Heather Figg-Arnold

“I understand what it feels like to step into unfamiliar technical space, which informs my focus on making technology accessible and supporting others”

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

Heather Figg-Arnold - I work at the intersection of data, governance, and investment platforms, focused on turning complex technology into practical, usable solutions. With over a decade of experience across transformation, risk, and data, I've built a "squiggly" career path into technology through continuous reskilling, curiosity, and hands-on problem solving.

I specialise in connecting technical capability with real business value - redesigning reporting and governance processes using tools such as Power BI, Python, and automation to improve decision-making and efficiency. My work spans regulatory delivery, data governance, and platform transformation, where data plays a central role in enabling fair and accountable outcomes.

Alongside delivery, I actively support others to build confidence in data and technology, helping to make fintech more accessible. I believe the future of tech depends on combining technical capability with curiosity, adaptability, and a strong focus on people.

Tell us about your biggest achievement to date

One of my most significant achievements has been redefining how reporting and governance processes operate within my platform by introducing automation and data-driven approaches. I led improvements to the monthly performance reporting process, focusing on making outputs more decision-ready while reducing manual effort by over 200 minutes each month.

These changes were recognised by stakeholders as "notable and impactful," delivering tangible improvements in both efficiency and the quality of insight available to senior decisionmakers.

Beyond process improvement, I have consistently added value through my ability to connect technical detail with broader business context. Colleagues have highlighted my ability to "identify and articulate risk clearly" and to provide perspectives that are "often bold… and time and again prove accurate."

This has supported more informed, confident decision-making across governance and supplier management activities. A key part of this achievement has been enabling others alongside delivery. I actively share knowledge and coach colleagues, with feedback noting that my approach "amplifies the impact… across the team."

This combination of delivery, influence, and capability-building reflects how I approach technology - not just implementing change, but ensuring it is understood, usable, and sustained.

What is the most significant challenge you have overcome?

I did not begin my career as a technologist, and moving into data, automation, and platform delivery required continuous reskilling while operating in complex, high-pressure environments. This meant building technical capability alongside delivering real outcomes, often working in areas where there were no predefined solutions.

Rather than viewing this as a limitation, I approached it with curiosity and a focus on being "useful" - identifying gaps, learning quickly, and applying new skills in practical ways. Over time, this has enabled me to build expertise across data governance, analytics, automation, and cloud technologies.

This challenge has also shaped how I work with others. I understand what it feels like to step into unfamiliar technical space, which informs my focus on making technology accessible and supporting others through similar transitions.

Ultimately, overcoming this challenge has allowed me to operate across both technical and business domains - bridging the gap between them and delivering solutions that are not only effective, but widely understood and adopted.

Tell us something about yourself that people would find surprising

I've built a personal app, Headway, designed to help track and better understand headache patterns over time. The idea came from wanting to solve a very real, everyday problem using data in a simple and accessible way.

Rather than being a complex or highly technical tool, Headway focuses on helping individuals identify trends, triggers, and patterns that can inform better decisions about their health.

This project reflects how I approach technology more broadly. For me, the value of data isn't just in sophisticated models or large-scale systems, it's in making insights usable and meaningful for the people who need them.

Building Headway allowed me to apply the same principles I use in my day job — simplifying complexity, focusing on user needs, and translating data into something practical. It also demonstrates that technology doesn't have to be intimidating or exclusive. Even small, focused tools can have real impact when they are designed with people in mind. That mindset - applying data to real-world problems in accessible ways - underpins how I approach both my professional and personal work.