Building a successful, enduring career in the fast-paced technology sector rarely happens by following a straight and predictable path. More often than not, it requires taking calculated chances, trusting one’s professional instincts, and finding the internal confidence necessary to make your voice heard in crowded and competitive boardrooms. For many professionals, especially women navigating a historically male-dominated industry, having a strong support system of mentors and advocates along the way is essential. These champions encourage growth, provide crucial feedback, and serve as a consistent reminder of what capable professionals can achieve when given the space to thrive.
In this month’s installment of the Precisely Women in Technology (PWIT) feature series, the spotlight turns to Haleigh Dhaou, Senior Public Relations Manager. Over the course of an impressive 11-year career spent building and executing communications strategies within the technology industry, Dhaou has accumulated profound insights into what it takes to succeed, lead, and advocate for others. Her journey offers a compelling look at the realities of working in tech, the value of intentional mentorship, and the importance of finding one’s authentic voice in the corporate world.
Why did you choose to pursue a career in technology?
For Dhaou, entering the technology sector was not the result of a lifelong master plan meticulously mapped out since childhood. Instead, it happened somewhat organically, serving as a dynamic and engaging jumping-off point for a burgeoning communications career.
Her professional journey began at a specialized public relations agency that focused heavily on both technology and financial services clients. Shortly after stepping into the agency world, Dhaou was hired on full-time, immersing herself completely in the nuances of tech communications. She has remained firmly entrenched in the technology space ever since, drawn to the sector by a fundamental characteristic that continues to captivate her to this day.
What Dhaou enjoys most about working in technology is its undeniable, real-world applicability. Unlike abstract concepts that remain confined to theory, the products, platforms, and innovations developed by technology companies manifest directly in the tools, software, and systems that people use in their everyday lives. This tangible connection between strategic communications and the evolution of modern daily life has kept her engaged and energized throughout more than a decade in the industry.
Who has been your greatest professional mentor? What’s one thing you have learned from them?
Throughout a lengthy and multifaceted career, professionals often cross paths with numerous managers, leaders, and guides. However, defining mentors leave an indelible mark on how an individual approaches challenges and leadership. For Dhaou, the greatest professional mentor in her career was a former boss she worked with during a critical transitional phase—specifically, the pivotal period when she was moving away from an entry-level position and stepping into a more seasoned, autonomous role.
What made this particular mentor so profoundly impactful was their unwavering commitment to intentional professional growth. Rather than falling into the trap of simply telling an eager subordinate what to do or handing down finalized solutions from on high, this leader took a much more developmental approach. When faced with complex, high-stakes situations, the mentor would intentionally prompt Dhaou to think critically through the real-world scenarios they were actively handling.
The mentor would ask pointed, thoughtful questions about how Dhaou would navigate the specific dynamics at play. Only after Dhaou had shared her independent strategic thinking and rationale would the mentor step in to offer constructive feedback—either validating her approach or guiding her on how she might tackle a similar situation differently in the future.
That deliberate, participatory process taught Dhaou lessons far more valuable than simply being handed a ready-made answer ever could have. It systematically built her professional confidence, sharpened her intuitive instincts, and instilled in her the deep-seated comfort required to show up as a credible advisor in her own right. Through this experience, she learned a foundational truth that she continues to carry with her to this day: having a distinct point of view, even an imperfect one, is precisely where authentic professional growth begins.
What’s the biggest risk you took in your career? What was the reward?
Risk-taking is an inevitable prerequisite for significant career advancement, but identifying the right moment to leap into the unknown requires courage and clarity of vision. For Dhaou, the most significant risk she ever took occurred at the very outset of her professional life, when she was forced to make a high-stakes decision regarding her first official internship.
Initially, Dhaou had accepted a traditional, full-time job offer managing social media for a small wealth management company. It was a secure, steady option with full benefits—an attractive prospect for someone just starting out. However, on the exact day she was scheduled to formally sign her employment offer letter, she received an unexpected phone call from a public relations agency offering her an internship opportunity.
Weighing her long-term career aspirations against short-term security, Dhaou knew instinctively that for where she ultimately wanted her career to go, the agency internship would serve as a much faster and more effective catalyst. It meant turning down a salaried position with full benefits to take on an internship located out of state, a daunting prospect that many people in her position would have likely declined.
Looking back, it was a bold gamble that ultimately transformed into a major professional reward, validating her decision to trust her long-term vision over immediate comfort.
