International Women’s Day 2024: Celebrating the leadership and impact of three inspiring women at Kinetic
Featured from the left: Neha Chawla, Clare Ody and Stacey Wright
The UK tech industry is one of the fastest-growing and most innovative sectors in the world. However, it still has a long way to go in terms of gender diversity, with just 19% of tech workers being women.
The lack of diversity in tech extends beyond gender and encompasses differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and more. The true value of diversity is that it promotes a culture of innovation and creativity by bringing together people with unique perspectives and experiences.
At Kinetic, we are committed to creating a positive work environment where everyone feels valued, motivated, and engaged. We recognise that diversity and inclusion are critical to achieving our goals and creating a culture of innovation, and we have implemented a range of initiatives to promote these values. We are proud to have a diverse workforce, with 42% of our employees being women.
As we celebrate International Women's Day this year, under the theme of #InspireInclusion, we highlight the stories of three inspiring women at Kinetic who are making a difference through their roles and in their leadership, inspiring us all to work towards a more inclusive future.
Neha Chawla, is a Senior SQA Automation Engineer at Kinetic. She is proficient in developing and maintaining automated test scripts using industry-leading tools such as Selenium and Appium. Her technical prowess extends to programming languages like Java and C#, along with expertise in API testing and continuous integration (CI/CD) pipelines.
But Neha's impact goes beyond her technical skills. In dynamic environments where collaboration is key, Neha thrives. She seamlessly integrates with development, product management, and quality assurance teams, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation. Recently, she earned her Master's degree in Project Management from SZABIST Karachi, a testament to her commitment to personal and professional growth. Her excellence was further recognised when she was mentioned in the Chancellor's Honor List—an honour truly deserved.
“My role as a SQA Automation Engineer is a thrilling journey through the dynamic challenges of the software industry, and this is what I cherish the most about my position. You get to be the Sherlock Holmes to the code, hunting down bugs and ensuring the software is top-notch. It’s like solving a puzzle every day. Being part of the software industry involves teamwork, constant learning in an ever-evolving tech landscape, and the satisfaction of knowing you’re the guardian of software quality. The flexibility and chance to work with diverse teams add an extra layer of awesome.
Kinetic has been a crucial pillar of support in my career journey. It has provided more than just tasks. There's a genuine commitment to help my professional growth. It has created an environment where upskilling is not just encouraged but facilitated. Additionally, Kinetic thrives on open communication. Expressing my ideas freely gives me a great sense of empowerment, allowing me to take on challenging projects and initiatives, contributing significantly to my professional development. Forever proud to be a part of such an employee-centric organisation.”
Clare Ody is the Head of PBSA Operations at Kinetic. With extensive experience in student accommodation and in the hospitality industry, Clare witnessed first-hand the power of inclusion in promoting innovation, driving growth, and creating a thriving work environment. As a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and holding various certifications in leadership, management, and data protection.
“I love the variety of my role at Kinetic and the opportunity to make a difference in the sector. Working in the software industry means I’m always learning, and there are often new and exciting technologies to explore. I feel very fortunate to work with some incredibly talented people at Kinetic, and it’s really rewarding to explore new ideas and push boundaries together.
Kinetic has given me significant opportunities for professional growth and development already, gaining exposure to the different aspects of the business and the wider Volaris group across the globe in my first year. I’m also very excited to be selected for the 2024 ‘Limitless Executive Accelerator Program’ (LEAP); a curriculum tailored exclusively for leaders in the portfolio. Kinetic's focus on people and talent development is second to none and a big part of our culture.
I think it’s essential for the tech industry to foster an inclusive environment to work in because inclusivity promotes diversity, and that brings a range of perspectives, talent, and passion to the table. It’s really important for me to be a part of a diverse workforce at Kinetic, especially recognising my female colleagues and allies on IWD, which includes women in senior leadership and Board-level positions. I think the tech industry has some way to go to match the efforts of Kinetic, and I’m proud to work for a company that encourages a positive and inclusive culture. Equity, collaboration, and teamwork are hugely valued at Kinetic, and people are at the heart of our community and always come first.”
Stacey Wright, a seasoned Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Kinetic has foundations in finance with over 15 years of finance and accounting experience. Her inclusive leadership style sets Stacey apart, which creates a sense of team collaboration and empowerment. Colleagues who have worked with her attest to her ability to coach, counsel, and inspire others to achieve their full potential. Her impact goes beyond the balance sheet, as she cultivates environments where every voice is heard, valued, and respected.
“I am deeply passionate about promoting innovation and creativity to make transformative change – whether that’s through ground-breaking changes or the continuous pursuit of small, incremental improvements. Enhancing and evolving ideas and technology that brings purposeful and impactful change is what really ignites me, and there really is no better space to be than the ever-changing nature of the software industry to do this!
Kinetic has been instrumental in my success and in propelling my career forward by not only embracing my individuality and providing an environment where I can truly flourish. Kinetic offers opportunities that both excite and stretch me, pushing me beyond my comfort zone and encouraging me to grow. I love that Kinetic empowers every individual in the business to have a voice, to contribute to making meaningful change and to ‘give things a go’ without fear of failure by embracing and celebrating those learnings. With a commitment to continuous learning and a culture that encourages entrepreneurial spirit, Kinetic serves as an unparalleled platform for huge personal and professional growth, all of which has provided an impressive springboard for my career journey.”