We are thrilled to share that Innovate UK has awarded Xalient and the University of Bradford the Certificate of Excellence for our Knowledge Transfer Partnership project. This project has been a great collaboration between Xalient and the University of Bradford, made possible through the support of Innovate UK.
The teams developed MARTINA (Monitoring through Artificial Intelligence and Analytics), an innovative AIOps network already delivering value to many global businesses. With MARTINA, data from multiple sources enhance network traffic visibility, leading to faster incident detection and resolution. Using AI/ML, MARTINA also detects performance and security anomalies and indicators of potential threats and attacks, providing vital early alerts for prompt and informed action.
Head of Innovation, Stephen Amstutz, expressed his pride in the project’s success, saying “We are excited to receive this recognition from Innovate UK for our Knowledge Transfer Partnership project. This award validates the hard work and dedication that the teams at Xalient and the University of Bradford have put into developing MARTINA and the value it is already delivering to businesses worldwide.”
We congratulate everyone involved in this outstanding achievement and look forward to continuing our work to deliver innovative solutions that drive business success.
Learn more about MARTINA – Click Here.
These awards recognize organizations prioritising their employees’ well-being and creating a positive working environment. Originally known as The Employee Engagement Awards, the Inspiring Workplaces Awards have evolved to acknowledge forward-thinking and people-first organizations.
This is the second time that Xalient has been recognized for this award, following our 2021 EMEA Inspiring Workplaces Award for the Inspiring Culture category (click here to read more). We are thrilled to be included in this year’s Top 50 Finalists.
Xalient’s CEO and founder, Sherry Vaswani, said, “We are delighted to be named as finalists for the 2023 EMEA Inspiring Workplace Awards. At Xalient, we pride ourselves on creating a positive working environment where our team feels supported, inspired, and motivated. We are grateful to be recognized for our efforts and look forward to promoting the inspirational work done by all finalists.”
The awards winners will be announced during the Gala Dinner at the Tottenham Stadium in London on May 11, 2023. Xalient would like to congratulate all the finalists and nominees and wish them the best of luck when the winners are announced.
At Xalient, we are committed to creating a people-first culture that fosters collaboration, creativity, and innovation. We are thrilled to be named a finalist for the 2023 Inspiring Workplace Awards. We will continue to prioritise our employees’ well-being as we strive to deliver exceptional customer results.
View the full finalist list here: 2023 Inspiring Workplaces Awards finalists for EMEA announced (inspiring-workplaces.com)
International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate women’s achievements worldwide and reflect on the ongoing struggle for gender equality. In the tech industry, women continue to be underrepresented, facing barriers to advancement and often feeling isolated in male-dominated workplaces. Despite these challenges, many talented and inspiring women are making their mark in tech, and we are proud to introduce you to some of them today.
We spoke with six female members of the Xalient team to hear their thoughts and insights on what it’s like to be a woman in tech, and how we can work towards a more inclusive industry.
Aman Kaur (Customer Success Manager): I was always interested in technology from a young age, and it started with my Dad buying me and my sisters a desktop PC when we were very young. Through this hobby, I chose to study business computing at university, then a master’s in IT for management. I worked in Change management and service management/customer success management for telco/tech customers. My passion is for helping people and technology fits my personality and skillset. What I love most about my job is the challenge – facing a customer who isn’t happy and making them happy gives me a buzz!
Lori Loftus (Customer Success Manager): I fell into tech almost accidentally, primarily because of curiosity about using tech to work for us and make life easier/better. It was an enjoyable puzzle to investigate and find a technical solution for a complicated process, an issue, or a workstream. The career took on a life of its own just by curiosity and interest in improving processes with tech.
Mary (MK) Smith (Business Development Manager): I have always been good at working on computers but never thought about making it a career. It wasn’t until I moved to Charlotte, did I land my first job in technology. I like that it never stops changing. New technology is always emerging, and it is fast-paced, so you must stay up to date.
Akshayata Madan (Senior Security Engineer): I was initially drawn to tech because of video games and computers! I still remember being about 7 in my Dad’s office, fiddling with his computer and being in awe of how the machine worked. 11 years later, it led me to choose engineering. What I enjoy most about working in tech is constant learning and problem-solving. Technology constantly evolves, so there’s always something new to learn and a new challenge to tackle. I also love being part of a team passionate about creating innovative solutions and improving how people interact with the world.
