Vivian Chavez, Senior Director, Channel Programs at Comcast Business, was one of four women to receive the 2021 Alliance of Channel Women LEAD Award recognizing exceptional female leaders in the tech channel. The fifth annual LEAD Award winners were honored during the ACWConnect Live! event in Las Vegas on Monday, April 11, 2022.
Chavez has been in the channel for more than 20 years, primarily with Comcast Business, starting as a senior account manager with Cimco before it was acquired by Comcast.
Who is the woman who showed you how to lead the way (e.g., your role model)?
I am very fortunate that my professional mentor was a great ally for me in my career. She pointed out my strengths, she made connections for me, and she encouraged me to follow my goals. She also introduced me to leadership programs and a 360-degree review, which would ultimately give me the opportunity to grow further in my career. My mentor constantly talked about how important it was to help other women move ahead in their careers and how we needed to pave the way.
What are you doing to lead the way for other women in the tech channel today?
I listen to them. I am intentional about being present in those moments. I ask them about their personal and professional goals and make connections for them. Making connections for others is also the true way to properly network. Networking is not about shaking hands at events to introduce myself. It’s about making connections for other people and listening for opportunities that will help others in the industry.
What is one thing we could accomplish that would most benefit women in the tech channel going forward?
Create more awareness of our industry, to those outside of our industry. I believe there is a lack of awareness of the indirect channel, and there are so many amazing career opportunities for women in technology. I don’t know anyone who grew up saying that they wanted to be in the indirect channel, but many of us ultimately found our way by introduction. I encourage everyone to be more mindful and talk about what we do for a living with our families, our friends or anywhere that you can invite more women to apply for jobs in our incredible industry.