Women in Tech spotlight: Teresa Stephenson

This month, Google Cloud alliance expert, Teresa Stephenson, shares her journey into a career in tech and reflects on how she made the switch from a background in arts and humanities. Plus, she discusses the importance of building a strong personal brand.

What’s a typical day in the life for you?

As the Google Cloud Alliance Manager, I work at the heart of business development and growth strategy with one of our most important partners. My job is to link two innovative worlds: our talented consulting and implementation experts at PA, and the pioneering AI teams at Google Cloud – acting as the bridge between our industry expertise and Google's powerful technology.

On any given day, you’ll find me spinning a lot of different plates. My work is super dynamic, but most importantly, it’s always human-focused. One morning, I might be aligning our sales pipeline, working with our marketing team to design joint roundtable events about the future of GenAI, or I might be planning for the Google Cloud Summit. In the afternoon, I could be talking directly to clients with our technical directors on how to embed AI at scale in their enterprise.

I could be identifying new client challenges where a joint PA-Google solution might be the perfect fit, or I'm building relationships with sales leaders on both sides to nurture our pipeline. I spend a lot of time on strategic business development, supporting and leading major projects to ensure our client-facing teams are armed with the right partnerships to win new business.

Ultimately, my day is all about translating complex, powerful technology into collaborative business solutions, ensuring our clients and consultants are equipped with the right partnerships and skills to solve real-world problems.

How did you get into a career in tech?

My career journey has taken many twists and turns along the way – I see this as a big advantage in my business development role. I have a degree in Film Studies, which taught me how to understand an audience and craft a compelling narrative. In the world of technology sales and partnerships, a great story and genuine human connection are such powerful tools.

After University, I did a ‘traditional’ sales job, selling networks, SaaS, and Cloud (both public and private) solutions. Then I transitioned to public cloud sales, and now here I am at PA.

Many of my formative personal experiences along the way have also shaped who I am as a professional. For example, when I returned from maternity leave, I had a sharpened focus and efficiency that nothing other than motherhood could’ve taught me. I also volunteered for ChildLine, taking calls from and supporting some of the UK’s most vulnerable children. This taught me profound lessons in empathy and active listening that shape how I approach my role today. For me, I always prioritise understanding people's needs, whether they're a client, a partner, or a colleague, building mutually trusting relationships that drive our business goals forward.

A career in tech is never just about the tech - it’s about human stories and connection.

How do you craft your personal brand and what value does it add in your career?

I take a less conventional approach to personal brand, but it’s just as important to my career. My personal brand is all about authenticity, empathy, and bringing an alternative perspective to an often highly technical room. In cloud alliances, long-term, high-value partnerships are built on trust, not transactions. My clients and partners at Google need to know who I am and what I stand for.

That’s why my work is built on trust. People don’t just buy into a company – they buy into the people they collaborate with.

When I share my perspectives in a LinkedIn post or speak at an event, I’m not just representing PA, I'm showing my network how I think and proving my genuine investment in this industry. It signals that I’m not just here to make a sale, but to build a strategic partnership. That authenticity is what attracts the right kind of long-term, high-value opportunities and makes you a trusted advisor to your clients.

How do you handle setbacks or failures?

My business development lens gives me a practical perspective on handling setbacks. Some deals stall, client priorities shift, some leads don’t convert.

Worrying over a lost lead is counterproductive. Instead, I focus on what I can learn from it, and double down on everything else. It’s about resilience and maintaining a focus on the bigger picture of sustainable growth.

My volunteering with Childline also taught me to separate what I can and cannot control. I can’t control whether we refer a child in need for further support, even if I thought we should. And likewise, I can’t control a client’s budget freeze. But I can control the strength of our relationship, the value I provide, and the professionalism of my approach.

What advice would you give to other women looking to pursue a career in tech?

First, understand your unique background is your biggest asset. The industry is full of wonderfully talented technical experts, so a non-traditional perspective is what makes you stand out.

Second, build a network. Tech can feel intimidating from the outside, but it’s a strong community. Build authentic connections and be the person who lifts others up. Your voice is valuable, and the ability to connect with people is a highly desirable commercial skill.

Finally, if you have an arts or humanities background like me, don't let imposter syndrome tell you that you don't belong – you are more than capable of excelling in a career in tech.