Kellie Kwarteng

‘I am proud to have built a free, accessible programme that uplifts women in tech’

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

Kellie Kwarteng is an award-winning leader, DEI advocate, and the founder and CEO of Halzak, a purpose-driven tech recruitment firm dedicated to building a more equitable and inclusive technology industry.

With over 20 years of experience in executive leadership and tech recruitment - including service on the board of a FTSE 500 company - Kellie has pioneered innovative strategies to connect diverse talent with forward-thinking companies across the UK, Europe and North America. Driven by her passion for gender equality, Kellie founded Elevate – Women in Tech, a thriving community and podcast series that amplifies the voices and stories of women and allies in technology, reaching over 2,000 listeners in 50 countries within its first year.

What does the nominee consider to be her biggest achievement to date?

Kellie’s proudest achievement to date is the creation and rapid growth of the award winning ElevateHER Leadership Mentor Programme, a pioneering initiative under the Elevate – Women in Tech community. Launched in 2024, it has already connected over 100 women with dedicated mentors, directly addressing the "broken rung" in tech leadership and empowering women to advance their careers in a sector where they have been historically underrepresented. Participants have reported increased confidence, access to new opportunities, and a strengthened sense of belonging in the tech industry.

A core principle behind ElevateHER and all Elevate initiatives is Kellie's belief that no woman should face financial barriers to personal growth or career advancement. That's why the programme is entirely free to access for all participants. To make this possible, Kellie personally commits a portion of Halzak's profits to fund it and the wider Elevate community.

This commitment to accessibility and giving back is central to Kellie's ethos. By reinvesting Halzak's success into the tech ecosystem, she supports the next generation of women and underrepresented talent, while inspiring industry partners to view recruitment as a lever for positive change.

One participant shared: "I wanted to let you all know that this mentoring is already making a difference to me. I applied for my first non-exec director role and got an interview. Even if I don't get it that's a huge step for me to fill in and submit the application and it's an organisation I know I could help to guide."

Another highlights Kellie's influence: "I want to give a huge shout out to my mentor. Asides sharing her wealth of experience and workplace tips from DEI, technical, leadership, branding etc. she helped with my application for the Most Inspiring Women in Cyber awards and out of a very competitive lineup of over 2000 applicants globally. I was one of the 20 winners selected! Thank you Kellie for this platform!"

What is the most significant challenge the nominee has overcome?

The most significant challenge Kellie has overcome as the founder of ElevateHER and Halzak has been balancing the demands of launching and running a purpose-driven initiative as a small, two-person business, while navigating profound personal adversity and her own internal doubts.

“When the idea for ElevateHER was born in 2023, it was just myself and my business partner, both deeply passionate about creating meaningful change for women in tech,” says Kellie. “Building a high-impact programme from the ground up with limited resources presented immediate challenges.”

These included gaining access to industry expert mentors and convincing them to volunteer their time, despite the team’s modest size and lack of corporate backing. She also wrestleded with imposter syndrome, wondering, "Why would anyone want to listen to me?" and "How can I truly help these women?", before realising that these feelings were not unique to her but shared by many women in tech.

“By acknowledging my own vulnerability and self-doubt, I was able to connect more authentically with our community and demonstrate that leadership doesn't require perfection- just passion, empathy, and the willingness to take action.”

Kellie had to overcome several other challenges including illness in the family and the demands of motherhood, but the results speak for themselves.

“I am proud to have built a free, accessible programme that uplifts women in tech - proving that small teams, when driven by a powerful mission, can create lasting impact.”

Tell us something about the nominee that people would find surprising

“Something people often find surprising about me is how much of my life outside Halzak and Elevate is dedicated to grassroots sports and youth development”, says Kellie, who is club secretary of a grassroots football club, helping to organise everything from admin management to safeguarding and community events. In addition, she is an avid netball player and coach for an under-13 girls' team.

“Whether on the pitch, the court, or in the tech sector, I am committed to empowering the next generation to believe in themselves and reach their full potential.”