With a very small percentage of a woman continuing their journey up to the executive level, there are numerous challenges a woman has to face and countless struggles to endure, before climbing up in her career. Overcoming a plethora of struggles since the initial days of her professional voyage, Carol Anne reveals that as a woman, her biggest challenge turned out to be her biggest success as she remained focused on her strengths and continued being positive to meet her end goal. She admits her biggest strength to be trust and loyalty, which is created within the industry with a customer excellence approach and helps in long-term customer satisfaction, meanwhile maintaining a sustainable competitive advantage by understanding the customers' needs. As the Regional Director in TPV Technology for the Middle East and Africa region, Carol is currently responsible for the PNL of the Middle East office and Sales Revenue for the Middle East as well as African regions. Managing the Team to ensure YOY growth, and reporting to the General Manager based in Singapore on budgeting and forecasting for the MEA region, she is taking full responsibility as the signatory for this region.

Carol engages in an insightful interaction with the Women Entrepreneur magazine.

Give us a brief overview of TPV Technology. How is the company currently positioned across the market?

TPV is the world's leading monitor and LCD TV manufacturer. The group has been able to drive its growth over the years by leveraging its economies of scale and core competencies in R&D, manufacturing, logistic efficiency, and superb quality. TPV serves as an original design manufacturer for some of the best-known TV and PC brands and also distributes its own brands `AOC', `Envision' and licensed Philips monitors, TVs, mobile phones and tablets products in most regions worldwide.

According to you, what are important features or expertise are necessary for a business leader striding across the sales and marketing space?

I think there are five most important features to emerge as a trailblazer in this industry. First and foremost is to have self-awareness, which will help you to understand your own strengths and weaknesses. The ability to make decisions quickly and take responsibility for your actions is the next two traits. Then comes Enthusiasm which is about motivating and leading the team with a positive attitude is one of the key criteria to succeed in this domain. At last, comes Integrity, which highlights the significance of earning the respect from your team.

Along with some of the most significant milestones achieved by you so far, tell us about the driving force behind those successes that you have achieved as a business leader?

 Sustaining as a woman in a male-dominated industry for the past 20 years without giving up and moving up the ladder from a basic Promoter to a Regional Director is my biggest achievement over the years. A `never give up' attitude in sales is the key and to believe in yourself with a positive attitude is the reason behind my growth and success.

“A `never give up' attitude in sales is the key and to believe in yourself with a positive attitude are reasons behind my growth and success”

How do you keep yourself well aligned with the periodic evolutions that keep taking place within your respective industry?

In the last 20 years, the IT industry in UAE and Middle East has evolved quite considerably. The sales techniques and go-to-market strategies have also evolved. Doing out-of-the-box activities and discussions, trial and error methods makes you comprehend and confident to take key decisions to grow your respective markets. Amidst this ever-changing market scenario, it is necessary to understand the needs of clients rather than being aggressive. Remaining updated with the upcoming trends being a part of large events like Gitex and having the skill to envisage any market shift to adapt quickly is my perspective.

How do you strike a balance between your professional and personal life? Are there any activities or hobbies that you like to indulge in as well?

Women are known to be able to multitask and over the years I have adapted to the life of being a mum and a working lady. Finding balance at times becomes a task, but I always ensure to balance out my personal life with my work.

With regards to hobbies, I try to find time for myself. To rejuvenate, I either go for yoga or a gym, which gives me the energy and strength to cope with my teenage daughters in activities like Basketball and swimming. As a mother, it's important for me to engage in interesting activities with my kids and get involved with them at their level. Hence health and strength are my keys to being active.

As a successful business leader, what would your advice be to young women who aspire to become business leaders and entrepreneurs in the future?

My advice to young women is - "Take up challenges and know you can do it even if it's a male-dominated industry. Find your strength and work on your weakness keeping your goal ahead. Life takes you through different challenges just to make you better and learn the way forward. Think Positive and have the faith in yourself". 

Carol Anne Dias, Regional Sales Director ­ MEA, TPV Technology

Although, Carol holds a bachelor's degree in economics, she started her career in a completely different industry as the Airline Industry back in India paved the way into customer centric service. Moving to Dubai almost 20 years ago, Carol explored the opportunities across the IT technology world and found her core strength in Sales and Marketing within the IT industry.