Women in the AV industry have long been trailblazers, breaking barriers, driving innovation and shaping the future of technology and integration. Their vision, leadership and expertise have left an enduring mark, inspiring progress across the field. This International Women’s History Month, Commercial Integrator is proud to honor their achievements with a special series. Throughout the month, we’ll be shining a light on some of the most remarkable women in AV, celebrating their contributions and sharing their stories to inspire and empower others in our industry.
Here, we spotlight Joé Lloyd, Senior Director, Business Development, AVIXA. She recounts her serendipitous entry into the field, driven by her passion for technology and the supportive, close-knit community it fosters. Lloyd acknowledges challenges such as ageism and sexism but expresses pride in the industry’s ongoing efforts to promote diversity and inclusion through various initiatives. Lloyd’s proudest achievement to date is her work on the AV Industry Pledge during the pandemic, which set a roadmap for greater inclusivity and representation on global stages. For Lloyd, the people in the industry stand out as its most treasured aspect, with lifelong friendships and collaborations at its core. Looking ahead, she envisions the industry with equitable pay, broken glass ceilings, strong allies and safer environments. Read #HerAVStory below.
Interview with Joé Lloyd, Senior Director, Business Development at AVIXA
Commercial Integrator: How did you get into the AV industry?
Joé Lloyd: Like so many of us, I fell in. I was working in an Atlanta-based PR agency when a former client reached out. Jokingly, I said ‘you should just hire me’. Two weeks later, there was an offer. I LOVE our industry. The technology is awe-inspiring, I am constantly learning, and the people are simply amazing. It truly is a family, we are a wee bit incestuous 😊, we bicker just a bit, but we truly love one another. Who could ask for a better place to spend their time?!
CI: Have you encountered any difficulties or obstacles in your AV industry career?
Lloyd: I think like many, yes. No matter the industry you can encounter ageism (on either side) and sexism as well – there can be barriers no matter where you turn, but I am truly proud of the way our industry has been stepping up. From women’s and diversity groups to the internal programs of many of leading companies, we are an industry embracing change. We are still in need of so much more, but every day I meet men and women supporting diversity of every kind as well as being allies for those lesser represented and it is these seeds of change that will bring flowers in the future.
CI: Whom would you point to as the most influential and helpful mentors in your career? What did they do to help you?
Lloyd: I’ve been lucky to have both women and men provide me mentorship over the course of my career. From men who voiced and allied what I could not, to the executives who taught me that my career and growth were more than any one job role to the amazing organization I am a part of today – AVIXA is full of female leadership at every level. From young mothers showing what a career parent can look like to the female leadership that empowers us to achieve more – I have been blessed and try to pass it on in every way I can.
CI: What is your proudest career accomplishment?
Lloyd: So far (and I think I have a way to go), I am proud of what I was able to accomplish during the pandemic. As we were locked in our homes and the U.S. was working through radical social change, I had the opportunity to work with my teammates in creating the AV Industry Pledge. We created a road map for change, inspired signatures far and wide and created goals for our stages around the world to bring diversity of thought (and more) to our speaking opportunities both in person and virtually around the world. In a period when times were tough in so many ways, this is what kept me going and I am incredibly proud to have been a part of it.
CI: What do you love most about working in the AV industry?
Lloyd: Hands down, my favorite is the people. I have made life-long friends – people that I truly count on both in work and life and I love that our industry can inspire so many beautiful opportunities to experience the world around us.
CI: How can the AV industry become even better?
Lloyd: While I am inspired this month by the amazing women we are celebrating, we still have so much opportunity for growth and change. Better pay, glass ceilings shattered, allies in every room and situation and safety in every situation – these are the standards and there is still plenty of room for improvement.
Would you like to nominate a peer or colleague — or perhaps yourself! — to be featured in this #HerAVStory series? If so, just email Dan Ferrisi, group editor, commercial and security, Emerald, at [email protected].
