Welcoming new additions to the Board
A very warm welcome to the Board, Rachel Lambert Eve Ronson, and Alice Shattock!
We’re welcoming new faces to the WICT UK & Ireland Board, the team behind our chapter’s programming and events, sponsorship and fundraising, content and social media, mentoring and membership – and more.
Our Digital & Media Chair, Carmen Chai, caught up with our newest additions. Read more about why WICT’s mission matters to them:
Carmen Chai: Welcome to the Board. Tell us, the WICT Community, more about yourself.
Rachel Lambert: I live in Liverpool with my husband Paul. I absolutely love Liverpool, but have been really fortunate to live in a number of different places and countries over the years including Spain and Canada.
Outside of work, I have a real passion for travelling and love to spend my holidays visiting new places. I also really like to get outdoors and go walking in the Lake District but probably my favourite pastime is spending time with family and friends, especially it if involves some nice food and a glass of wine!
Alice Shattock: I joined Virgin Media in 2019 after completing a graduate scheme in the defence industry, and since then I’ve held multiple roles, including in Planning and Commercial departments. For the last 18 months, I’ve been working for one of the VMO2 Executive Committee members as a Business Manager.
Outside of work, I’m getting married in May so a lot of time is taken up planning the wedding, I like to keep fit by going to the gym and for the occasional run, and I live in London so spend lots of time meeting up with friends.
Eve Ronson: After Graduating in 2022 with an MA in Social Policy from Liverpool Hope University, I joined the Liberty Global People Graduate Scheme. During the programme, I spent a year in Bradford, West Yorkshire where part of my role was focused on supporting Future Talent both internally and in the wider West Yorkshire community. I am now in my final role of the scheme with Virgin Media O2’s People Strategy and Transformation Team which I am loving as an opportunity to learn more about the telecoms industry.
I am a big fan of tennis and qualified as a Coach with the Lawn Tennis Association while I was at university. Since I’ve moved to London I have enjoyed going to theatre, concerts and exploring all the different bookshops London has to offer.
CC: Why did you decide to join the organisation – what does WICT, and its mission to Inspire, Connect and Grow, mean to you?
AS: Since 2019, I’ve attended multiple events that WICT have held and I loved the variety of events that were offered. I’ve worked for lots of women in my career so far and have seen firsthand how important it is for women to have each other’s backs. I want to play my part to make sure that this network continues to succeed and to help to bring like-minded people together from across the industry. I particularly relate to the Connect and Grow parts of the WICT mission. I think one of the main benefits of being a member of WICT is it allows you to meet people in the industry that you wouldn’t necessarily meet otherwise and this can offer up invaluable opportunities which can help you progress and grow, both professionally and personally.
RL: I absolutely love everything that WICT stands for. I am a massive believer in women supporting women and the WICT mission deeply resonates with me.
I have personally benefited from the guidance and support of other women in the tech industry and understand what a difference this can make. I am so excited about joining WICT and being able to offer the same support and guidance to others that I have been so grateful to receive.
ER: I joined WICT as a member when I began my career at Liberty in 2022. I was drawn to get involved with WICT as an opportunity to expand my network and learn more about the wider TMT industry. Since then, I have attended lots of events with WICT UKIE, including virtual speed networking and panel events in both Leeds and London. For the last 18 months I have been a mentee on WICT’s mentoring scheme which has been invaluable to me.
WICT’s mission to Inspire, Connect, and Grow is a reminder of how important it is to support those just starting their careers in the TMT industry. As someone who’s early in their own journey, I know how valuable mentorship, networking, and development opportunities are for building confidence and setting the foundations for careers.
CC: What are you most excited about for the TMT industry and the people contributing to it for 2025? Are there certain topics or trends you’re most passionate about?
ER: For 2025, I’m excited about the industry's shift towards a skills-based approach to hiring and career development. With rapid technological advancements and evolving business needs, organisations are increasingly prioritising skills over traditional qualifications. As someone early in my career, this trend is especially important because it creates new opportunities to advance based on abilities and skills ensuring it’s accessible. It’s great to see how this approach fosters a more inclusive workforce by allowing people from diverse backgrounds to thrive.
AS: Everyone always talks about AI and the changes it’ll bring to how we work over the next few years, but I truly believe this is the biggest opportunity in the TMT sector. It’ll be critical that TMT businesses lead the efforts to make sure AI technology is used ethically, and it will also make big improvements in areas such as customer service. That being said, I think it should be a top priority for businesses to prepare their people for the changes that are coming, especially younger employees as it’s uncertain what the future world of work will look like.
RL: I’m definitely excited to see how AI continues to transform the sector. I’m also passionate about how the industry will address the growing needed for more sustainable practices. As we all try to reduce our environmental impact it feels like there is a great opportunity to develop more eco-friendly technologies and solutions.
From a people perspective I love the fact that the talent coming into the TMT industry is more diverse than ever before, and it’s so good to see a greater focus on inclusivity and representation. There’s so much potential for collaboration and new perspectives which is genuinely exciting.
CC: What is the best piece of career advice you’ve received so far?
RL: To understand your authentic self and always be true to this. Know your strengths and unique contributions and advocate for yourself. Early on in my career I was concerned about fitting a certain ‘image’, but a mentor encouraged me to embrace who I am as a person and the unique traits that I bring.
AS: The more things you try, the more you fail, and the more you fail, the more you learn.
ER: There have been two key pieces of advice so far. The first was to be curious, don’t be worried to ask lots of questions. The second was don’t underestimate how important having a strong network within the business and industry is!