Hena Ahmad (Programme Director): I stumbled into a career in tech by chance as I grew up when computers were first introduced to the mass market. After finishing university, I applied for a business analyst role at an outsourcer and was assigned to work in the Telecoms division. This is where I found my passion for working in tech, specifically using technology to improve customers’ business processes. What excites me the most about working in tech is the technical aspects and how it can add value and improve people’s lives.
Emma Banner (Bid Manager): If I’m being honest, I just fell into the tech industry. It wasn’t something I ever imagined myself pursuing, and I was extremely nervous when I started nine years ago that I might struggle because I am not technical. I wish I had told myself back then that the tech industry doesn’t mean you have to be ‘techy’ I love what I do and couldn’t imagine working in any other sector, my work is so varied, and I have the opportunity to learn, grow and work with so many different departments across the business. With so many customers from different sectors, it is perfect for me.
Hena: Online surveys indicate three primary challenges facing today’s women in the tech industry. Firstly, there is a lack of female role models, with most famous tech company CEOs being male. To inspire the next generation of women to pursue careers in tech, we need to provide them with successful female role models. Secondly, women remain a minority in the tech industry, and gender bias can start as early as in school. Girls still shy away from STEM subjects, so we must increase awareness and encourage more women to apply for tech careers. Encouraging women to speak at tech events can provide visibility and mentoring opportunities and showcase that women can excel in what was once a male-dominated industry. Thirdly, the gender pay gap is a major concern in the tech industry, with women earning less than their male counterparts.
Mk: There are many challenges women in technology face daily, but I believe every woman must push themselves and others daily to change the status quo. Otherwise, we don’t grow. Women must address these challenges face on and speak up about them and make people talk about them to progress and make changes.
Aman: Going on maternity leave and returning to work was tough; seeing people progress whilst my career was on hold was a tough pill to swallow. I returned from maternity leave on both occasions and worked hard to prove my worth. At the time, I also had several strong female mentors who helped me stay focused and helped set out attainable goals and objectives.
Lori: Absolutely. I’ve experienced having my ideas stolen and being underpaid compared to my direct reports. I’ve also been passed over for a promotion despite having superior customer satisfaction ratings and experience. However, I still enjoy my career in tech and find it challenging. I choose to continue doing my best and encourage other women to pursue their dreams in tech or any field without being held back by beliefs that it’s not possible. Anything is possible.
MK: I have, and sadly, it came from another woman when I started my tech career. I live by the saying, “kill them with kindness”, and always be the bigger person in every situation. I knew it was something lacking in her life and not necessarily something I was doing, and I chose to ignore it, work hard and prove myself along the way.
Akshayata: I feel fortunate to have been surrounded by exceptional leaders, mentors, and colleagues throughout my career. I have been fortunate to have not experienced any significant hindrances to my growth due to gender biases. However, there have been moments when I sensed a shadow of disappointment among customers upon learning that a woman had joined their Severity 1 network down call to resolve their issue. Nevertheless, I take pride in quickly resolving their issues and providing a solution within a shorter time than the average resolution time. Ultimately, my achievements speak for themselves, and any lingering doubts or biases are swiftly forgotten.
Hena: As the only woman in the room, I faced age differences and imposter syndrome in the early days. However, I learned to stand up for what’s right and not be afraid to speak up. Although I didn’t know everything, I gained the confidence to say, “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.” Working in the Middle East as a woman was also challenging, but I proved myself through professionalism and adaptability. Balancing work and motherhood was tough, but I persevered and earned respect from my peers and clients. Juggling responsibilities is a common struggle, and it’s important to understand and adapt to cross-cultural ways of working while staying true to yourself.
Emma: Yes, I especially struggled when I was pregnant with my first child. I felt that people stereotype women who have children, want flexible working arrangements, or want to come back part-time only and that they can’t work and have children. It isn’t easy because, as a mother, you want to do what is best for your children, but at the same time, a career to me is essential, it feels as if people think you can’t have both.
I am now lucky enough to work for a company that allows me to work full time but also be a mother to two little ones, giving me the flexibility to do the school run, work from home, or work in the office to suit me.
