By Kathryn McKenna
Rebecca Keenan, Global Head of Intelligent Automation and Solutions Director at Expleo Group, on her impressive career trajectory and the importance of diversity in the workplace.
Rebecca Keenan, who was recently announced as a winner in the category of Tech Leader for the Diversity in Tech Awards, joined Expleo in Dublin immediately after graduating with a First Class Honors from Trinity College, with a degree in Computer Science and Business in 2015. Rebecca’s career at Expleo has since gone from strength-to-strength, helping to exemplify the importance of diversity and innovation in technology.
As a responsible and diverse organisation, Expleo is committed to doing business with integrity and working towards a more sustainable and secure society. Expleo boasts an extensive global footprint, powered by 19,000 highly-skilled experts delivering value in 30 countries and generating more than €1.4 billion in revenue.
READ MORE: Expleo launches Big Build initiative to help solve Northern Ireland's community needs
Having initially joined Expleo’s graduate programme, Rebecca quickly identified an opportunity for the company and established the first iteration of what is now Expleo’s Intelligent Automation team. With Rebecca appointed Global Head of Process Automation, the team grew significantly - both in terms of revenue and global reach. The team worked to prioritise process optimisation to even further enhance the service offering and subsequently experienced significant growth in team size and revenue, with Rebecca’s responsibilities expanding accordingly as she was appointed Global Head of Intelligent Automation in 2023.
Rising from a graduate to a global role, Rebecca says she finds it challenging at times to articulate her journey. Looking back at that time with more experienced eyes, Rebecca considers it was a case of both seizing new and exciting opportunities as they arose, as well as serendipitous timing between what Expleo needed and what she could offer.
In January 2024, Rebecca took on a new dual role as Solutions Director, and reveals a key highlight of the role has been meeting many different people and working with clients on an even larger scale. This has been particularly exciting as Expleo works to integrate AI into all of its service offerings.
Rebecca says the support from Expleo has been instrumental in allowing her to grow in her role, citing the fact that despite being a new graduate, Expleo entrusted her to create and lead a team of her own. And whilst Rebecca was aware of her own knowledge gaps at the time in areas outside her expertise, she praises Expleo’s supportive approach to building a team around her in order to assist with the new exciting challenge.
Particularly due to her dual role, Rebecca says no two days are ever the same in the office. Regarding her dynamic role as Global Head of Intelligent Automation, Rebecca spends a significant amount of time advising Expleo’s clients on how best to integrate and scale intelligent and emerging technologies into their business and ultimately drive value for them.
READ MORE: Rob McConnell, Head of Expleo NI, on staff engagement and 'finding the right balance'
Within the varying role of Solutions Director, Rebecca works closely with Expleo’s sales and delivery teams to understand Expleo’s customers and what their needs are, which has been a uniquely rewarding experience as Rebecca helps customers understand the difference Expleo can make to their world. Overall, the role involves a blend of strategy, client engagement and innovation.
Rebecca, who emphasises the importance of people in technology, says that she maintains communication with her colleagues across the globe by ensuring the art of conversation remains invaluable. Despite all of the impressive groundbreaking technological advancements happening around us, Rebecca says she always ensures to start off each meeting with a personal conversation, revealing that whilst it might sound minor, she is mindful since the pandemic that we never lose our personal touch by asking simple questions such as how they are doing before kicking off a meeting. People are the bloodline of what Expleo does, Rebecca explains, so it is vital to treat people like people.
At Expleo, everyone is encouraged to contribute, grow and ultimately make a positive impact both within their own community and more broadly as well. In short, Expleo is built on the pillars of inclusivity, collaboration and continuous growth – with an unwavering commitment to improvement. Expleo employees constantly strive to learn from their experiences, support one another, and ultimately create an environment where everyone can thrive. Rebecca comments: “The company truly values diversity - this is not limited to gender representation but also applies to thought and experience. This is reflected in how we approach problem-solving and innovation for our clients, it is about bringing together innovation and diverse teams.”
Rebecca has always had an interest in STEM subjects - particularly how tech solves real-world problems - having grown up in a household where having the latest gadgets was paramount. Looking back, Rebecca recognises they were constantly, even passively, immersed in learning about computers and technology. Whilst Rebecca did not always know what this might look like in terms of a career path and what this might look like, she knew she wanted to be at the forefront of technological advancements. This led Rebecca to study Computer Science and Business as a joint degree, which she reveals was the ideal blending for her of technical knowledge with strategic thinking and has enabled her to have the career she enjoys today.
READ MORE: 62 per cent of NI businesses are preparing for a stronger economy in 2025
Rebecca’s advice for others considering entering the technology sector is to stay curious and embrace new challenges. Rebecca encourages women in particular to ultimately never underestimate their true potential. Rebecca concludes: “The technology sector is extremely varied and full of different opportunities, and it is therefore vital to find your passion within it. The tech sector is not just one thing, it is extremely varied. Do not be afraid to ask questions, seek out mentors and be really persistent in pursuing your goal.
“My go-to piece of advice for young women considering a career in STEM is to do it. It is important to remember that diversity in thought and experience is really crucial to innovation and that is what we need lots of in the tech sector at the moment. I think there is going to be an even growing need and want for more diverse voices in the tech industry. Be curious, be resilient and stay kind. And always believe in your ability to make a difference.”
Find out more about Expleo - including news features about the company, insightful Thought Leadership articles and their exciting career opportunities - at syncni.com/company/expleo.
About Expleo
Expleo, the global, technology and consulting service provider, partners with leading organisations to guide them through their business transformation, helping them achieve operational excellence and future-proof their businesses. Expleo benefits from more than 50 years of experience developing complex products, optimising manufacturing processes and ensuring the quality of information systems.
Leveraging its deep sectoral knowledge and wide-ranging expertise in fields including AI engineering, digitalisation, hyperautomation, cybersecurity and data science, the group’s mission is to fast-track innovation through each step of the value chain.
To find out more about Expleo including company informations, news, features and job opportunities, visit: Sync NI - Company - Expleo
Read Sync NI's free online Big Data Belfast autumn magazine here.
