“Where you can, make a difference”: Cassandra Ashworth on the importance of community and culture

Speaking at a GTIA IWD event in Sydney, the HCL Tech exec explains why culture is critical in this day and age.

For Cassandra Ashworth, head of ecosystem, AI and GTM at HCL Tech she lives by famous saying “culture eats strategy for breakfast”.

Working in IT for the majority of her career, Ashworth sees the importance of culture and bringing fun into the workplace.

Ashworth has held leadership roles at various companies including, DXC Technology, Study Group, and Wipro.

At a GTIA International Women’s Day fireside chat in Sydney, Ashworth told attendees how she has fostered culture throughout her career.

She said she has always made an effort to change the culture wherever she works.

“I've been very conscious in bringing fun and trust to create a strong culture as much as I can. That's not just with the people that I manage or directly within my team,” she said.

Being a leader in her 20’s, Ashworth had colleagues that were working at the same company for nearly a decade, which she points to the culture in that workplace.

“When I look back at that time, we had great culture,” she explained.

To create this great culture, Ashworth implemented various activities. For instance, she would bring in her CD player and blast fun music to get her team hyped for QBRs.

“I thought it was dorky at the time, in later years, my friends have said to me, ‘everyone loved that’,” she said.

They also held internal awards, highlighting staff that have gone above and beyond.

"We had four different award categories. No one taught me that. I just started doing it because I wanted to pay it forward,” she told attendees.

“I wanted to acknowledge talent in the team, make everyone feel like they were contributing and making a difference. Secretly behind the scenes, we'd make sure the awards got shared.

“Everyone's got a little moment to shine, it wasn't just who was the biggest revenue generator.”

Ashworth encouraged the attendees to start to create a better culture in their workplaces.

“We all work in highly matrixed organisations. Where you can impact culture and positivity and make a difference, please do that,” she said.

“It's not part of my current role, but I just stood up a DNI committee in my new company HCL Tech because they're things that I'm passionate about.

“I've already got feedback from some of the employees if they're loving it. Where you can, make a difference.”

Importance of community

Growing up in a small town in Victoria, Ashworth understands what community means and has lived it firsthand.

In her work life, she tries to bring that community mindset into organisations.

“Equally, in the tech industry, I've invested, it's taken a lot of work, and I put a lot of time and energy into my communities,” she explained.

“Whether it's GTIA, the board that I sit on Business in Heels, or the Champagne Club that I helped pioneer nine years ago.”

Whether you’re a man or a woman, Ashworth highlights the importance of investing into your communities and being a part of the village.

“If you're not investing in communities, male or female in any role at any stage in your career, don't wait until it's too late,” she said.

She has seen a rise in crises within her mentees and staff whether that be sickness, marriage breakdowns, or a child is diagnosed with an illness, and they don’t have a community.

"They need advice, and they're too embarrassed to talk to their core friends. It's those communities, it's those moments where you need a variety of communities to help you,” she noted.

Ashworth also noted that communities are centred around “giving to gain” and people should not always “take, take, take”.

“Those that put energy into different communities receive in turn. If you haven't got a big community network, personally, professionally look at investing in that,” she ended.