Technology has long been hailed for its innovation. Yet, despite its forward-thinking nature, the industry, like many others, has struggled with inclusivity and representation.

Women and underrepresented groups continue to face significant barriers to entry and advancement. Fortunately, the voices and actions of trailblazing leaders, supportive allies, and vibrant communities are paving the way for a more equitable future. 

An event that celebrates the work of such individuals is the #empowHERaccess Prestige Awards hosted by the Women In Cloud organisation.

This industry awards platform is not just a matter of recognition; it’s a crucial step in driving systemic change and ensuring a more inclusive tech ecosystem. Exemplifying the time-honoured adage, “If you can see it you can be it.”

We spoke with five of this year’s #empowHERaccess Prestige Award winners, Simone Bennett, principal consultant and elements core (Azure Landing Zones) product owner at Arkahna, Martin Bernier, chief information officer at the University of Ottawa, Julia Armstrong D’Agnese, CEO of Earth Knowledge, Priyanka Mitra, partner at M12, and Akua Opong, senior associate at LSEG, to share their insights on the key areas that are the foundation for a more equitable and inclusive future.

The right mindset to overcome challenges

It all starts from within and tech is no exception. Winner of the Corporate Equality Advocate Awards, Priyanka Mitra, partner at M12 and founding partner of GitHub Fund, offers a compelling perspective on overcoming challenges.

Mitra emphasises the importance of mindset. “I’ve believed that life is always happening for me and that every adversity contains the seed of an equivalent advantage.”

This mindset that every challenge is an opportunity for growth has been instrumental in Mitra’s success, she shared that it has allowed her to “find the good and the learning in the situation or circumstance and choose to leverage difficult, uncomfortable, or trying situations to my advantage”.

Julia Armstrong D’Agnese, CEO of Earth Knowledge and winner of the B2B Women Tech Entrepreneur of the Year Award, echoes the importance of self-belief and adds how instrumental a support system is.

Her advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs includes surrounding oneself with supportive people and maintaining a strong sense of personal vision.

“Be aware and potentially eliminate contact with people, if necessary, who bring you down. They may not have had support nor followed their own light and may undermine yours just as theirs was undermined. Giving birth to a company, new paradigm, new technology is a very vulnerable process, and having others close who could hurt it, will undermine you.”

Being part of a community

Diverse communities are the grassroots support for diverse voices and viewpoints in tech. Finding and engaging with a community provides numerous personal benefits while creating a chain reaction of access to new opportunities.

To Akua Opong, senior associate at LSEG and winner of the Community Leadership and Community Choice Awards, community is so important. She firmly believes the power of collective effort can drive significant change. Her work with organisations like WeAreTheCity and Global Tech Advocates highlights how crucial it is to support and uplift each other.

Opong stated that by “lifting each other as we climb,” we can collectively advance our goals while creating a more supportive environment.

Julia Armstrong D’Agnese echoes this, she believes that participating in networks or communities like Women in Cloud is a crucial pathway for advancing inclusivity.

Both Opong and Julia’s experiences highlight that engaging with and supporting diverse communities not only addresses existing disparities but also drives meaningful progress and innovation in the tech industry.

Supporting underrepresented voices in tech

Supporting underrepresented voices in tech is essential for cultivating a more diverse and innovative industry.

Akua Opong shared from her experience that learning to “communicate effectively and developing negotiating skills to articulate ideas and visions” helped her overcome biases. She stresses the need to build a support network of mentors, sponsors, colleagues, friends, or coaches to provide vital support and insights.

Similarly, Priyanka Mitra underscores the impact of having strong advocates, noting that having mentors, sponsors, and supporters who are “willing and excited to go to bat for you and highlight your accomplishments” is crucial for addressing gender discrepancies in male-dominated fields.

As winner of the Ally of the Year Award, Martin Bernier’s experience further enriches this perspective by emphasising the importance of visibility and trust-building in supporting underrepresented voices.

He shared that being a visible ally is crucial. When asked about his approach to Allyship Bernier shared that it includes “empathy, active listening, and co-mentorship,” stressing that these are the fundamentals for creating a supportive environment.

Bernier believes that by engaging with underrepresented groups allies can better understand their needs and challenges. He noted that regularly seeking feedback builds a trustworthy environment where diverse perspectives can thrive. This holistic approach of visibility, support, and empathy helps foster a tech ecosystem where all voices can contribute to meaningful progress and innovation.  

