Women in IT Silicon Valley, part of the world’s largest tech diversity event, announced its winning class of 2019 at a dinner held at the Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, last week, recognising female “trailblazers” who’d forged a successful career in the sector.
The quality of the 300 submissions in over 17 categories, meant judges had some tough choices to make deciding the final 14 but were testament to the strides women have made in a sector previously dominated by men.
And the Women in IT winners were:
Advocate of the Year
Ilona Budapesti, 1 Million Women to Tech
Business Leader of the Year
Nicole Eagan, Darktrace
Business Role Model of the Year
Bernadette Rotolo, Warner Music Group
Data Leader of the Year
Anuradha Gali, Uber Technologies
Digital Leader of the Year
Melissa Wiley, Formerly at National Geographic Partners
Diversity Initiative of the Year
McAfee
Entrepreneur of the Year
Nicole Hu, One Concern
Innovator of the Year
Ashley Ward, Mission Support Alliance
IT Team of the Year
BMC
Rising Star of the Year
Hayley Leibson, Lunchclub
Security Champion of the Year
Monique Head, PayPal
Transformation Leader of the Year
Alley Lyles, Direct Energy
Future CIO of the Year
LeAnna Fries, Palo Alto Networks
Employer of the Year
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
CIO of the Year
Carrie Rasmussen, The Save Mart Companies
CTO of the Year
Geeta Chauhan, Silicon Valley Software Group
Woman of the Year
Rashim Mogha, Automation Anywhere
Sana Sammi, Awards Programmer, Information Age said: “It gives me great pleasure being able to celebrate these trailblazing Women in IT for their excellence – some of whom started their careers more than 30 years ago and overcame challenges and prejudice, and others at the beginning of their career who are forging a new path in the industry.
“Regardless of how cliched it may sound I have to take the opportunity to tell you that you are all amazing and an inspiration. You take risks, ask and work for change for inclusivity in the industry while achieving and overachieving at work. To put it in simply, you rock!”
This year’s event was sponsored by BMC, Lastline, Red Hat, Nutanix, Red Hat, FIREEYE and DiversityQ.
