Holiday Gifts for Women IT Executives

What does the IT executive in your life want? Maybe you can’t give her an iron-clad BYOD policy or a can’t-miss cloud service provider, but you can make her holidays brighter. But time is running out, so CIO.com surfed the web and asked dozens of executives for their recommendations and came up with these 11 gifts that offer both style and function.

Make sure the lady techie in your life is never without 4G access with the Overdrive Pro 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot from Virgin Mobile. With the dual-mode mobile hotspot you can connect a tablet, laptop and other wireless devices–up to five at a time–for as little as $5 a day. Comes with an A/C charger with USB port. Price: $79.99.

The perfect stocking stuffer, this 4GB Lipstick USB Drive adds some dash to the standard flash drive–and keeps files looking their best. Price: $19.99.

Know a woman IT executive who’s feeling a bit tired this holiday season? The HappyLight Liberty Series Natural Spectrum Energy Lamp from Verilux is the cure for the winter blues. (OK, an all-expenses paid trip to the Caribbean is probably a better cure for the winter blues, but the HappyLight is a close second.) Indeed, research has shown that full-spectrum lighting can improve mood, energy, focus and productivity. The HappyLight Energy Lamp is especially beneficial for executives who spend a lot of time in front of a computer or mobile device as bright light causes the pupil to contract, so the eye doesn’t have to work as hard to adjust or focus. Price: $99.95. Having the boss in a good mood? Priceless.

These Whistler Tec Touch leather gloves are a must-have for women IT executives this winter. Available in either black or red, the Tec Touch pods on the index finger and thumb allow you to operate your favorite touch screen device without removing your gloves. They include 100 percent Thinsulate insulation to keep hands warm. Price: $75.

Perfect for the IT executive on the go, the Cable Stable Rollup Kit from Skooba Design eliminates tangled cables and cords. Ultra compact, weighing only an ounce, the organizer features five elasticized slots for earbuds, USB cords and other small cables and accessories. It also includes two bungee loops that hold extra cords, cables or chargers too large to fit in the Rollup. Price $14.95.

The woman IT executive in your life will light up when she receives the iNecklace by Adafruit. That’s because the iNecklace pendant, which is made of machined aluminum, contains an LED that gently pulses for up to 72 hours. It’s also completely open source–with the source code, circuit board files, schematics and CAD files posted on GitHub. So she can hack away to her heart’s content. The pendant comes strung on an 18-inch long sterling silver chain and is shipped in a black velveteen box. Price: $75.

These personalized laptop bags from Simply Bags come in a variety of styles and prints. Stylish yet durable, each laptop bag or briefcase can be personalized with her name or monogram or company logo. Prices range from $28.99 to $48.99.

The AViiQ Portable Charging Station is perfect for IT executives on the go. A mobile charging station and device/cable organizer, it includes a four-port USB hub and can quickly charge a cell phone or tablet. You can also sync a single device using the retractable USB cable. Folds up into an attractive, sturdy nylon case and includes an AC/DC adapter. Price: $59.

For the frequent flyer, consider the ScanFast Element Checkpoint Friendly Briefcase. The briefcase is TSA compliant and fits laptops up to 16 inches. Designed specifically for women, it has a padded shoulder strap, padded computer section, a separate section for files and a wireless security shield to keep her smart phone safe from spam, hackers and viruses. Price: $99.99.

This gift is sure to perk up any IT exec. With the Single Brewer Travel Mug she can brew her own coffee at the office or on the road. You just place the cone on top of the Travel Mug, insert a #2 filter into the cone, scoop in coffee and pour hot water through the cone. It comes with a start-up supply of #2 filters and a free bonus pack of 40 filters. Price: $14.99. Fresh-brewed coffee just the way she likes it? Priceless.

And finally, for when she just needs to tune out the world, the Bose QuietComfort 3 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones. Smaller and more lightweight than other noise-cancelling headphones (and more expensive), these headphones were designed to be comfortable as well as highly portable. The headphones include an inline microphone/remote for making and answering phone calls, as well as two audio cables and a charger. Battery lasts up to 25 hours per charge. Price: $349.