Influential women from the tech and business sectors have taken part in Kainos’ Power Women Leadership event, with an aim to help empower the next generation of female leaders and foster career growth.
The event on Tuesday (22nd October 2024), celebrated Ruth McGuinness winning the Microsoft 2024 Power Women Award in Ireland. The Power Women Awards highlight the talented women spearheading greater diversity and inclusion in tech.
Ruth McGuinness, who grew the Kainos AI team from five to over 200 people, spoke about her journey from finance to technology leadership. Ruth’s passion for ethical AI and her advocacy for greater regulation and inclusivity in the tech industry have confirmed that she is a leader to watch.
Ruth was joined by Catherine Doyle, General Manager of Microsoft Ireland, and Jayne Brady, Head of the NI Civil Service, for a Q&A panel. Catherine highlighted the importance of networking and having advocates in the workplace to support career growth, while Jayne Brady stressed the importance of aligning personal values with professional roles and spoke about the underrepresentation of women in engineering and business leadership roles.
Roseann Kelly MBE, CEO of Women in Business NI, and Colette Kidd, Chief People Officer at Kainos, spoke about the importance of resilience in leadership. Roseann emphasised the role of emotional intelligence in leadership, stating that “building resilience comes from facing failures head-on.”
Throughout the event, there was a reoccurring theme of the critical role education plays in shaping future female leaders. Each speaker mentioned the importance of parents and teachers in encouraging girls to pursue STEM subjects, they spoke about how more needs to be done in schools to break down stereotypes and support girls in achieving their full potential.
Kainos remains committed to creating a more inclusive tech industry through initiatives like its women’s network, Inspire, which provides support for women at all stages of their careers. Ruth McGuinness’ wining the Microsoft Power Women Award for Ireland represents a significant showcase of female leadership in technology.
Commenting on the Power Women in Leadership event, Kainos’ Data & AI Practice Lead Ruth McGuinness said:
"It’s an honour to be part of this incredible event celebrating women in leadership. At Kainos, we strive to create an inclusive culture where women can not only thrive but lead. I am particularly proud of the progress we've made in creating diversity in tech, but there is still so much more to be done.
“Women face unique challenges, especially when balancing family and career, and it's vital that we continue to advocate for flexible working, equitable parental leave, and supportive workplace environments. Events like this help shine a spotlight on these issues and inspire the next generation of female leaders to push boundaries and break barriers.”
Catherine Doyle, General Manager for Microsoft Ireland added:
"Events like this are essential for celebrating the achievements of women pioneers and showcasing role models who inspire more women to pursue leadership roles. Ruth McGuinness of Kainos is honoured in this year's Microsoft Ireland’s Power Women Awards for her significant contribution to the technology industry. We extend our gratitude to Kainos for supporting and celebrating the work of women in senior technology roles, driving meaningful change within our industry."
Source: Written from press release.
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