International Women's Day Spotlight: Kirsten Ellis, Co-Owner of GlobalPC

Kirsten Ellis, pictured above with Icehouse South Island Regional Lead Andrea Smith, is co-owner of IT support and services business Global PC. in Christchurch, and winner of the Frank Accounting Women in Business Icehouse Owner Manager Programme Scholarship.

Are females well-represented in the IT industry?

There aren’t necessarily less females in the industry but there seems to be less females in engineering and networking roles. That part of the industry changes rapidly so when women go on parental leave, it might be a lot harder coming back into work, as opposed to a sales, project management or finance job in IT, for example.

When it comes to business, does it worry you, being a woman in a man’s world?

There are times when you can forget about it and there’s times when it’s impossible to forget about it. The stereotype would say that males prioritise work and women prioritise family. I would love to see more of an equalisation so that everyone can prioritise both more evenly.

How do you handle the demands of children and business ownership?

Three things mainly – acceptance, trust and boundaries. Accepting that at times I’m giving more to either my family or the business and that’s ok, trusting that whoever is managing the other role might not do it the same way as me but that’s ok too. Setting boundaries and expectations of what I can and can’t attend / do and sticking to that without guilt. When I started in the Icehouse programme I was shimmying in on the last flight and out on the first, but now I’m prioritising and taking the time to not always be rushing. That has made me calmer and more balanced which is benefitting both my family and my business.

Business right now – how’s it looking post Icehouse, now you have completed the implementation session?

Completing the Icehouse has given us not just the tools, but also the confidence to execute change in the business. I got the opportunity to meet and tour other businesses who had completed the programme and I saw first-hand their learnings and implementation. The tools and frameworks learned are helping us streamline processes and make smarter decisions.

Between each block, I had work to bring back into the business to dive into with my business partners Mark Howat and Alan Boxall. On the people side, we gathered feedback from our team and introduced new policies (such as flexible working) which has been a boost to our team culture. In block three we were asked to assess our opportunities and work out which aligned with our goals and what it would take to make them happen. Overall, the business is strong and our vision feels clearer now. Currently we are working on expanding into Auckland, something our clients have been requesting for a while. We’re thrilled to be able to respond to the demand and bring our services to a new market this year.

Have you seen an increase in productivity?

Yes, absolutely. One of the speakers said 'Productivity goes up when it’s genuinely watched.' As a service provider with an engineering labour team, the word 'genuine' resonated with me.

There’s a delicate balance between ensuring your team feels connected and supported, whilst not falling into the trap of micromanaging. We set clear targets and trust the team to meet them. We also took a more transparent approach by sharing some of the hidden costs behind delivering our services – things like asset costs and internal licensing bills. with team members who wanted that understanding. The aim is an empowered and engaged team who feels ownership over the work they’re doing.

How is AI impacting your business?

AI is a huge opportunity for us, but it’s also something we need to keep a close eye on, as it’s evolving rapidly. We’re working hard to stay ahead of the curve and use it effectively.

One of the key areas AI is making a difference is in our Global Protect service, which allows us to monitor activity and ensure security and protection for our clients. AI plays a critical role in making us more efficient, especially for larger clients who place significant value on security and risk mitigation.

We do encounter breaches from time to time, but it’s exciting seeing our systems work in real-time. When a threat is detected, our systems immediately identify, isolate and remove it from their network. The reaction time is quick as it’s a 24/7 service and the result is minimal, or usually, zero impact. AI allows us to operate faster and more effectively, which directly benefits our clients.

Challenges?

The broader economic climate. A tough economy will impact the way clients approach security and technology investments. Businesses may delay updating their hardware or making necessary decisions about infrastructure upgrades.

Additionally, we’re still feeling the effects of the supply chain disruptions. Hardware availability has been tricky, and lead times are still longer for some products. We’ve had to adjust by keeping more stock on hand, carrying a larger inventory of monitors and laptops to accommodate demand.

Worst job you ever had?

I don’t necessarily remember the worst job I ever had, but I remember the worst manager and the way they made me feel. That experience was a tough lesson, but one I’ve carried with me into my own management style. There are ways to lift people up, build their confidence and help them grow without trampling on them — especially when they’re still learning.

Best job?

I changed careers ten years ago from tourism to accounting. I do really love the job and business I’m in now because it’s analytical and really fits my personality, but tourism was such a great start for me. There isn’t such a focus on age in tourism. You can grow into management in your early 20’s.

What inspires you?

What inspires me is wanting my kids to see 'success' in a different way—one that’s about who they are and what they contribute, rather than what they have. Sometimes what we say no to is just as important as what we say yes to. If we are always chasing more stuff or external achievements, it’s hard to feel content or satisfied. I think that’s such an important lesson in life and builds resilience as it also teaches you not to fear failure so much.

Living in Christchurch is...

I’ve lived in Sydney, Melbourne and Wellington but for me Christchurch is beach and mountains. We camp at the beach in North Canterbury in the summer and spend time in the snow and mountains in Methven in the Winter - it’s incredible to have both an hour from home. When the central city closed during the rebuild, it created a lot of neighbourhood business opportunities. Around our Ferrymead office for example, we now have so many offices and hospitality offerings that weren’t here before. The central city is also now open and thriving, but the suburban stuff has mostly remained which has created a great feel in the city.