Emma Wilkinson

Tell us your story.

Before I got into the digital space I worked in IT, having decided that I didn't want to pursue my university intake into music and it was whilst working in IT I was lucky enough to embrace my creative side and was taught by my IT team leader how to code websites.

After this I tried to study at university and hated it and so I took roles in IT again and on the side kept trying to build my digital skills and whilst working in another great IT role at AECOM with the best team a girl could ask for I struck gold and was offered the role for Intranet Coordinator for the ANZ region and decided to be brave thanks to encouraging words from three great mentors my two IT leaders Szabolcs Lorincz and Aamer Manzoor and a great digital specialist who took me under her wing and taught me all I needed to know of how to successfully be an intranet coordinator Claire Dunn.

Leaping through the years I jumped into content administration first in Brisbane for a bank and then in Sydney for Avon before deciding to take all that I had learnt in IT, digital and graphic design and use them all in one job at one time as an account executive which I think is my dream job and I am so excited by all that I am learning and using now. Over the years I have wins, and failures I have laughed I have cried I have met and worked under some amazing influential people and I have grown from my mistakes.

I am inspired everyday by the great woman and men that I have met along my journey and by my family and friends and my partner in crime who have all pushed me and not let me get away with anything ! I am also inspired by young people I meet through great programs like the Young ICT explorer competition that I judge at every year and I am excited to see where they take digital. Then there are the "cool" group who are changing the world of digital that I look up to and really want to meet and pick their brain, people like Danah Boyd, Sophia Amoruso and Angela Ahrendts (Seriously, look me up ladies)

What advice to you have to share with other women and young girls?

Don't design digital marketing design for the digital market.

Don't beat men up too much treat them with respect and show them why you are powerful.

Cry, laugh and most of all allow failure.

Travel the world without instagram or a fancy camera it will make you see the world differently when you are sharing it with others.

You are the voice of many choose your words and actions online wisely from the moment that you enter the digital space, it is there forever.

Log off, life is also being lived outside the digital world don't miss it.

The Women in Tech campaign exists to help redefine what women in technology means in the 21st century. Started independently by a group of professional women who, after many impassioned discussions about women in tech knew we wanted to expand this definition beyond 'traditional' technology skills. To us, it includes most every current, emerging or evolving role within an organization. By featuring leaders and emerging leaders across industries who embody this we hope to collectively 'stand up', be proud of our place in the digital world and inspire young women or those new to the 'tech space' to get involved.