“I’m fearlessly passionate about enabling other women in tech because as an industry it lacks representation. I’ve seen firsthand how our businesses suffer without equal representation, and I’ve also seen tech companies thrive when female perspectives, thoughts, and experiences are included and respected. This is why it was an easy “yes” to become an advisor to Aspire2STEAM. Their work resonates with my core values and the notion of gender equality within the tech community and throughout the world.”

~ Jean O’Neill, Philanthropist, Angel Investor, Mentor, Vice President Channel at Appgate

In 2018 Jean O’Neill and Aspire2STEAM (A2S) co-founder Cheryl O’Donoghue met for the first time when they were thrown together to co-host an Alliance of Channel Women event at a major technology conference. That’s when Jean learned about the mission of A2S and she’s been a vocal advocate for the organization since. Over the years, Jean has also been an avid supporter of Cheryl’s book projects which help fund A2S scholarships. Jean and her experience and insights are the focus for Chapter 3 in How to Be a Woman in Technology (While Focusing on What Matters Most) and she served as a book reviewer, helping shape Cheryl’s newest work How to Be an Emotionally Intelligent Leader (While Crushing Your Goals).

Jean is Vice President Channel at Appgate, a global tech infrastructure security organization bringing together a set of differentiated cloud- and hybrid-ready security and analytics products and services. Jean has been initiating and building partnerships with high-growth companies in the IT solutions and services space for 20 years. She has partnered with key stakeholders on both the company and the client side to drive alignment, growth strategies, solution development, pipeline acceleration, and account penetration with SIs, MSPs, ISVs, master agents, distributors and VAR partners. She is well known for being a leader who brings her passion for partners to inspire the teaming and trust that drives revenue.

Jean didn’t benefit from having female mentors early in her career, quite simply because so few existed at the time. Instead, she has found that building key relationships with her peers through involvement in female-focused professional groups has had a positive influence in her life and continues to inspire her to be engaged in supporting and encouraging others. Jean has already begun to mentor A2S scholarship recipients and will be a pivotal participant in executing the nonprofit’s plan to expand its mentorship program in 2022 and beyond.

Jean also serves as a strategic advisory board director for SaaSMAX. SaaSMAX is the value-add SaaS Marketplace and SaaS distributor that matches business cloud software vendors (“SaaS Vendors”) and solution providers (“SaaS Resellers’), enabling both to create new revenues and partner opportunities.

Before joining Appgate, Jean held several executive positions for companies including Cyxtera, Involta, Dynatrace, Terremark (a Verizon company), and Rackspace, among others. She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in communications from Kennesaw State University in Georgia.

Jean currently is an active member of both Alliance of Channel Women and Cloud Girls and regularly volunteers for local nonprofits where she resides in San Diego, California.