Lori: Despite various experiments and regulations to increase diversity, the percentages of women and minorities in leadership positions still show otherwise. President Biden is trying to create a diverse cabinet and set of advisors. Still, there are concerns that preference given to gender or race qualifiers may prevent the most qualified person from getting the job. However, great accomplishments by women have shown that passion and opportunity are critical elements of success outside of traditional qualifications. We need to create and protect opportunities for women, disrupt the standard system, and encourage them to take non-traditional positions. Despite women making up nearly 50% of the population, less than 5% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women.
Hena: Look at how you advertise tech roles. Create gender-neutral job descriptions and avoid buzzwords that can be seen as aggressive, as this is likely to dissuade women from applying. Once applicants are through the doors, foster a sense of belonging in your teams and encourage opportunities for promotion within the organisation.
A lot of organisations have done work to create women in tech support groups so women can support, brainstorm and uplift each other. Whilst I think this is a great idea, many women would be liked to be recognised for who they are and the skills they have not the sex they are.
Emma: Being adaptive and flexible will encourage more inclusivity and diversity in the tech industry. I think having a general understanding of other people’s needs is important, everyone is different, and a set of rules for ones doesn’t mean they will work for others.
Lori: Believe! If you are passionate about working in tech, believe in yourself first. Believe in change, and be a change maker. Get experience wherever and whenever you can, and network with other women who will also lift you and connect you with opportunities for learning and career advancement. Above all, do not be discouraged – if you are disrespected and cannot change the tone where you are, change where you are, and you will be effecting a retroactive change that will help those that come after. Accept the hand and advice of women who are on the journey, and then extend your hand to those who come after you. Encourage young women and girls to believe in themselves and to pursue as much technical experience and training as they enjoy. Enjoying what you do is half the battle. Believing that you belong to the other half.
MK: Reach out to other women in tech and ask them for advice. Ask what things that have worked for them but also what things didn’t work. People are like google- a wealth of knowledge. Take what they say to heart and continue using it while you build your career. Don’t be afraid to ask for something. The worst answer you will get is no, which usually means speaking to the wrong person. Don’t settle for no. Find someone willing to help you.
Hena: I recall the wise words of my daughter’s headmistress, who encouraged the girls in their early years always to strive to do their best, regardless of gender. This is a lesson that applies to all aspects of life. Here are some tips for professional growth and success:
Emma: I think some people see the word Tech and do not understand what roles are included as part of the ‘tech industry’. It doesn’t necessarily mean you must be a technical expert in a certain field to work in IT. Please don’t be discouraged. So many roles within the industry aren’t as technical as others. Also, find a company willing to support your growth as an individual that sees your talent first.
Aman: Anne Sheehan was one woman who wowed me whilst I worked at Vodafone UK. When she was the CEO of Vodafone UK, she was presenting an All Hands at the Vodafone Head Office, and she set the stage on fire – she captivated her audience and left me feeling proud and proud and valued. She captured people’s attention by walking into a room; her presence and aura is what I strive to have.
Lori: I will start with one of the reasons I joined Xalient, our own Sherry Vaswani’s passion, focus, heart and encouragement for other women to “never stop learning and challenging”, and she is a model for all women in tech. I also admire other women I work with, Emilee Khalil, for her tireless dedication, always putting the customer first, and always with kindness, genuine interest and concern for those she works with. Liz Wright for her amazing technical knowledge combined with a rare sense of humour and ability to put people at ease, support her team and take care of challenging customers all in one fell swoop. For her lightning-fast mind and technical skills, Lucy Price is always ready to help her team and answer questions. Hazel DePippa for her incredible organization and attention to detail and process. All the women I’ve met at Xalient are my heroes, and I’m so lucky to work with them. Outside of Xalient, several women have blazed new trails as leaders in tech, like Jennifer Morgan, former CEO at SAP; Ruth Porat, the CFO of Alphabet; Meg Whitman, former CEO of Hewlett Packard and others who have stayed the course and made a mark in the tech industry. But my truest heroes are honestly the ones at Xalient who make my work life the best I’ve found yet!
Akshayata: I admire so many women in tech; it’s hard to choose just a few! Of course, some big names in the industry immediately come to mind, but I also have the privilege of knowing and learning from some amazing women leaders right in my backyard.
