“The sky is the limit here. If you can dream it and work out a way of executing it, everyone’s ideas are embraced.”
In the second of our ‘Employee Spotlight’ series, we focus on Account Director, Bernadette Wilson.
Bernadette has come a long way since her first job aged 12. “I had a morning paper round, and it was horrific. I put half of the round in a wheelie bin after trying really hard for a few months.”
However, it is safe to say that Bernadette’s work ethic is somewhat more admirable twenty-three years on, balancing working at ResourceiT with being the mother of two girls. The thirty-five-year-old that lives locally to ResourceiT’s offices says she feels an obligation to be that way.
“I’m a full-time employee, which as a mum of two young daughters might seem crazy, but I am career driven and I want them to see that you can do it all.
“ResourceiT have contributed in that respect. I’m at home two and a half days a week and that helps massively with the work/life balance. I can take my kids to school, and even when I’m in the office, I take them and drive in afterwards.”
Bernadette wasn’t always sure what she wanted to do as a teenager. However, after completing a marketing degree at Kingston University in 2010, she knew her future lay in this sphere. Unfortunately, this didn’t prove particularly easy when she first graduated.
“There was about 600 people on our course and only 4 people managed to get an internship. We were literally driving in convoys where we were all going for the same jobs, there just wasn’t enough placements for us all.
“After graduating I applied at any company within any industry really, but instead of getting a job I spent the next two years doing Camp America. I taught kids to swim, kayak, and canoe while travelling around America and Canada.”
After returning, it was her friend that began to pressure her to get a ‘proper job’.
“She actually put my CV forward to some recruiters and as a result I got a job with a local IT distributor. She also set me up with my husband there, so I have quite a lot to thank her for!”
Bernadette began working in sales but already had her eyes on moving into marketing when possible.
“During lunch breaks and after shifts I did work experience within the marketing team. Writing emails, having them designed, just doing basic marketing execution for the managers. After 20 months in sales, I managed to get a marketing assistant role internally – I never looked back.”
It was during the height of COVID and between the two lockdowns that Bernadette saw an advertisement for a marketing role at ResourceiT, she thought it seemed a good fit.
“Having worked with ResourceiT for a number of years, I knew a bit about what they offered, that I wanted to make the move, and that I wanted to experience agency life. You need that mix, especially in the IT channel. That blend of experience really helps you see what you prefer and where your skills best fit. I had only worked in distribution, and I thought after nine years it was time to branch out and see what else was out there.
“I saw the job advertised on LinkedIn and decided to go for it as the culture really seemed right for me and I thought I could learn a lot. Throughout my interview process I was very open and made it clear that I wanted to learn, why I wanted to move over, and the experiences I wanted from the role change.”
After some interview calls and writing and presenting a marketing plan for a hypothetical vendor product launch, Bernadette was offered the job.
“I had worked with Bernadette for a number of years in a client/agency capacity, and I could not have been more thrilled when she applied for the role. Her experience and passion for the IT channel, as well as her unmatched knowledge on all things disti-related meant hiring her was an absolute no brainer!” Tory Simpson, General Manager, ResourceiT
On starting at ResourceiT, Bernadette was mightily impressed.
“Well, I actually remember being stressed about my shoes on the first day. But other than that, I remember there being such a clear plan for onboarding and everything was so organised. My desk was ready; laptop, headset, welcome gift, welcome card, Tory Simpson was so prepared for me and made me feel at home. She was there every step of the way.”
Over the two and a half years that Bernadette has been with ResourceiT she has certainly seen plenty of evolution.
“New offices, employee numbers growing constantly, change of management, customer base increasing. But with all that the ethos of the company remains. It is still people first, career development, career growth, investing in the people.”
And while there have been plenty of changes in a short space of time, she continues to love her job.
“I love the diversity of my role, chatting to new customers, being able to work with the whole channel, whether it’s a partner, vendor, or distributor they all have different needs. Exposure to that broad mix is brilliant.”
Another side of Bernadette’s job that she loves is in her involvement with TC4RE (Technology Community for Racial Equality), an organisation which ResourceiT are a founding member of. It is a charity fighting for racial equality in the tech industry, and Bernadette was extremely honoured when Julie Simpson, the founder and CEO of ResourceiT, asked her to get involved.
“To be brought in by Julie when it was in its infancy, and to be the project manager that took that to market, it was a really special opportunity. While my role in TC4RE has changed now, I am still an active volunteer and get to work with some of the biggest partners in the channel, as well as Microsoft, trying to move the needle for the better!”
In summary, Bernadette believes the freedom ResourceiT provide her with is what really allows her to flourish.
“I was recently nominated to produce a chapter in ‘Voices in the Shadow – volume 2’, a book by ‘Global Tech Advocates Black Women in Tech’, a not not-for-profit global organisation. That was a tremendous privilege, and I don’t think I would have been nominated, let alone selected, if it wasn’t for the confidence that ResourceiT have instilled in me. I want to continue to use my voice to inspire and educate the next generation of young, black professionals.
“I really trust my own abilities now, and that is down to the creative freedom that ResourceiT give you. The sky is the limit here, if you can dream it and work out a way of executing it, everyone’s ideas are embraced.
Click here if you would like to hear more about Bernadette, just be thankful she wasn’t your paper girl.