Innovate new approaches for inclusivity

The cornerstone of tech is its dedication to innovation, and the same approach should be applied to inclusivity. A great way for the tech industry to innovate new paths for inclusivity is by actively engaging with diverse community insights and feedback.

Simone Bennett, principal consultant and elements core (Azure Landing Zones) product owner at Arkahna and winner of the Cloud Technologist Visionary Award, exemplifies this approach through her commitment to staying connected with various tech communities.

She states: “I regularly attend user groups, Microsoft or local tech community calls, and meetups to hear what others are doing and share ideas.”

By immersing herself in these forums and incorporating direct feedback from customers and internal teams, Bennett and her company, Arkahna, continuously refine their solutions. This practice ensures that innovations are responsive to the diverse needs of users.

Additionally, Bennett emphasises the importance of “hands-on delivery” and “real-time” feedback, highlighting how interactive engagement can lead to more inclusive and effective technology solutions.

Furthermore, the tech industry can foster inclusivity by blending technological advancements with human support. Bennett’s observation that companies are beginning to realise “the real power lies in combining tech with skilled people” illustrates this shift.

Instead of relying solely on automation, companies are acknowledging the need for human oversight and expertise. Bennett points out that “lifting and shifting servers to the cloud didn’t eliminate the need for someone to manage them” but rather, it highlighted the importance of integrating technology with human skills.

Innovations like Arkahna’s Elements Core product, which simplifies deployment while aligning with best practices, demonstrate how technology can be designed to support diverse skill sets. This approach optimises performance and ensures that technological advancements are inclusive and adaptable to varied user needs.

Diverse and inclusive role models

Seeing role models with diverse identities achieve success or take on influential positions can profoundly impact the tech community.

Women In Cloud believes in the power of role models so deeply that the organisation recently produced its first documentary short film called ICONS. Recently screening at the Oscar-Qualifying HollyShorts Festival, the film shares the impactful journeys of 19 diverse women in tech.

The winners of this year’s #empowHERaccess Prestige Awards exemplify what it means to be an “ICON”. Priyanka Mitra stated that seeing people who looked similar to her ascend to roles of influence in tech and finance has been “instrumental to my progression and success”.

She believes visibility empowers others to ask themselves, “why not me?” and to pursue their aspirations. Winning the Corporate Equality Advocate Award, she hopes, will convey that “there are people out there like myself who care deeply about issues of corporate equality” and that it will inspire others to reach new heights.

Julia Armstrong D’Agnese echoes Mitra’s sentiments describing her experience with #empowHERaccess Prestige Awards as part of an “amazing transformational movement” that recognises traditionally overlooked figures, including women and those from diverse backgrounds.

She emphasises that the recognition she and others receive helps to strengthen and expand this movement, offering women a seat at the table and a platform to share their stories. 

Akua Opong shared how role models have positively impacted her life, stating that figures like Katherine Johnson and Maya Angelou have shaped her aspirations and demonstrated the significance of representation and fairness.

Opong views the recognition from the Community Leadership and Community Choice Awards as an opportunity to “convey a powerful message to women and allies that perseverance and advocacy can lead to positive change.”

Similarly, Martin Bernier speaks to the importance of diverse role models, asserting that “success is achievable regardless of background”.

Celebrating change and looking forward

The collective efforts of leaders like Mitra, Armstrong D’Agnese, Bernier, Opong, and Bennett demonstrate the powerful impact of celebrating and supporting women and allies in tech. Their work advances the conversation around equity and provides tangible examples of how to drive change.

The path to a brighter future in tech is paved with the collective efforts of women, allies and supportive communities. By uplifting voices and embracing the strategies and mindsets of diverse trailblazers we can foster an inclusive environment that will move us closer to an industry where everyone has the access to the opportunities needed to succeed.

These leaders and their contributions are not just a recognition of past achievements but a beacon guiding us toward a more equitable and innovative future.

The #empowHERaccess Prestige Awards will return for its fifth year in the summer of 2025. Women In Cloud encourages women and allies in tech to nominate themselves or deserving colleagues to help uplift diverse role models for the future.

You can learn more about the awards, the ICONS documentary, and join the community of over 100,000 women and allies at www.womenincloud.com.