Wendy Griffiths, Executive Director of CEDIA EMEA and Tabatha O’Connor, Chief Operating Officer of CEDIA US, have both been recognised by Dealerscope and the wider industry as Powerful Women in Consumer Technology. Launched in 2016, Dealerscope reached out to the industry to help identify strong female leaders who are innovating and helping to drive forward the consumer tech world.

The Dealerscope recognition programme has been designed to honour female industry leaders whose influence and vision extends beyond the brand or organisation they represent. Wendy and Tabatha have been recognised as a woman who inspires, motivates and mentors business associates and employees within the home technology industry.

“I’m both humbled and honoured to be recognised by Dealerscope as a Powerful Woman in Consumer Technology,” comments Wendy Griffiths. “I am pleased that in recent years, there has been a seismic shift in the technology market as females exert greater influence in the design and functionality of appliances. Technology is becoming essential to everyone in their daily life regardless of their gender.  We are also beginning to see an increase of women working in the industry. From installers to business owners, it is definitely not just a man’s world anymore! This is a very auspicious time for women in consumer technology and long may it continue.”

Acting as Executive Director of CEDIA EMEA for over fifteen years, Wendy has helped support home technology professionals across the region. This award celebrates Wendy as an informed leader and respected professional within the wider industry, who has given as much to the technology industry as the industry has given to her.

Tabatha began her tenure at CEDIA 14 years ago, and cites association management as her true passion – and at CEDIA, she has been given the opportunity for that passion to flourish, as this technologist organisation’s Chief Operating Officer. Tabatha says one of her mandates in this post is to “encourage diversity in our industry, not just for women, but across the board.”

“At CEDIA, I am surrounded by talented and knowledgeable women,” comments Tabatha O’Conner. “As an association, we want to encourage diversity in our industry, not just for women, but across the board. We have been intentional about helping women interact and learn from peers and we are supportive of early STEM education to introduce girls and minorities into technical and engineering fields.”

A full list of this year’s honourees can be found online at dealerscope.com.