Ekta Soni

‘Blending strategy with empathy’

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

Known for her strategic leadership and commercial acumen, Ekta Soni has led four major divestment programmes and scaled businesses with a 4x growth trajectory. She has held leadership roles at HCL, Wipro, Cognizant, Pcubed and Altran, managing multi-million-pound portfolios and driving large-scale change.

A TechWomen100 winner (2022) and named in Computer Weekly's 2024 Most Influential Women in UK Tech Longlist, Ekta is also a UN Women UK Delegate for CSW67, CSW68, and CSW69.

A passionate advocate for DEI, sustainability, and performance coaching, she co-developed Wipro's UK&I D&I Charter, mentors with STEMettes, and serves as an ambassador for TechSheCan and Women of the Future.

Ekta's academic background includes an engineering degree, PGDBM, and executive certifications from Darden and Harvard Business School. Her proudest role? Being a mum to a 10-year-old published author, national swimmer and chess player.

Ekta leads with purpose - delivering impact across people, planet, and performance.

What does the nominee consider her biggest achievement to date?

One of Ekta Soni’s greatest achievements is leading the digital and cultural transformation of a 200,000+ employee global workforce, embedding inclusivity, resilience, and innovation at scale while delivering measurable business outcomes.

As Senior Programme & Change Director, she led a multi-year transformation integrating Zero Trust Security, simplifying user experience, and enhancing digital productivity, achieving over 95% customer satisfaction and 85%+ engagement. She also delivered four major divestment programmes, including Ford/JLR and Unilever/Flora, managing high-risk transitions with precision and empathy.

Beyond delivery, Ekta co-authored Wipro UK&I’s Diversity & Inclusion Charter and actively mentors through STEMettes, TechSheCan and Women of the Future.

She has also represented the UK as a UN Women Delegate at the Commission on the Status of Women. Her journey exemplifies purposeful leadership, combining technology, transformation, and human impact.

What is the most significant challenge the nominee has overcome?

Ekta’s most significant challenge was leading a high-risk, multi-country business divestment and digital transformation during intense organisational change, complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic. She oversaw the separation of critical business units, including system carve-outs, large-scale migrations, regulatory compliance and stakeholder alignment across multiple geographies. Remote work, operational uncertainty, and emotionally fatigued teams added complexity.

The stakes were high: the business needed to remain fully operational, protect customer experience, and ensure data integrity while navigating shifting leadership priorities. Ekta led with clarity, agility, and empathy - redesigning delivery for a remote world, fostering communication across time zones, and embedding psychological safety.

The programme was delivered on time and within budget, with >95% satisfaction from business users.

At the same time, she was raising a young daughter during lockdown, balancing professional intensity with caregiving and remote learning. She used the experience to embed lasting norms of inclusion, trust, and transparency, making it one of her most transformative professional milestones.

Tell us something about the nominee that people would find surprising?

What often surprises people about Ekta is that behind her executive presence and boardroom achievements lies the heart of a deeply creative and nurturing mother, who has helped her daughter become a published author of three books, a national-level swimmer, and a chess champion before the age of 10.

While leading global transformation programmes and mentoring future tech leaders, Ekta starts most mornings writing with her daughter, fuelling storytelling and imagination. Their bond is built not just on discipline and ambition, but on curiosity, compassion, and joy in lifelong learning.

Another surprise? Ekta originally aspired to be a radio DJ! Her love for communication, storytelling, and human connection now manifests in how she leads teams - by listening deeply, energising people, and crafting visions they believe in.

Her ability to blend strategy with empathy, execution with creativity, and rigour with warmth is what truly sets her apart and makes her both an inspiring leader and a relatable human being.