A Monday morning at Experian PLC, the consumer credit reporting company with its Northern American headquarters in Costa Mesa, feels a lot like a Casual Friday at other companies—jeans and button-down shirts appear to be the attire du jour.
Alpa Lally, dressed in a pantsuit by Theory and Tory Burch heels, stood out from the engineering crowd, and that’s OK.
“Our culture is about celebrating and respecting each other’s differences,” said the vice president for strategic projects for Experian’s Information Technology Services division. ‘We really give people the freedom to be themselves.”
Lally is part of the Women in Experian employee resource group, where she helps her co-workers “create that executive presence.”
“Traditionally, technologists are geeky, but you can throw a great pair of jeans on that are fitted perfectly for you and a beautiful blouse and accessorize with a great pair of shoes,” she said. “You’re not going to show up at an IT conference in Silicon Valley wearing a suit―you’ve got to understand your audience―but you can always bring your own style to it, to give you that confidence.”
Lally’s wardrobe contains pieces by Elie Tahari, Hobbs and Ted Baker that are “feminine and beautiful, but powerful and efficient.” She wears jewelry that has sentimental value, including a necklace her husband gave her when they started dating. She shops online for “ease and convenience” but Bloomingdale’s at South Coast Plaza is within walking distance of her office―“if you’re not wearing heels.”
