Influential Businesswoman Awards 2026 | 17 creating opportunities for people to expand their networks and visibility. Through itSMF UK, Claire has also been actively involved in promoting inclusion, collaboration, and professional development across the service management community. She has supported events, leadership discussions, networking opportunities, and industry conventions that encourage greater diversity of thought and wider participation within the profession. Furthermore, Claire holds a particular passion for supporting the next generation entering the industry. IT Service Management is not on the syllabus for the majority of courses and is not generally known as an option when studying. There have, however, been various initiatives to change this, with ongoing efforts being made to make the profession more visible, approachable, and welcoming for people from all backgrounds and career stages. Looking to the future, Claire aims to continue growing as a leader whilst making a meaningful contribution to both the service management profession and the wider technology community. A key focus will be continuing her work as Chairwoman of itSMF UK and guiding the organisation through the next stage of its evolution, while also making efforts to champion topics such as inclusion, future skills, leadership development, AI, and the importance of people-centred service management. On a personal level, Claire aspires to continue developing her own leadership capabilities, expanding her industry influence, and taking part in more strategic conversations around transformation, organisational culture, and the future of work. At the same time, she intends to continue mentoring and supporting others, particularly women and emerging professionals entering the industry. She shared: “Helping people build confidence, recognise their potential, and progress in their careers is something I find incredibly rewarding and want to continue investing time in. “I want to continue building my confidence to use my experience in helping shape positive change, support innovation, and create opportunities for others to develop and succeed.” Contact: Claire Drake Company: itSMF UK Web Address: www.itsmf.co.uk Most Trusted Businesswoman in Professional Services 2026 (Berkshire): Claire Drake Claire Drake’s journey with itSMF UK began when she joined the Board in 2019. She quickly made waves across the organisation, contributing towards its strategic direction whilst supporting the wider service management community. She became Vice-Chair in 2022, further strengthening her involvement in leadership, governance, member engagement, and industry collaboration. In 2024, Claire was appointed Chairwoman of itSMF UK, a milestone that reflected the significant contributions she has made to the ITSM community. As Chairwoman of itSMF UK, Claire is responsible for shaping the strategic direction of the organisation, supporting the Board and leadership team, and acting as an ambassador for the community. She boasts a strong track record in building collaborative relationships, driving continuous improvement, and creating communities that encourage knowledge sharing, innovation, and professional development, taking an approach carefully developed over years of industry experience. “Throughout my career, I have built extensive expertise in leadership, service management, operational transformation, and stakeholder engagement,” she told us, “which has supported my appointment as Chairwoman of itSMF UK. I have worked across complex organisations and transformation programmes, developing a strong understanding of how technology, people, governance, and customer experience come together to deliver effective and sustainable services.” As with any meaningful journey, Claire has encountered challenges along the way. She has seen first-hand how unconscious bias can influence opportunities, confidence and visibility, and has had to work harder to establish credibility, make her voice heard in leadership discussions, and demonstrate her expertise in environments where there were fewer women represented at senior levels. Claire has worked tirelessly to overcome these hurdles, training her focus on delivering results, building strong professional relationships, and having confidence in her own experience and leadership style. She learned the importance of speaking up, backing herself, and not being afraid to take on opportunities that may feel outside of her comfort zone. “Mentorship, collaboration, and surrounding myself with supportive networks have also played an important role in my development,” she added. “I ensure that I use what I have learned to ‘pay it forward’ in mentoring others.” Supporting others has always been an important aspect of Claire’s approach to leadership, particularly when it comes to helping women and individuals from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds build confidence, develop professionally, and access opportunities within the industry. She actively supports others through mentoring, coaching, and itSMF UK is the UK’s leading professional membership community for IT service management (ITSM) and enterprise service management professionals, uniting a community with the shared goals of improving service quality, business outcomes, and professional standards across the industry. This mission is steered by Chairwoman Claire Drake, a seasoned Service Management Leader and respected voice in the ITSM community. Claire told us more below, as she is named in the Influential Businesswoman Awards 2026. itSMF UK
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