Women of Softcom

IWD 2022

About

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

Utomako Ashore

How would you describe the work you do at Softcom? And what are you most proud of?

I work in the Commercial Department, which is the lifeblood of the company. I’m in a very interesting environment because I get to experience how Engineers bring ideas to life and solutions that solve everyday problems.

 

In the Commercial team, we take these solutions to the market by creating awareness and selling them to people so that they can have experiences around them. This is what my work revolves around every day.

 

A proud moment for me at Softcom was been being a part of the last Trophy beer promotion – seeing how our incentive solution worked for the customers and also receiving great feedback from the client. I love how Softcom has been able to create a niche for itself by creating solutions for incentive delivery for FMCG companies.

What does choosing to challenge mean personally for you?

I come from a very large family of women that are extremely hardworking and focused on what they do. Thankfully, I also work in Softcom which is very inclusive. Since I joined the organisation, I have never experienced a situation where my gender has been a barrier to what I do. I work in a team that is predominantly female, and it’s been an excellent experience for me.

 

There’s a notion I’ve tried to correct for the longest time, which is that women are their worst enemies. I do not believe that because the best thing that can happen to any woman is having a family of women around her that are doing great and looking out for each other. Once a woman starts to internalize such a statement they begin to fail to realize how much of a great support system having women at her back is. Some of the best things that have happened to me as a woman is sisterhood.

What would access and inclusion look like for you in the Africa Softcom is trying to build?
Access and inclusion would mean a level playing ground for everybody irrespective of their gender. It also means having organisational structures that are transparent, where gender doesn’t come to play in the reasons why people are promoted or demoted.
How did you get into the tech environment?

I got into the tech space during my NYSC days. I worked at an IT firm called ATB Techsoft Solutions Limited where I climbed up the ladder from being the receptionist to becoming a manager.

 

In 2020, Softcom reached out to me, and the reason why I decided to accept the offer was because I always wanted to work in the software space. After doing some research on Softcom, I liked what I saw – the vision, the plans the company had for most of their solutions, how they were going to market, and who they were building for. I wanted to be a part of it.

What do you do for fun?
I watch Netflix a lot, and also just lie in bed chilling and reading books. I’m too much of an introvert so I don’t go out that much.
Tell us two truths about yourself and one lie.

– I am lactose intollerant.

– I have never tasted alcohol.

– I hate driving.