Breaking Barriers Through Merit: Anuja Shah on Leadership, Technology, and Creating Inclusive Workplaces

As a woman in tech, what has been the most significant challenge you have faced, and how did you overcome it?

I’ve strongly believed that the seat at the table, be it technology or management, is based on merit, not gender. As is with any field, the ability to be able to use your voice for shaping direction, prioritization and delivery is key, and the overall organizational climate should be supportive of that.

Leading the technology function is as much about understanding the business and its levers, strategic initiatives and regulatory requirements, as it is about understanding people, applications, processes, infrastructure and security. Approaching challenges with an objective, solutions-oriented mindset and staying focused on execution is key to winning and retaining trust of stakeholders across the organization.

As Head of Strategy and IT at Zurich Middle East, I’ve been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work alongside women and men who are not just colleagues, but have taken on the roles of sounding boards, mentors and friends.

How do you see AI, data security, or tech innovation evolving, and what role do women play in shaping its future?

The technology landscape has been evolving very rapidly with developments across data and cyber security, automation, cloud computing, data mining and analytics and Generative AI.

The sheer number of women who have qualifications across the spectrum of technology and digital transformation is quite staggering, and the effort women undertake to ensure they’re up the curve when it comes to emerging technologies and advancements is commendable. I can vouch for that as I work along side a few of them every day.

As a field, technology provides more flexibility when it comes to timings, working onsite or offshore, remote learning opportunities, etc., which do go a long way in encouraging women to join/continue working/rejoin the workforce in case of sabbaticals. If more organizations can encourage and actively nurture such behaviors, we would be able to address quite a few of the challenges while creating an environment that truly nurtures innovation.

In one or two sentences, what does International Women’s Day 2025 mean to you as a woman in tech?

Like every day, International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate, encourage, nurture and champion the women in our lives, in our homes and in our organizations. As a woman in tech, it is also a reminder to continue to create an environment for women to join, thrive, grow, stay longer and in some instances, rejoin the workforce.