Andrea Rosales

‘As a woman in tech from a minority background, inclusion matters deeply to me.’

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

Throughout my career I have been passionate about transforming complex processes into intelligent, scalable solutions through AI innovation. A recent example is the document processing and tampering detection system, which was shortlisted for the AI Solution of the Year at the National Technology Awards 2025.

I'm recognised as a UK Global Talent for my contributions to the field of Data Science and AI, both in academia and industry. My academic journey includes completing a PhD at the University of St Andrews and serving as a Research Fellow in Computer Science, where I specialised in the development of novel algorithms.

Beyond my technical work, I serve as a mentor in Data Science and AI, and I actively advocate for greater inclusion and diversity within the tech sector. I was honoured to receive the "Mentor of the Year" award, which recognised my dedication to helping women in STEM grow with confidence. I'm a passionate writer on AI and Data Science topics. My work has been published by research journals, industry magazines and online platforms. My goal is to educate and inspire the next generation of AI professional

What do you consider your biggest achievement to date?

This year, my proudest achievements include being shortlisted for AI Solution of the Year at the National Technology Awards 2025 for designing a mathematical framework for document tampering detection. This innovation combines digital forensics, statistical analysis, and explainable AI to automate and audit a process that was previously manual.

I was also shortlisted in four categories at the Women in Tech Excellence Awards—Problem Solver of the Year, Emerging Tech Champion, Rising Star in Tech & Consultancy, and Woman of the Year in Tech & Consultancy. I was also honoured to be named Mentor of the Year, recognising my work supporting women in STEM through FLISS and The Data Gals Mentorship Program.

Beyond awards, I’ve shared my expertise at the Data Platform Women in Tech community and as a digital speaker at Microsoft Ignite in Chicago, presenting my framework for document tampering detection.

At Colibri Digital, I led our first DE&I initiatives, including employee awards, a cultural Slack space and an International Women’s Day video campaign. Despite initial resistance, these initiatives are now embraced company-wide, reflecting my commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices in tech and fostering inclusive environments.

What is the most significant challenge you have overcome?

Over the past year, one of my most meaningful challenges at Colibri was driving DE&I in a company with no active initiatives. As a woman in tech from a minority background, inclusion mattered deeply to me. I pitched a DE&I program to the CEO and HR, who were initially sceptical due to past unsuccessful attempts.

Rather than being discouraged, I started small, launching quarterly employee awards with four inclusive categories - Customer Whisperer, Innovator, Team Player, and Rising Star. These received strong participation and CEO support. I then created the #people-hub Slack channel to celebrate milestones and cultural moments, which built engagement and confidence to launch a company-wide International Women’s Day video campaign.

These initiatives gradually gained traction, demonstrating employees’ willingness to participate. Today, HR continues to build on these programs, turning what began as a personal challenge into a lasting cultural shift within the company.

Tell us something about you people would find surprising

When I moved here to pursue a PhD in Computer Science, I left behind an established career in my home country.

Starting over in a new place as part of a minority group was far from easy. My scholarship didn't fully cover living expenses, and with restrictions on working only part-time, I had to juggle my PhD with a job that was difficult to secure. Before finishing my PhD, I also realised how challenging it was to find longer-term opportunities, as many companies were reluctant to sponsor visas.

Despite these obstacles, the experience of working during my PhD was invaluable. I was fortunate to contribute to two Innovative UK projects and publish two research papers (in addition to four published as part of my PhD) and, most importantly, gained hands-on industry experience.

These achievements ultimately enabled me to secure the UK Global Talent Visa. Today, I am very proud to be working as a Lead Data Scientist, a milestone I achieved after eight years in the UK. What once felt like uncertainty became a source of strength, driving me to reach my goals and build a successful career in AI.