Upper Sigma’s women-led revenue Legal Tech revenue team – from left to right: Simoné du Toit, Karen Campbell and Kerrin Pepper.
The tech sector is, traditionally speaking, male-dominated, but these days, more and more women are entering the industry. This increased representation is so important, from the inspiration it provides for young women looking to find a career, to the differences in perspective and approach that often comes from the female point of view.
Upper Sigma, a Dynamic Technologies group company, specialises in CRM and marketing technology specifically designed and developed for the legal and professional services industry. The firm’s solutions are used by some of the leading law firms in the US and the UK and their women-led legal tech revenue team is testament to Upper Sigma’s commitment to gender equality and diversity.
For Upper Sigma’s Lead Solution Consultant Karen Campbell, Client Success Manager Kerrin Pepper, and Business Development Executive Simoné du Toit, there’s nothing too unusual about their team. Based in Upper Sigma’s UK offices in London, they work well together, complement each other, enjoy a good laugh, and get the job done efficiently and effectively. And yet a female-led team is certainly noteworthy, particularly in their industry.
Simoné believes the team dynamic is the most important factor. She says, “It’s not every day that you come across a sales or revenue team where the majority of the members are female. I don’t think we are a unique team because we are female-led, I think we are just good at working together and communicating. We have all made an effort to get to know each other, and regardless of our gender we try to be as much of a united front as we can. We are a very supportive group of people. Historically, selling into legal services has been male-dominated and only recently seeing change. The industry is ever-changing though, so we will see diversity growing more with time.
For Kerrin, what makes their team truly stand out is the uniqueness of the experiences that each member of the team is able to bring to the table, which all add value in various ways. She says, “By its very nature, technology is everchanging, but how the law industry uses and adopts technology is, too. Whilst the fast and diverse nature of this industry can be challenging, it also presents myriad opportunities. Acknowledging the construct that the tech industry has been male-dominated, it is still great to work within a diverse company that values skills, experience, and work ethic, without confining an individual to gender norms. Upper Sigma excels at empowering each person within their role, and that speaks volumes.”
Interestingly, none of these women started their careers in the legal tech field or had any aspirations toward that industry. Karen began by focusing on marketing and then moved into a variety of account management and training roles. She soon realised that she loved problem-solving and understanding what went on behind the tech, but also enjoyed being client-facing. Solutions Consulting was a perfect mix of both.
Kerrin started out as a schoolteacher, transitioned into the Salesforce ecosystem, and was appointed as an in-house recruiter at Upper Sigma. Possessing several highly transferable skills, she soon evolved into the role of Client Success Manager.
For Simoné, her arrival at Upper Sigma was perhaps the biggest adjustment. Starting with a degree in linguistics, she took an opportunity to work intercontinentally and was inspired by the change of scenery. At Upper Sigma, she enjoys the challenge of learning the ins and outs of an industry she had never considered. She says, “As someone who didn’t have an educational background in the industry or previous experience of working in tech, I find that I sometimes struggle with imposter syndrome. I might doubt my right to a seat at the table because it can be daunting to have conversations with people with more experience or knowledge. I see this as an opportunity to use my strengths, to grow and learn, and to pave the way for other women to work in this space.
In this tough space, this dynamic team has one another’s backs and together, they are a force to be reckoned with. Eager to learn, and each with their own skills and strengths, they are agile, adaptive, and curious, making them the perfect fit for the legal tech industry. Karen says, “Tech is diverse and offers multiple opportunities and avenues to develop your skills and diversify into new roles. It’s an ever-evolving industry in which to work and you are not likely to suffer boredom from doing the same thing day in and day out. It’s a field that allows you to continually grow, to use your skills in new ways, and develop new competencies too. Plus, there are some exceptional people to work within this industry.”
Karen, Kerrin, and Simoné’s advice for people, particularly women, looking to enter the tech landscape, is to be brave. “Don’t be afraid to take risks and make changes. Take the opportunities that are presented to you to learn new things, to grow your skills, and to learn about yourself. Look up to the many women in the industry who are setting an example by owning their space. And remember that this is an ever-changing industry. Those who change, adapt, and grow along with it will be successful once they are courageous enough to take that first step.”