Lesley Andrews ─ helping customers realize positive productivity outcomes...
December 15, 2020 • 3 Minute Read
Lesley Andrews
Vice President, Strategic Alliances for North America
CompuCom
Are you looking for an IT marketing and strategic alliance professional with experience in working with OEMs to help customers realize positive productivity outcomes in secure business environments? We know the person—Lesley Andrews!
Lesley is Vice President, Strategic Alliances for North America at CompuCom. In this role, she collaborates with OEM partners to build best of breed solutions to support CompuCom’s customers on their digital journey. She is an advocate for work/life balance while helping customers and colleagues alike, realize their personal and professional goals.
Please meet this IT Wondrous Woman™, Lesley Andrews!
Our 10 Questions for this IT Wondrous Woman.
Fun Facts
1. What’s the one thing about you that your business colleagues don’t know about you?
I have been getting together with the same set of 5 girlfriends, on a weekly basis, for over 18 years. We play games, go to a movie, dinner, lectures or just get together to chat over a glass of wine. During the pandemic, we enjoy virtual get-togethers where we continue to maintain our connection.
2. Before the pandemic, how many air miles/KMs did you flying annually?
Before the pandemic, I flew a manageable 40,000 miles per year. I truly miss some of that travel and the ability to connect with people in a live setting.
3. What is the most adventurous food you have eaten and what city/location did you eat it?
Fried caterpillars in Zimbabwe, which the locals labelled the dish simply as “protein”.
Your Career
4. What are the top two experiences, achievements or failures that shaped your journey as a successful leader?
I was selling transportation services early in my career and when I became sales leader, I do recall the transition moving from a co-worker within the team to the leader of the team. I learned early on that success comes from a team effort, and a leader is only as good as its team members. It is about training, mentoring and leading to help each member of the team achieve their goals and realize their potential.
I also learned that you need to be your best advocate. It is always difficult to ask for a raise, a promotion, or take the next step in your career and stay close to your goals. We cannot wait for it to be offered to us, especially as women, and we have to step out of our comfort zone and make our intentions known. It is a given that the quality of the work has to be in line with the ‘ask’ and it takes time to build the experience and market knowledge that comes along with career advancement and leadership opportunities.
5. Did you have a mentor in the early part of your career and, if so, what is the biggest lesson you learned from your mentor or influencer?
I never had a mentor per-se, but I did have a number of supportive leaders who helped me grow in my career journey. I often felt very supported in many of my roles which was a huge benefit as it gave me the confidence to be innovative and often try new ways to achieve my goals.
Walking In Your Shoes
6. What is one piece of business or career advice you would give to your younger self?
If I had the opportunity to offer advice to my younger self, I would advise myself to have the courage to ask for that next promotion or career move. It is better to go for it, as the process is also part of the growing and learning experience.
7. As a leader, how do you remain a resource for people early in their careers?
I have become a resource to a number of young people through my kids, as many of their friends and co-workers have reached out for mentorship and career advice. I always make the time for them to review their resumes, offer career advice or just to talk about business and to offer support and mentorship.
Today’s Business Environment
8. What is the most interesting project you have worked on in the last few years?
As security is on the minds of most customers today, I have worked on full life-cycle security offerings to facilitate customers’ security postures as they transform their business for today’s remote environments.
9. What skills are you currently developing or refining (in yourself) that will make you a more successful leader in the digital economy?
I am focusing on developing my digital media presence and perspective as social media has become the best way to reach a wide audience to share your ideas, learnings and information.
10. What is your greatest business challenge today?
The COVID-19 pandemic has fostered the evolution of the remote worker at a breakneck speed. We need to ensure that we maintain our ability to innovate as we help our customers digitize and maintain productivity within their work environments.