Donna Moor, for example, has been an incredible mentor to me since I joined Xalient. Her leadership style is inspiring, and I strive to follow in her footsteps. And then, of course, there is our CEO Sherry, whose work significantly contributes to the tech industry and positively impacts the field. I have a great deal of respect for the work that she’s doing and the example that she’s setting for women in tech everywhere.
Hena: Throughout my career, I have looked at mentors, customers and suppliers and attributes I wanted to emulate as I had learnt a lot from them, which helped enhance me.
Saying that, within Xalient, we are fortunate to be led by a forward-thinking woman CEO Sherry Vaswani, who is also supported by a number of amazing women on her board. Sherry has created and fostered the Xalient ethos, where we genuinely care about making a difference. We stand on our merits to ensure that our company culture is always about inclusion and diversity, no matter what race, religion or sex you are.
Secure network transformation specialists Xalient today announced it is accelerating its international growth strategy by naming IT industry veteran Simon Church as its new chair.
Simon brings over 30 years of global experience in the IT industry, the last 20 years specializing in cyber security services and solutions, most recently serving as CEO at Maxive Cyber Security, which was newly acquired by Thales, the French aerospace, defense, infrastructure and security company. He has previously held executive leadership positions at NTT Security, Vodafone, Optiv, Verisign, and NetIQ; he also serves on the Advisory Boards of Glasswall and Persefoni.
Simon comments, “I’m pleased to be joining the team at a time when businesses are increasingly seeking innovation, customer service and speed to results from specialists like Xalient. Their approach, focused on securely and efficiently connecting users and devices to applications and data, sees them challenging much larger global competitors and positions the company incredibly well to meet the digital transformation needs of large enterprises. I’m really excited to help guide them through this next chapter”.
“We are thrilled to welcome Simon’s exceptional business and leadership skills, as well as his deep cybersecurity industry knowledge, to Xalient,” said Sherry Vaswani, founder and chief executive officer at Xalient. “His energy and experience will be vital in building on our growth story so far, steering us through the next phase of our journey and ensuring our sustained success.”
Xalient, a leading UK-based network transformation company specializing in software-defined networking, cloud security, and unified communications, has been named one of Europe’s 1000 fastest-growing companies by the Financial Times and Statista. Xalient ranks at 336 and is 38th among the listed UK companies, appearing in the IT and Software category where 176 companies are listed.
This marks Xalient’s second consecutive entry into the FT 1000 list, having ranked at 365 last year. The company has moved up 29 places this year, reflecting its exponential growth in the UK and US. Only 219 companies in the FT1000 have ever received rankings in two consecutive years.
Sherry Vaswani, Xalient’s Group Chief Executive Officer, said, “It is fantastic that Xalient has been recognised for the second consecutive year as one of Europe’s fastest-growing companies and named on this prestigious list. We pride ourselves on providing an alternative secure network transformation model to the norm, helping our customers benefit from cloud technologies, with newly transformed networks that are agile, secure, high-performing, and fit for the future.”
Xalient has also recently bolstered its leadership team with two key appointments, demonstrating the company’s commitment to driving growth and strengthening its global brand. Earlier in the month, Xalient secured ISO 20000 Certification in IT Service Management.
View the full list here: FT 1000: the sixth annual list of Europe’s fastest-growing companies | Financial Times
Xalient, a rapidly growing, global specialist in networking and cybersecurity, announces the appointment of two new business directors to its senior leadership team. The addition of David Bowes as Chief People Officer and Dorota Gibiino as Director of Marketing demonstrates the company’s commitment to driving growth and strengthening its global brand.
David Bowes brings over 20 years of experience in high-growth IT businesses to his new role as Chief People Officer, having previously worked as CPO at Phlexglobal, TalentFit, and WDS.
“Xalient’s focus on employee well-being and development is what attracted me to join the team,” said David. “I’m excited to lead the people strategy and ensure Xalient continues to be a great place to work.”
Dorota Gibiino, based in the UK, joins Xalient as Director of Marketing to support the company’s ambitious expansion plans and global growth, especially in the USA. She brings a wealth of experience, having held senior marketing positions at Node4, Centiq, and Primenet Ltd.
