International Women’s Day Q&A with Abegail Gann

In celebration of International Women’s Day, we sat down with Abegail Gann, our Support Services Manager and a valued member of our senior leadership team, to discuss her journey into technology, the women who have inspired her, and the importance of supporting women in the workplace. 

International Women’s Day 2025: #AccelerateAction 

International Women’s Day takes place every year on 8 March. For more than 100 years, this global day has brought people together to celebrate women’s achievements and educate about gender equality. This year’s theme – #AccelerateAction – aims to bring urgency to the need for greater inequality. 

Abegail’s reflections on her career

Hi Abegail! What drew you to a career in technology?

Hi! Honestly, I didn’t intend to end up in technology. I never knew what I wanted to do and sort of bumped into different careers along the way. My background is in accounts, but I always enjoyed learning new things.  

What I love about technology is that it’s fast-moving – there’s always something to learn, improve, and innovate. The satisfaction of making someone’s day easier by saving them time or streamlining a process is something I didn’t get from my previous roles. That’s what keeps me here and why I love it. 

Can you tell us more about your career journey and how you transitioned from accounts into tech?

I started out in accounts, matching delivery notes to invoices, then taught myself bookkeeping and eventually became a finance manager.  

One of the support companies we used approached me about joining their support desk, and I jumped at the chance to try something new. That opportunity led me into ERP software, data reporting, and troubleshooting. From there, I just kept learning – and I’m still learning now. 

Has there been a woman who has inspired you on your career journey?

Recently, a woman who’s inspired me is friend of my dad, who had a long and successful career in communications but is now semi-retired, working as a part-time librarian. She’s always helping elderly people in her community with technology – setting up Wi-Fi, fixing laptops, or making phone calls to providers.  

She’s constantly learning and using her knowledge to help others, which I find really inspirational. I hope to do the same and keep learning throughout my life. 

What challenges have you faced in your career, particularly as a woman in tech?

The biggest challenge has been balancing family life with career progression. When my children were younger, I worked part-time and prioritised my family. That definitely slowed down my career, but everyone’s priorities are different.  

Now that my kids are older, it’s easier to dedicate more time to work. And when I could organise childcare, and I came back to work full time, Thinc really supported me and my growth. 

What support from an employer has made the biggest difference in your career?

The flexibility Thinc offers has been invaluable. Whether it’s needing to leave for a family emergency or balancing work with caring responsibilities – I was taking care of my grandparents for a while – the support has been there.  

Understanding the need to address work-life balance. as well as providing a great place to learn and grow, has led me to the role I’m in now. 

What changes would you like to see in the tech sector to improve fairness and inclusion?

I would love to see more support for mums returning to work. Childcare costs are so high that it can feel pointless going back. There needs to be more options to help women balance work and family life.  

I’ve experienced discrimination in the past for working part-time because of my family commitments or working part-time, and that kind of attitude needs to be wiped out. Women are an untapped resource, and the more we support them, the better any sector will be. 

Which or your qualities as a leader are you most proud of?

The thing I am most proud of is my constant thirst for knowledge and ability to learn under my own steam. That self-motivation has led me down this path to where I am now. I never want to stop learning.

If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Don’t be afraid of what you can’t do. I used to think I needed to know everything before trying something new, but I’ve learned that throwing yourself in at the deep end is the best way to grow.  

Everyone’s got to start somewhere, and your path may change on the way. But if you’re brave and you have a go, you’ll be surprised at what you can achieve. It may even help you on your journey that much quicker. 

Our thanks go to Abegail for sharing her journey and insights with us. Her story is an inspiring reminder that learning, resilience and supporting others are key to creating a more inclusive future. To learn more about International Women’s Day, head to the IWD website.