The AI and data industry is male-dominated—from the hardcore technology of LLM development to the companies that have funded the sector’s growth in both the West and the East. Per Datamation’s Top 100 AI companies in 2024, only four have a female CEO, CTO, or CSO, and female leadership is sparse at best.

Sertis has found great success in entrusting key leadership positions to women and continues to double down on its recipe of being gender-blind in its hiring and promotion decisions. We focus instead on the key personality and intellectual traits that we have established over the last decade that (in a proper data-driven way) equate to success in the business.

In an industry where technical skill, business knowledge, and domain expertise are all critical to functioning in any role, these female leaders at Sertis are breaking the mold—paving a pathway ahead not just for other women but for the global industry in general:

• Financial Planning and Accounting Director 

• Head of Product

• Head of UX/UI

• Commercial Director

• Business Development Team Lead

• Marketing Team Lead 

• Head of Legal

• 3 of 8 Project and Delivery Managers in the Project Management Office

• 6 of 18 Data Scientists (all with PhDs).

Let’s hear some of their voices and celebrate their rare and stellar accomplishments.

Jig, Director of Commercial

As a former Business Development executive at Dunnhumby, Jig brings a strategic and results-driven mindset to the AI & data space. She emphasizes the unique importance of connecting business and technology in AI & data through an empathetic approach:

"AI pre-sales is more than just connecting technology with business needs—it’s about understanding the customer, helping them to articulate business objectives in new ways that are unfamiliar, and shaping solutions with them involved at every step. And this is not software—AI is not created equally; a long-term view is important as models improve over time. Trust, built through emotional intelligence, becomes very important in the transaction.

My ability to sense a customer’s sentiment in real time—hesitation, frustration, enthusiasm, or fear—helps me navigate complex discussions, ensuring alignment before issues escalate. AI is a sensitive, emotional issue to all of us. This awareness is particularly valuable when dealing with multiple stakeholders with differing priorities and different levels of understanding about AI."

When it comes to external challenges, Jig acknowledges that while Sertis fosters a genderless, performance-driven culture, the broader AI industry and customer base may not yet be as open:

"I frequently engage with customers and suppliers who exhibit assertive or aggressive communication styles when discussing AI—often because it’s a complex subject they don’t fully understand. Emotional intelligence and strategic negotiation become critical. Rather than reacting to tone, I anchor discussions of AI in performance and business objectives—things they clearly understand as leaders of their enterprises—aligning conversations with outcomes rather than personal dynamics or technical concepts that may not be well understood. I focus on clarifying objectives and setting realistic expectations."

For Jig and Sertis, commercial success in AI & data is about adaptability, creating a common language among parties, and practicing patient empathy.

Betsey, Senior Delivery Manager

As a senior in Sertis’ Project Management Office (PMO), Betsey takes a detail-oriented approach to driving high-quality, efficient deployments of Sertis’ technology. She shares:

“I bring a detail-oriented mindset to my work, allowing me to deliver high-quality, efficient outcomes. This focus on the details also helps me recognize subtle yet important aspects that might otherwise be overlooked, fostering empathy and collaboration within teams. I also place great value on strong communication, as I believe it is a critical factor in the success of any project.

My experience in fast-paced, agile environments with limited resources has taught me to move quickly without compromising quality. I also strongly believe that diversity is essential in tech—it enables us to create solutions that better reflect the diverse needs of users.”

Betsey acknowledges that, fortunately, she has not personally faced significant challenges related to being a woman in tech. However, she reflects on how she would handle such situations:

“If my abilities were ever questioned, I would let my work speak for itself—demonstrating my expertise through strong deliverables and results. I also view challenges as opportunities for growth. Facing hardships often leads to both personal and professional development, shaping us into more resilient and capable professionals.”

Sanjana, Senior AI Researcher

Sanjana brings a unique perspective to her work, blending an analytical mindset and technical excellence with empathetic leadership. She believes that true innovation in AI & data is not just about building high-performance models but also about fostering a collaborative environment where ideas thrive and everyone feels empowered to contribute:

"A key perspective I bring is maintaining stability and composure in high-pressure situations. AI research is often fast-paced and demanding, but having a solution-focused mindset helps me stay clear-headed and effective during complex technical challenges and high-stakes projects.

I also take a structured approach to my work, leading projects with precision—ensuring research is well-documented, experiments are methodical, and solutions are scalable. This structured mindset allows me to contribute to building efficient and reliable AI systems.

Being a woman in AI, along with my passion for my work, has shaped my ability to create both impactful solutions and a positive, inclusive work environment for my team."

Sanjana acknowledges that one of her biggest early-career challenges was confidence—not in her skills, but in making her voice heard.

"I have always been driven, curious, and deeply invested in my work, but stepping into leadership required me to learn how to assert my ideas, advocate for best practices, and ensure my contributions were recognized. I tackled this by strengthening my communication skills, refining how I present ideas, and becoming more comfortable with challenging perspectives.

Leadership in AI often comes with unspoken expectations—assertiveness is sometimes equated with authority, while collaborative leadership styles are less emphasized. Over time, I’ve found that the most effective approach isn’t about choosing one over the other, but about striking the right balance. Knowing when to be firm and when to be flexible, when to lead from the front and when to empower others, has allowed me to grow into a leadership style that feels both natural and effective."

Am, Head of User Experience 

For Am, empathy and collaboration are at the core of enterprise UX/UI design in the data and AI space. She highlights the importance of creating AI- and data-driven solutions that are accessible to diverse users:

“As a woman in data and AI, I bring a unique perspective shaped by my experiences as both a UX designer and a team manager. I value empathy and collaboration, which directly influence my approach to user experience design. In data and AI, it’s crucial to consider how people from different backgrounds interact with a product. My perspective helps ensure that we design solutions that feel personal, intuitive, and accessible to everyone.”

Reflecting on her career, Am feels fortunate to have worked in environments that embrace diversity:

“So far, I haven’t encountered significant challenges specifically related to being a woman in data and AI. I’ve been lucky to work in spaces that value and support diverse perspectives. In fact, I lead a team wherein we’ve built a strong, collaborative culture where everyone’s voice is heard. My focus is on fostering an inclusive environment where we can all thrive, share ideas freely, and support one another. Empowering each other is key to our success.”

While the AI & data solutions business is technical at its core, over the last decade, Sertis has learned that success requires a diverse team with various but distinct, identifiable skills and capabilities. Never has there been an industry that, by its essence, can and should be gender-blind. And in learning more every day about what it takes to remain successful and to innovate in this space, we continue to see firsthand how women can and should play a mission-critical role in attaining such success.

As Women’s History Month unfolds, take a moment to recognize the pioneering women in the AI & data industries who are working right here in your community, writing the history that future generations and our societies will look back on as foundational and fundamental.