Celebrating International Women’s Day – Jacky Ellis
International Women’s Day is a day for celebration and recognition of women’s achievements as well as being a day to accelerate equality and challenge stereotypes. We wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate all women at Peppermint, past, and present and inspire more women to explore career avenues into technology companies like Peppermint. Across this week we’ll be sharing the career journeys of three colleagues at Peppermint.
We have some amazing women at Peppermint working in Software Development, Quality Assurance, Product Management, Customer Support, Customer Success, Professional Services, Finance, Data Management, Marketing, People Performance and Leadership. Although we are unable to share everyone’s story this week, Peppermint would like to recognise each and every one of you for your important contribution – many of you working in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) based roles, choosing to challenge the stereotype of women in tech.
Thank you and keep doing what you do!
Our final story for International Women’s Day is from Jacky Ellis, Peppermint’s Senior Implementation Consultant.
Jacky Ellis, Senior Software Implementation Consultant AAT Level 4, ILFM Associate
Jacky is a highly regarded legal finance specialist, focusing for the last five years on legal finance software implementation. Jacky has worked within the legal industry for most of her career and held a variety of finance, treasury, and compliance roles. Whilst specialising in client compliance for an International top 15 law firm, Jacky was invited to serve the Institute of Legal Finance Management (ILFM) as an executive council member, a voluntary role, for almost 7 years. Alongside full-time work, Jacky also supported the learning of others operating as an ILFM tutor and trainer for a number of years.
Have you always worked in legal finance?
No, although latterly that has been my focus. I left school at 16 and initially went into banking before trying out childcare (I am a qualified nursery nurse!), human resources and team management roles before realising that accounting and finance was my area of interest.
What is it about the role you do today that you enjoy?
My role is really varied, and I enjoy solving problems and creating solutions for customers. No two days are the same and you are continuously learning and adapting to improve. I’ve had a significant amount of experience as an end user of legal software and this unique insight helps me in the role I perform. I was honoured to receive the Peppermint Customer Success award in 2020 as recognition for my hard work, skills and commitment to the customers we serve.
You’ve done a lot in your career, how have you managed competing demands on your time?
It’s about balance and determination! Know your limits, choose your timing, give what you can but don’t feel guilty if you don’t achieve everything every time.
During much of my career I’ve been a single parent, a carer and juggled completing my education at weekends and evenings alongside work and voluntary roles. Life happens – and I think it’s important to find balance and focus on what you can control, not what you can’t.
What do you think about the tech sector for women?
Tech has historically been a male dominated sector, but things are changing. That said, there have been occasions where I have been the only woman in the room! I think it’s important to do what you want to do and not to be afraid of taking a chance.