Week 23 of 52 — Women in Tech Series
Welcome to our Women in Tech series. Over the next 52 weeks, we’ll spotlight inspiring women shaping the technology industry — sharing their stories, achievements, and insights.
From founders and engineers to designers, researchers, and community leaders, this series celebrates the diverse voices driving innovation and building the future of tech.
Kayleigh Marquis
Customer Success & Strategic Partnership Manager at Signable
How did you first get into tech/innovation?
I first got into tech working in Market Research. In my role, I had to recruit participants into User Research interviews with companies such as HMRC, Spotify, DWP, Defra and NHS. I was also in charge of our accessibility panel, a special selection of participants with disabilities or health conditions who may also use assistive technology.
What did your career path look like before landing your current role?
My previous role didn’t really have good career progression, I had met a glass ceiling and needed a new challenge.
What does your role involve day-to-day?
I manage some of our largest direct customers, but also manage our reseller partnerships at Signable. Day to day this looks like:
- Client meetings to discuss their account and future plans over the year
- Collaborative meetings with my colleagues, sharing knowledge from my customers
- Project work – working on strategy for my work stream, using data and deep research to shape the path forward
What challenges have you faced working in tech, and how did you overcome them?
When I first joined Signable, I had the skills to be a customer success manager, but I lacked the deep knowledge. In previous roles I have learned about the subject (energy or the client brief) before doing my role. It felt weird at first to be learning how the product worked whilst doing the job. It just took lots of asking questions and trying to resolve the problems myself and getting someone to check I was right. I am not scared to ask questions and share knowledge, and I think that’s what’s really helped me become confident.
Was there a moment or opportunity that helped you break into the industry?
Not particularly, although I will say that working with DWP kicked off my passion for accessibility. I spoke with so many people who had a wide range of disabilities and health conditions who were being left out of technology. I had no idea what a problem accessibility was before this role, and it made me feel really passionate about the subject because of it.
What advice would you give to women who want to work in tech or innovation?
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. I always find that doing something a little bit scary (presenting, coming up with a new idea, etc) is where I grow the most.
What do you love about working in the South West tech ecosystem?
There are loads of opportunities to network. I also feel like we can sometimes be a little underrated compared to London! It’s great to know that there’s so much talent in the South West!
Connect with Kayleigh!
Follow Kayleigh’s journey and connect with her on LinkedIn here
