has always provided encouragement and patience when I needed it. My son has added a layer of gratitude to the same.
On this International Women’s Day, with the theme “Accelerate Action,” I’m sharing my journey in hopes of inspiring those new to the tech world. Looking back, one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to embrace mistakes. Don’t be afraid to fail fast — it’s how you learn and grow the quickest. In technology, the pace is fast, and the “perfect moment” to act rarely comes. Instead, take risks, make decisions, and learn as you go.
As women, we bring unique perspectives to the table, and we have the power to lead with empathy, resilience, and vision. While there’s still progress to be made, each step forward counts. My journey from a Management Trainee to leading Redington’s Cloud Solutions Group wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. To all women in tech, or those considering it: don’t wait for the right time. The time to act is now. Let’s keep accelerating change together.
About the Contributor – Nehal Sharma spearheads Redington’s Cloud Solutions Group for the MEA region. Armed with more than a decade of dedicated experience in the technology channel and sales space, Nehal is an accomplished and result-driven sales professional. Her key forte lies in Consulting, Channel Management, and Marketing, with a specific emphasis on channel management and developing emerging market sales.
This contribution is under the International Women’s Day initiative #SheIsInfinite.
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