Lorna McAdoo, Group Director Environment, Social & Governance and Version 1 Northern Ireland Lead, talks to Sync NI about "falling into" computing, how important it is to celebrate talented women, and why more young girls should enter the tech sector.
Lorna also addresses the need to widen the talent pool, not just by addressing the gender imbalance in tech, but by ensuring that roles are accessible to everyone in society.
What or who first inspired you to study Computing at University of Ulster in 1986 and what was your first impressions of working in tech upon graduation?
I fell into Computing to be honest. It was my third university choice at ‘A’ level stage. I did a two-year course and then got a job as a trainee analyst/programmer in Short Brothers. My first impressions was how cool it was – the teams in Shorts wabout "ere so friendly and supportive to me.
Shortly after commencing your first job you transitioned from software engineering into project management, a role you remained in for over 20 years before taking on more senior management positions?
Yes that’s right. I very quickly moved from coding to internal project lead at Shorts and then into a commercial project management role at DEC / Digital. I loved project management because every project was different, the teams both internally and with the customer was different so I was always learning new skills.
The biggest lesson I learnt was the importance of listening and regular communication. When I moved into the Delivery Management role in Kainos I was able to develop my sales skills but still keeping the relationship with the customer at the forefront of everything. The customer is the one that gives us opportunity and ultimately pays us so putting them first was always so important.
Tell us how your career has evolved and whether it was planned or influenced by external forces and/or people?
My career has evolved on the basis that I cant really say No. Any opportunity that came along brought with it challenge and learning and I always wanted to see how far I could push myself before I would reach a point where I was happy with.
As a prominent senior leader in the tech sector what do you attribute as being the key factors behind your success?
I always smile when someone says the word leader – I don’t see myself as a leader and certainly not prominent but I am fortunate to be a position where I can take my learnings from my career and help to guide people through theirs. I’m not an expert in anything but I am in where I failed or succeeded and I want others to have the best career possible because I have. I have also over the years become more passionate about people not getting the same opportunities as I and others have.
As the senior leader in one of NI’s largest technology companies, what initiatives do you believe have had the greatest impact on helping to support and promote women in their careers?
I actually believe that the support networks that are in place right across the tech sector is what gives women the greatest support. We now have many organisations all running meet ups and roundtables and even conferences like the annual WIB one. We also now have a WIT Annual awards night to showcase all the great women in the sector. All of these show women what can be achieved. It grows connections across the sector which is so incredibly important. In Version 1 we have a very strong Women in Tech network. The network is run by volunteers and its incredible to see the work that they do and the connections that, from the youngest to the oldest, the less experienced to the very experienced, have here.
READ MORE: EY Partner Katie Burns on the importance of technology: I didn’t particularly consider myself a ‘woman in tech’ but I am, it is in everything we do – every profession should embrace it
Why is it important for women to build and expand their professional networks?
My last 10 years in Version 1 has only been impactful because of my professional network. Having a coffee in the early days with other leaders and previous leaders helped to guide my journey. I see my professional network as my support and an inspiration network. We learn from each other and we teach each other – and the bigger the network the more we learn and are inspired
As vice chair of the software alliance, member of the NI skills committee for the Dept of the economy, on the board of the IOD and a leading advocate for Women in Business – you probably have a unique vantage point to understand the needs and requirements for skills and training for our society. Can I ask you to give a perspective as a woman who has reached the top of her career, what the current landscape looks like compared to when you first started out on your career path and what you would like to see for other women as they commence their journey?
I have been doing an ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) role in Version 1 for over three years now and its something that is incredibly important to us as a company but I came to realise very quickly that Version 1 in isolation cant drive real change for the communities in which we operate. We need to collaborate right across government, private, third and voluntary sectors. When the opportunity came up to have roles in these fantastic organisations, I absolutely jumped at it. I am so privileged to input in and help shape the strategies.
The tech sector now is very different to what it was like almost 40 years as you can imagine. We are so much more aware of, and the benefits, of having diversity across our tech sector and over the last five to 10 years much as been done to promote the gender imbalance and subsequently initiatives created to support the rebalance.
I would love to see much more flexibility in the working patterns for females (or anyone with caring responsibilities). I think the more flexible we become as employers the more opportunity there will be for women who may not have the ability to work 9am until 5pm Monday to Friday. So I would love to see this flexibility increasing.
I do, however, also believe that rather than just focusing on the gender imbalance we should look at the entire talent pool diversity and open up opportunity for everyone across our region and society.
What advice would you give to women who would like to enter the sector but may not feel confident enough or empowered to do so for different reasons?
The tech sector is the most exciting sector to be a part of. You will find everyone supportive, friendly and fun ! If it is a confidence issue look around for those that you know work in the sector and ask them for advice. If you don’t know anyone that does then reach into networks such as Women in Business who run lots of great workshops around confidence building and indeed tech meetups. Software NI is also helping to drive more people into Tech and the work we are doing will help to create better pathways into Tech for everyone.
There are also so many meetups happening now and I know they can be scary. When I first started going I knew no one but everyone was always so friendly. Many of these talk about the different roles – they aren’t all coding jobs – there are many different roles in Tech and the pathways into Tech.
But ultimately just do what I did – go for it – you can’t ever fail – you can only learn. I came from Fermanagh not knowing anyone and being the worst software developer there was but through support and great mentors you can have a really fulfilling career
Finally, why should young girls consider a career in tech?
It's cool, dynamic, exciting, fast paced and fun and lets face it we outperform boys with our education results no reason we can’t in the workplace.
Sync NI's Summer 2025 magazine celebrates women in tech across Ireland as we continue to encourage more women to enter the thriving sector and address the current gender imbalance. Read the Summer 2025 Sync NI Magazine online for free here.