As a woman, what challenges have you faced in the technology industry? How have you overcome them?
The technology sector has undergone notable cultural evolutions over the years, but persistent hurdles remain for women striving to make their mark. Earlier in her career, Dhaou recalls that the single greatest challenge she faced was the internal and external struggle of feeling like she genuinely had a seat at the table—and the psychological safety and space to voice her ideas without hesitation.
In the early stages of her tenure in the tech space, this insecurity manifested in cautious work habits. More often than not, before bringing a fresh concept or strategic proposal to a larger group meeting, Dhaou would intentionally share her idea with her manager first. She sought their direct input and preliminary blessing simply to ensure her thinking wasn’t too far off base, using that validation as a protective buffer.
Over time, however, the repetition of that consultative process paradoxically unlocked a deeper self-assurance. Engaging in those preparatory dialogues with supportive leadership actually gave Dhaou the foundational confidence she needed to speak up more directly, experiment with innovative approaches, and walk into a room ready to pitch raw ideas without requiring an intermediate validation step first.
Organizations deeply invested in fostering diverse talent and driving market innovation understand the value of these experiences. Companies like Precisely help market leaders make better decisions and build new possibilities by cultivating inclusive corporate cultures. For professionals interested in exploring current openings and learning more about working with such teams, comprehensive resources are readily available through the organization’s dedicated Careers and Culture portal.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? How do you apply it to your personal and professional life?
Perspective can often alter the trajectory of a career or personal life in an instant. For Dhaou, the best piece of advice she has ever received is deceptively simple, yet remarkably potent: "The worst they can say is no."
That succinct philosophy has remained a guiding principle for her across both professional environments and personal endeavors. The underlying logic is straightforward yet transformative: if an individual never asks for what they want—whether that is a new project, a career advancement, or a change in direction—the answer is effectively already no by default. However, by summoning the courage to ask, the dynamic shifts entirely, opening up the very real possibility that the answer could be yes.
This straightforward mindset shift has consistently pushed Dhaou to advocate vigorously for herself, take calculated chances, and actively pursue opportunities that she might otherwise have easily talked herself out of pursuing due to self-doubt.
What’s one piece of advice you’d offer to younger women entering the industry?
As a seasoned leader who has successfully navigated more than a decade in the technology sector, Dhaou harbors strong convictions about how the next generation of women should approach their entry into the field. Her primary directive is clear: do not let imposter syndrome keep you silent.
Throughout the industry, it is remarkably common for women in tech who are frequently the smartest person in any given room to still second-guess whether their insights, questions, or ideas are genuinely worth sharing with the wider team. Dhaou emphasizes that they undoubtedly are. In fact, she points out that the fundamental willingness to ask difficult questions, challenge assumptions, and occasionally be wrong is precisely what separates good technologists from truly great ones.
Furthermore, she advises young professionals to deliberately build a robust professional network. Whether that ecosystem consists of a dedicated mentor, a proactive sponsor, a community of fellow women working in technology, or a combination of all three, having support is crucial. While the technology industry is steadily changing and evolving for the better, having someone firmly in your corner who clearly sees your potential and acts as an advocate makes an immeasurable difference. Dhaou encourages newcomers to seek those supportive relationships out intentionally, and to remember that once they progress further along their own career paths, they should strive to be that exact same source of support for someone else.
As a successful woman in technology, what’s one thing you do to pay it forward and advocate for other women in the field?
Advocacy in the modern workplace requires active participation and a commitment to uplifting those who are still finding their footing. For Dhaou, paying it forward and advocating for other women and emerging professionals in the field takes the form of active knowledge sharing and structured mentorship.
Dhaou is a certified Mentor Collective mentor, a role through which she has actively worked with college students hailing from her own alma mater. Even in instances where her specific professional niche and the students’ fields of study do not perfectly align, she believes there is profound, tangible value in connecting directly with students to help them mentally and practically prepare for life after college graduation.
By offering guidance, listening to concerns, and sharing real-world experiences, Dhaou aims to help the next wave of talent navigate the often-daunting transition from academia to the professional workforce with a heightened sense of self-assurance. For her, that ongoing commitment to lifting others up represents paying it forward in the most meaningful and enduring way possible.
Individuals interested in learning more about workplace culture, professional development, and current career opportunities can explore additional details by visiting the official Precisely Careers and Culture page.
