We all know that there is a lack of women in the tech sector – with current figures showing that just 22% of the tech workforce in the UK is female.
One reason for so few women in the industry is due to a lack of role models. But we’re on a mission to change this! Through our Spotlight Series, we hope to highlight the amazing women in tech and STEM that are already out there, and showcase some incredible female role models for those looking to get into tech.
We will continue to shine a spotlight on even more women in tech in 2026 and beyond!
Moyosore Ali, Senior Product Designer, Redgate Software
Moyosore describes themselves as a humanist & technologist interested in technology, philosophy, and psychology.
They focus on how these three areas merge in everyday life and the stories we tell about our definitions of ‘technology’. Their academic background is in computer science & human-computer interaction. During their PhD, they have published papers in some of the top journals in that field and continue to explore topics on how we embody and blur the lines of technology even outside academia. In the startup world, she has been a consultant for a few early-stage startups as a designer and researcher, focusing on humanizing the AI/ML experience.
Melissa Di Donato, Chair and CEO, Kyriba
Melissa Di Donato is Chair and CEO of Kyriba, a global leader in Liquidity Performance.
She has worked in tech for 20+ years, spanning roles at IBM, SAP, Salesforce, and SUSE, where she was the first woman to lead a billion Euro IPO in Germany.
She serves on the boards of JPMorgan, Porsche AG and is co-founder of the education charity Inner Wings, which provides kids from around the UK, especially girls, with the support and tools needed to build their confidence. Melissa has previously held UK government positions including non-Executive Director of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology and Member of the Small & Medium Enterprise Digital Adoption Task Force.
Shirin Arnold, Industry Solutions Lead for Construction, Dropbox
Shirin Arnold is the Industry Solutions Lead for Construction at Dropbox.
Kerrine Bryan, Renewable Energy Developer, Co-Author and Co-Founder, Butterfly Books
Kerrine Bryan is a multi-award-winning engineer, co-author, and co-founder of Butterfly Books, an independent publishing house that produces children’s literature that addresses gender biases in careers.
Cited as one of the Telegraph’s Top 50 Women in Engineering, she scooped the Precious award for Outstanding Woman In STEM and was one of Management Today’s 35 Under 35 most notable businesswomen in the UK. Kerrine co-founded the publishing house Butterfly Books with her brother, Jason Bryan – a writer – to communicate to children a positive message about professions, especially STEM jobs, that are suffering skill gaps and diversity issues.
The books are targeted at young children (aged 4-7) – a critical time when children’s world views start to emerge and shape. They become cognisant of the roles that gender plays in their own homes and in their school environment. This is reinforced by the literature they consume – often, these convey outdated stereotypes of fathers fixing things in sheds and mothers cooking in the kitchen. Kerrine argues that books must normalise inclusivity, showing men and women in roles that are currently atypical of their gender to show that there should be no barriers to entering any profession based on things like gender.
My Mummy Is An Engineer, My Mummy Is A Scientist, and My Mummy Is A Plumber are among several books in the series that shatter stereotypes. Over recent years, they have also struck partnerships with the British Army to produce My Mummy Is A Soldier, the NHS for My Daddy Is A Nurse, the London Fire Brigade for My Mummy Is A Firefighter, and several UK rail companies for My Mummy Is A Train Driver.
Jocelyn Lee, VP, Platform Partnerships & Business Development, Soundcloud
Jocelyn Lee is the VP of Platform Partnerships & Business Development at SoundCloud, where she leads global partnerships that drive fan growth and engagement, and elevate SoundCloud’s position as the go-to destination for music discovery and connection.
With a career spanning consumer tech, media, and financial services, Jocelyn thrives on working across a wide range of deals, from distribution to marketing and hybrid commercial partnerships. Her breadth of experience, informed by her work in diverse industries, enables her to bring a multi-disciplinary approach to problem-solving and decision-making. She is inspired by working with underrepresented founders and is passionate about driving more inclusive ecosystems within tech and media.
Yewande Akinola, Engineer & Innovator
Yewande Akinola, Engineer & InnovatorYewande Akinola is an engineer and innovator; she has worked on projects worldwide and is currently an EMEA Technical Director with CBRE Global Workplace Solutions.
Yewande is a passionate advocate for diversity in STEM and has received numerous accolades, including an MBE for services to engineering innovation and diversity. She is an ambassador for the Department for Education’s Teach in Further Education campaign, which aims to call on those with industry experience to teach in FE by sharing their skills and training the next generation of workers in their field.
Charlotte Herbertz, Senior Group Director, monday.com
Charlotte Herbertz joined monday.com in October 2024 as a Senior Group Director of Business Development.
With over eight years of experience scaling businesses and teams, she has held leadership positions at Dataminr, Unity, and Highspot.
Based in monday.com’s London office, Charlotte focuses on growing the Sales Development Representative (SDR) function to help more businesses collaborate and manage work more effectively.
Babette Coke, Technology Programme Director, Tesco
Babette Coke, Technology Programme Director at Tesco, reflects on her experience putting technology to work as an engine of progress for one of the largest private sector employers in the UK.
Lee Ing, Data Analyst, The Dot Collective
Lee never imagined she’d end up in data.
With a background in Biological Sciences and a passion for discovery, she carved her own route into analytics through determination and retraining. Now, she works in cloud consulting, turning complex information into insights that drive business growth.
Hannah Burks, Software Engineer (Logistics Team), Moonpig
Hannah came into tech through a fairly unconventional route, having previously worked as an actor while juggling survival jobs that didn’t fully engage her. Seeking a career that was more mentally stimulating, flexible, and remote-friendly, she taught herself to code and went on to train at Northcoders.
After graduating, she joined Northcoders as a Mentor and Software Engineer, where she built internal tools and supported students throughout their coding journeys. She later spent time at their sister company, Tech Returners, helping experienced engineers refresh their skills and contributing to internal software development.
Keen to deepen her technical expertise, she upskilled into data engineering before eventually moving to Moonpig, where she now works as a Software Developer on the logistics team.
Margaret Dawson, CMO, SUSE
Margaret Dawson is Chief Marketing Officer at SUSE, leading global marketing, brand strategy, and customer experience.
A seasoned tech executive, she’s known for crafting distinctive go-to-market strategies and empowering sales teams to drive growth. With 20+ years in tech, she’s held leadership roles at Chronosphere, Red Hat, Apptio, HP, Microsoft, and Amazon, shaping initiatives across cloud, cybersecurity, and open source. Margaret has worked extensively across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Recognised as a top Woman in Cloud Computing and Mentor of the Year, she brings bold vision, strategic clarity, and deep industry insight to every role she takes on.
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