Building a successful career in the technology sector rarely follows a straight line. More often than not, it requires taking calculated chances, placing trust in one’s own instincts, and finding the inner confidence to make a voice heard in crowded and fast-moving environments. For professionals navigating this dynamic landscape, having a strong support system—individuals who actively encourage personal growth and serve as a constant reminder of one’s true capabilities—can make all the difference.
As part of the ongoing "Precisely Women in Technology" (PWIT) feature series, the spotlight turns this month to Haleigh Dhaou, Senior Public Relations Manager. With an impressive eleven-year tenure spent building her career across the technology industry, Dhaou offers valuable insights into the realities of working in the sector, the pivotal choices that shaped her professional journey, and the enduring importance of lifting up the next generation of women in the field.
Why Pursuing a Career in Technology Happened Organistically
For many professionals, entering the tech sector is the result of a lifelong passion for coding, engineering, or computer science. For Dhaou, however, her entry into the industry happened somewhat organically, serving initially as a professional jumping-off point rather than a lifelong master plan.
Her journey began at a specialized public relations agency that focused heavily on both technology and financial services clients. Shortly after starting her role, her exceptional work and adaptability led the agency to hire her on a full-time basis. That initial exposure planted the seeds for a lasting professional home. In the years since, Dhaou has remained steadfastly within the technology space, drawn continually to the sector’s most compelling characteristic: its real-world applicability. The technologies and platforms she helps communicate to the public are the very tools people use every day, making the work both tangible and deeply impactful.
The Power of Intentional Mentorship
When reflecting on the figures who have shaped her trajectory, Dhaou points directly to a former boss who served as her greatest professional mentor. This crucial relationship blossomed during a transitional period in Dhaou’s career, as she was moving away from entry-level responsibilities and stepping into a more seasoned, autonomous role.
What made this mentorship so remarkably impactful was the mentor’s deliberate and intentional approach to professional development. Rather than simply handing down directives or providing quick fixes when challenges arose, the mentor fostered an environment of active problem-solving. When facing complex situations, Dhaou was regularly prompted to think critically through the scenario and articulate how she personally would navigate it. Only after sharing her independent thinking would the mentor offer constructive feedback—validating her approach or suggesting alternative perspectives.
This deliberate process taught Dhaou lessons far more valuable than simply being handed ready-made answers ever could have. It systematically built her confidence, sharpened her professional instincts, and provided her with the comfort and authority needed to show up as a trusted advisor in her own right. Through this experience, she learned a fundamental truth that she continues to carry with her to this day: having a distinct point of view, even an imperfect one, is precisely where true professional growth begins.
Taking Calculated Risks and Embracing Uncertainty
Every significant career progression involves a measure of uncertainty, but some decisions require a leap of faith that defies conventional wisdom. For Dhaou, the single biggest risk she took in her career occurred at the very beginning, centered around the choice of her first professional stepping stone.
At the time, she had initially accepted a full-time position managing social media for a small wealth management company. The security of a standard full-time job with full benefits was firmly within her grasp, and she was scheduled to sign her official offer letter that very day. However, hours before putting pen to paper, she received a life-altering phone call from the technology-focused PR agency offering her an internship.
Recognizing her long-term career aspirations, Dhaou understood instinctively that the internship, despite its temporary nature and lack of immediate security, would get her to her ultimate professional destination much faster. While many people would have hesitated to give up a guaranteed full-time position with full benefits in favor of an out-of-state internship, Dhaou chose to take the leap. It was a high-stakes gamble that ultimately transformed into a major professional reward, setting the foundation for the successful eleven-year career that followed.
Overcoming Early Career Challenges and Finding a Voice
The technology industry has historically been male-dominated, and women entering the field often encounter subtle and overt barriers regarding their authority and presence. Earlier in her career, Dhaou experienced this firsthand, noting that her primary challenge centered around feeling like she truly had a permanent seat at the table and the necessary space to voice her unique ideas.
To navigate this hurdle during her formative years, Dhaou often relied on a cautious validation process. More often than not, before bringing an innovative concept to a larger group meeting, she would share the idea privately with her manager first to solicit their input and ensure her thinking wasn’t too far off base.
While this was a stepping stone, the repetition of that process ultimately cultivated a deeper internal trust. Over time, that routine gave her the necessary confidence to speak up more directly, experiment with new approaches, and bring fresh ideas straight into the room without needing an intermediate validation step.
Careers and Culture at Precisely
Organizations that foster innovation and support diverse talent play a critical role in shaping the modern technology landscape. Companies like Precisely help market leaders make better decisions and build new possibilities by providing accurate, consistent, and context-rich data. Building such an environment requires attracting individuals who are willing to take chances, think critically, and bring their authentic perspectives to work every day. For professionals interested in joining a collaborative team dedicated to excellence and continuous growth, exploring current opportunities on the Precisely Careers and Culture page offers a gateway to becoming part of a forward-thinking workforce.
Applying a Simple Mindset Shift to Life and Work
Navigating the complexities of a competitive industry often hinges on the mental frameworks professionals adopt when faced with uncertainty. For Dhaou, the single best piece of advice she has ever been given is deceptively simple, yet profoundly powerful: "The worst they can say is no."
This guiding philosophy has remained with her throughout both her professional and personal life. The core realization is that if an individual never asks for what they want—whether it is a new responsibility, a career advancement, or a creative direction—the answer is already guaranteed to be no. However, by summoning the courage to ask, the door remains open to the possibility of a yes. This straightforward mindset shift has consistently pushed Dhaou to advocate vigorously for herself, embrace calculated chances, and actively pursue opportunities that she might otherwise have talked herself out of.
Advice for the Next Generation of Women in Technology
For younger women stepping into the technology sector today, Dhaou offers direct and encouraging counsel rooted in her own extensive experience: do not let imposter syndrome keep you silent. Across the industry, countless talented women find themselves functioning as the smartest person in the room while simultaneously second-guessing whether their ideas are genuinely worth sharing. The reality, Dhaou emphasizes, is that they certainly are. In fact, the willingness to ask difficult questions, challenge the status quo, and occasionally be wrong is precisely what separates good technologists and professionals from truly great ones.
Furthermore, building a sustainable and rewarding career requires intentional community building. Dhaou advises newcomers to actively find their people—whether that network consists of a trusted mentor, a dedicated sponsor, a community of fellow women in tech, or all of the above. While the industry is steadily evolving for the better, having someone in your corner who clearly sees your potential and advocates for you behind closed doors remains an invaluable asset. She encourages professionals to seek out these connections intentionally, and then, as they progress further along their own paths, to pay it forward by becoming that crucial source of support for someone else.
Paying It Forward Through Intentional Mentorship
As a successful woman firmly established in the technology sector, Dhaou actively embodies the principle of paying it forward through dedicated knowledge sharing and formal mentorship. She is a certified Mentor Collective mentor, through which she has worked closely with college students from her alma mater, guiding them as they prepare to transition from academia into the professional world.
Even when specific industry specializations do not align perfectly, Dhaou believes there is immense, tangible value in connecting with students, sharing real-world experiences, and helping them demystify the early stages of their careers. If her guidance can help even one person navigate that high-pressure transition with a little more self-assurance and clarity, she considers it paying it forward in the most meaningful and impactful way possible.
For those looking to learn more about the culture, values, and career opportunities available at organizations committed to fostering this level of professional growth and mentorship, further information can be found directly on the Precisely Careers and Culture page.