“I’m thrilled to join Xalient and help build on the company’s success in delivering innovative and reliable IT services to clients around the world,” said Dorota. “My focus will be on leveraging Xalient’s unique value proposition and expanding its reach in key markets, ensuring our customers receive the best possible experience and outcomes.” 
“We are thrilled to welcome David and Dorota to our senior leadership team,” said Sherry Vaswani, CEO of Xalient. “Their extensive experience and expertise will be invaluable in driving Xalient’s growth strategy forward. We are confident that their leadership will help us continue to focus on our employees’ well-being and development and strengthen our global brand, making Xalient the go-to provider for managed IT services.”
Xalient has experienced rapid growth in recent years, receiving recognition from both the Sunday Times Hundred 2022 list of Britain’s fastest-growing private companies and the FEBE Growth 100 list, which champions Britain’s fastest-growing, founder-led private companies. This success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the Xalient team. As Xalient looks to the future, they are committed to continued growth and success, building on their achievements and striving to be at the forefront of their industry.
Xalient has been awarded the ISO 20000 certification in IT Service Management for its commitment to providing the highest-quality IT services to its customers, following a rigorous review of its processes and procedures.
As an internationally recognized mark of quality and excellence, the certification awarded by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) demonstrates an organization’s ability to efficiently and effectively align its service management processes in accordance with international best practices. This certification establishes credibility and trust among customers, stakeholders and other business partners by guaranteeing that the entity meets extremely high global standards of service and quality.
By achieving this accreditation, Xalient has demonstrated that its Managed and Professional Services business units are aligned with all requirements for the ISO 20000 standards. This further adds to Xalient’s international standards credentials, including its continued certification to Information Security Management (ISO27001), which was successfully obtained in December 2022.
Craig Ingham, Head of Governance & Compliance at Xalient, said: “For the last three years, Xalient has been committed to maturing its service management framework, which has involved aligning comprehensive controls, policies, documentation and processes, as well as constant assessment of performance and continual improvement; all to industry best practice. We believe this certification is a testament to Xalient being a world-class service provider, always striving to give our customers the best level and quality of service. This achievement would not have been possible without the contributions, support and dedication of the Xalient team. We all look forward to continuing to meet the needs of our global customer base, now and in the future.”
Further commenting on the certification, Sherry Vaswani, Group Chief Executive Officer at Xalient, adds: “We are proud to join a select group of companies worldwide that has taken the bold step to assure our customers that we have defined and implemented the best practices for IT service management. This ISO 20000 certification will be a distinguishing factor for us, highlighting Xalient’s commitment to our customers by demonstrating our vigilance in ensuring the IT services we provide are of the highest calibre and are measured against the only existing internationally recognized standard.”
How do we move from network observability to proactive monitoring? It has been a challenge for most network teams for decades. One of the problems network teams face is the vast volume of data they deal with and the lack of time and skills to interpret it.
Two decades ago, that data was generally contained, with the majority of traffic understood by network teams. Today, the explosion of cloud apps and remote working has made understanding traffic a significant challenge. It is not just the volume of data but the complexity of that data that makes the challenge hard to overcome.
So, where do we start? To find out, Enterprise Times talked with Stephen Amstutz, who’s the head of strategy and innovation at Xalient. Amstutz believes that the move to software-defined networking gives us a chance for greater observability of data. He talks about the gains from having greater granularity into how applications are consuming the bandwidth.
But this is not just about utilisation. Amstutz says, “Not only are we getting utilisation statistics, but we’re also getting all of the metadata that goes along with that, so we know what applications are being used and consumed, and we know what users are consuming those applications. We’re able to much more effectively understand how the network is being used.”
That understanding allows an organisation to set its Quality of Service metrics to prioritise key applications. It also highlights where legacy applications are still in use. A critical area when companies are moving to the cloud.
To hear more of what Amstutz has to say, listen to the podcast here: Can AI get you from network monitoring to proactive observability? – (enterprisetimes.co.uk)
We are delighted to announce our new partnership with Volpi Capital, a pan-European B2B technology investor. Volpi’s investment will accelerate international growth, expand Xalient’s product and services portfolio, help scale our distinctive market proposition – all delivering greater benefits to our customers.
