Adèle Gerry

‘Leadership isn’t about perfection; it’s about integrity, visibility, and creating space for others’

Part of the Tech Women Celebration 50 – a curated list of some of the most inspirational women working at all levels of tech

Adèle Gerry is a dynamic senior Product leader, with over a decade of experience in UX/Design, Engineering Delivery, Portfolio Management and Transformation in the TechCo industry. With a unique background that bridges design thinking and technical delivery, she has led award-winning teams, most recently recognised for 'Mobile Project of the Year' for the implementation of Express Mobile Shopping Experience under her strategic leadership.

Known for leading with visibility, empathy and action, Adèle is deeply committed to mentoring women and allies in Digital & Tech. She hosts inclusive learning hubs open to colleagues from all backgrounds and speaks actively at Women In Tech forums.

Drawing from her own life experiences - including caring for her terminally ill father, she encourages others to embrace reinvention and turn adversity into action.

Adèle serves as a Mental Health First Aider and is a passionate fundraiser for Mind UK, helping to normalise mental health conversations in the workplace and beyond. Her leadership style combines high performance with heart, championing cultures where people feel seen, supported and inspired to grow.

What do you consider your biggest achievement to date?

My biggest achievement has been reinventing my career and leadership journey at Vodafone, where I’m approaching my 10-year milestone. I joined as a graduate while caring for my terminally ill father - a period that tested my resilience and shaped my drive.

With a background in UX and design, I stepped outside my comfort zone to move into Engineering Delivery, developing deep technical and problem-solving skills. That shift opened doors to leading complex transformation programmes and, eventually, to my current senior product leadership role with commercial accountability.

I’m especially proud of launching Vodafone’s Learning Hub during a major merger, creating open-access workshops that boosted engagement from 55% to 85%. Another highlight was leading the product team behind Vodafone’s award-winning Express Mobile Shopping Experience, which redefined our digital offering. I now use my platform to mentor and advocate for inclusion, showing others that reinvention is always possible.

What is the most significant challenge you have overcome?

Confronting inequality in the workplace - especially early in my career, when I lacked confidence. While caring for my terminally ill father as a graduate, I worked under a manager who ridiculed my appearance and excluded me from opportunities. Speaking up felt daunting, but I knew I had to take a stand - not only for myself, but to set a precedent for others. I provided feedback, escalated concerns formally, and began rebuilding my confidence through consistent delivery, mentoring, and self-reflection.

That experience became a catalyst for change. I founded It’s Time to Talk, an internal employee forum that creates safe, inclusive spaces for open conversations about inequality, incivility, and workplace challenges. Through this platform, I coach colleagues on how to recognise bias, challenge it constructively, and navigate difficult discussions with confidence.

Recently, I was recognised with a 100% psychological safety score as a leader, the highest in our business. This journey taught me that leadership isn’t about perfection; it’s about integrity, visibility, and creating space for others to thrive.

Tell us something about yourself that people would find surprising?

At a time when many women face societal pressure to "settle down" by 30, I took a completely different path - buying my first pair of running shoes and, just nine months later, crossing the finish line of my first marathon. Two years on, I recently ran with locals on a high-altitude running safari in Kenya - a powerful reminder that it's never too late to change direction or learn something new.

What surprises people is how I tie this mindset into my leadership. I'm open about the challenges of mental health, particularly the anxiety of waiting for a DNA health result, and use my own experience to champion physical and emotional well-being in the workplace.

I raised £2,500 for Mind UK by running two marathons this spring and used the journey to spark conversations about mental health across the business. I founded running clubs, coffee chats, and safe spaces to help normalise seeking support.

My approach is a blend of bold action and quiet empathy - proving you can lead with strength and vulnerability, and that well-being isn't a side conversation, it's central to performance and growth.