Advocating for the technology industry is about more than the tech itself, according to Brook Lee. It’s also about fostering inclusivity and ensuring that diverse voices—particularly women—have a seat at the table. When everyone has a voice and an equal opportunity, true innovation and success will occur, says Lee, vice president of community and channel at Liongard.
As one of the most recognizable and passionate voices in the IT channel for challenging the status quo change and personal growth, Lee’s efforts and contributions within the Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA) led judges to vote her as the 2025 GTIA Advancing Women in Technology (AWIT) Leadership Award winner. We asked Lee why advocacy and helping women in tech are so important to her. Here’s what she had to say.
What does the GTIA AWIT Leadership Award mean to you?
For me, it means that the changes we are making at GTIA are working. The innovation and unique ways that we are working with the people and organizations in our space are “hearing” us and we are affecting real progress.
How have your GTIA relationships and knowledge you’ve gotten from being part of GTIA helped you?
I’ve been able to meet the most amazing people through GTIA from all over the world. I’ve met two women through the GTIA Mentorship Program that I am now lifelong friends with. I’ve been introduced to people that I never would have had an opportunity to meet without my involvement with GTIA. For that I am forever grateful.
What has been the biggest challenge in evangelizing for women to have stronger and more leadership roles and opportunities in tech?
Our big push this year and going forward is getting women on panels in general and not the Women in Tech panels. We have some amazing women who are absolute rock stars in our space in all areas of tech and business and the channel and MSP. By including these women on the main panels, we are giving the event attendees and business owners the opportunity to hear from the experts in these areas regardless of gender or race.
What’s been the most valuable/rewarding part of the work you do and how do you stay motivated?
I’ve been extremely fortunate to have three amazing things happen to me because of the work we’ve done. During a regular call with our members, we had a young woman from college attend. She knew none of us but heard about our group from the GTIA LinkedIn and Instagram. She reached out to us to get a mentor. In London at a GTIA event, three young women from a local high school came up to me after I spoke to say how much they appreciated my honesty and transparency and asked to join the AWIT group in EMEA. Lastly, at the CCF event in Chicago, a woman who worked at the hotel (not even part of GTIA) was in the room during our AWIT session to tell me that she was so happy she stayed to listen because she realized she was not alone and we gave her actionable things she could take back to work and try and improve her role there. These are the things that make me proud of our work and make me want to do even more.
What’s next for the North America AWIT Interest Group?
The sky's the limit! As part of our ongoing evolution, we plan to rebrand to align with GTIA’s mission and vision for the future. This summer, we’ll be publishing our comprehensive guidebook on how to effectively find, hire and retain women in tech—a valuable resource for companies committed to fostering diversity. In addition, we are developing a dynamic toolkit designed to help GTIA’s global communities quickly access essential resources and set themselves up for success. This initiative will make it easier for other communities to engage with our mission and benefit from our expertise.
We are ready to pave the way for the future of women in tech, empowering them to achieve their fullest potential and make a lasting impact.