Xalient has demonstrated exponential global growth in recent years as businesses rise to the challenge of becoming more agile, more connected, and most critically, more cybersecure leading to recognition as one of the fastest-growing firms in the UK and Europe in 2022.
CEO Sherry Vaswani commented, “I’m extremely proud of Xalient’s accomplishments to date, especially our team of exceptional individuals in the UK, US, India and the rest of Europe, who have all helped define the company and drive its growth. Together, we have established Xalient’s market reputation for innovation and delivering business results for our clients. To continue building on this success and propel us into the next phase of our development, we set out to find an investment partner that would share our vision and ambition, align with our company culture, and have a track record of assisting disruptive technology companies like Xalient to grow and prosper on a global scale. Volpi met all of these requirements. Their high-energy team brings extensive industry knowledge and growth expertise, and we’re thrilled to partner with them.”
Mark Cooke, Chief Operating Officer added, “This is an exciting time for Xalient, we are witnessing rising global demand for Xalient’s integrated networking and security proposition, and for Martina, our unique AiOps product suite that we continue to build. We are excited to have Volpi on board so that we can scale our business to meet this market need, further developing our services portfolio to maintain our uniqueness and market relevance going forwards, and expanding our global reach.”
Scott Fairlie of Volpi Capital responded, “As a thematic investor, we had identified the global networking and cybersecurity market as highly conducive to international M&A consolidation and were actively looking for the ideal team to partner with. Sherry, Mark and the rest of the Xalient team impressed us from the beginning. The Company has an expanding portfolio of leading-edge technologies, a scalable organisation with integrated teams across the US, UK, India and Europe, and a track record of acquiring and growing blue-chip clients over time. In short, we are delighted to partner with Xalient and continue to build on their success”.
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Xalient, based in the UK and USA, counts Kellogg’s, Hamley’s, WPP and Keurig Dr Pepper among its clients. It was established just six years ago to disrupt the traditional markets for secure networking, taking advantage of the huge shift to cloud technology that has created high demand for flexible, cost-effective global connectivity and protection against increasingly complex cyber threats.
Combining transformative, software-defined network, security, and communication technologies with intelligent managed services, Xalient helps the world’s top brands become more resilient, adaptable and responsive to change.
*Xalient was named as #6 fastest growing tech companies headquartered in the UK in 2021 by Dun & Bradstreet.
*Xalient positioned #19 in the inaugural FEBE Growth 100, which recognises and ranks the UK’s fastest growing private businesses
*Xalient was named most recently in the FT1000 list of fastest growing companies across all sectors in Europe 2022.
*Xalient was ranked in 40th place in the prestigious Sunday Times Hundred list for 2022, which recognises Britain’s fastest-growing private companies.
For more information please contact:
Phil Davies
Marcomms Marketing Manager
Xalient
phil.davies@xalient.com
We’re incredibly excited to announce that we have won MSDUK’s 2022 High Growth Business of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year.
MSDUK champions the best of British Ethnic Minority Businesses. The awards recognise Xalient as an enterprise within the MSDUK network that has achieved the most growth despite the unprecedented business environment and acknowledges our CEO and founder, Sherry Vaswani, as one of the most inspiring ethnic minority entrepreneurs from across the UK for her poise and determination to succeed.
Speaking on the wins, Group Chief Executive Officer Sherry Vaswani said: “MSDUK does a first-class job in shining a light on ethnic minority-led businesses that may have something unique to offer given their diversity – innovation, agility, expertise, to name a few.
Their work in helping open doors for young entrepreneurs and guiding them on how to succeed with large corporates is much needed and brings a whole new approach to improving the diversity in supply chains.
We’re so proud to have won MSDUK’s 2022 High Growth Business of the Year award for the second year. This awards evening has been a terrific night of recognition and celebration of the great technology, science, and research in diverse organisations within the UK impacting the world.
It is also a great privilege to be awarded Entrepreneur of the Year. It would not be possible without the support of our amazing people, customers and partners. I would like to thank them for their continued support in helping us grow and achieve success and my congratulations to all the nominees and winners.”
The awards were part of a three-day programme of events as part of the MSDUK 2022 Conference, culminating in a Business Show at the QEII.
