ACW is home to a vibrant community of channel professionals from across the country. We enjoy getting to know them at our in-person events and are happy to introduce you to them in this recurring Membership Matters Q&A. This month we’re getting to know ACW member Florence Le Goff, Director of Channel and Alliance Marketing at Masergy Communications Inc., where she leads channel and alliance marketing, enablement and engagement strategies.
Le Goff has more than 25 years of experience in marketing. She began her career in technology at EMC, where she developed the EMC forums. Le Goff has also held several roles at CenturyLink, which involved developing channel campaigns, managing the annual partner event and leading ISV and alliance marketing strategy. In July, Le Goff created and launched the Masergy Zenith Partner Program with new benefits, including direct access to the provider’s social media engagement platform and prospect leads.
Why did you join ACW?
Now that I am in a leadership role, I wanted to join ACW to network with more leaders, learn from their experience, expand my network and give back to women in the channel.
What do you hope to get from and to give to ACW membership?
Frankly, I still feel that I have a lot to learn, so leveraging women who have even more experience than I do is of great interest. But, that said, I know what it’s like to start out and not know where to go for resources; I can share my knowledge, too.
Are you a committee volunteer?
I have recently started to volunteer in the Northern California Chapter.
What do you get from your committee participation?
I’m new to ACW but expect to get the satisfaction of bringing women in the channel together to share experiences, network and contribute to the expansion of the group here in the Bay Area.
What difficulty have you overcome that impacted your career for the better?
Transitioning from a career in consumer products and publishing at Disney Consumer Products to Technology at EMC pushed me to learn about technology, storage, cloud and networking from the ground up. Now I know I can adapt and learn as I grow.
If you were to give yourself advice when you graduated from high school, what would it be?
Don’t doubt your choices and go with your gut. I have often allowed others to influence my decisions against my better judgment. However, I have worked hard to be more confident about my choices.
What’s the best book – fiction or nonfiction – that you’ve read recently and why?
Michelle Obama’s “Becoming” provides an excellent view into her convictions, principles and values, which I respect. I agree with her perspective that it’s OK to be a smart woman. She also talks about how finding your place can be a struggle, particularly for minorities, but adds that anyone can become what they want!
What are your hobbies outside of work?
Although it’s been tough to do during COVID, I enjoy attending Pilates classes, which I find very beneficial. I also really enjoy wine tasting and visiting Sonoma.
What is one personal and one professional goal you have in the next five years?
My personal goal is to finally buy a house in Sonoma and make it my home. Professionally, I hope to make an impact on others and in the channel industry.