Susannah Matschke

“I refuse to fit into the traditional confines of leadership from a male dominated perspective, and aim to always lead with empathy, understanding and care”

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

Susannah Matschke is Head of Data and AI Foundations at Sopra Steria, based in the Northeast of England. She leads teams helping organisations navigate one of the most complex and consequential shifts in modern business: the adoption of AI and data at scale - responsibly!

Recognised as one of the 35 women under 35 in business in the UK by Management Today and 4th in the Digital Leaders AI 100 list last year, Susannah is known for bringing human thinking to technical problems. She asks the questions that don't always get asked in AI conversations (who benefits? who doesn't? what are we not seeing?). She founded and leads a Women in AI community within Sopra Steria, creating a space where women feel safe to engage with the technology reshaping their world, whilst increasing their skills and learning from peers.

Tell us about your biggest achievement to date

My biggest achievement isn't a promotion or a project; it's something that I built because no one else seemed to be building it. I noticed that conversations shaping AI within our organisation and more widely in society seemed to be happening in a specific kind of room, with a specific kind of voice dominating them. Women weren't absent, but they were rarely at the centre.

I also realised my own privilege and advantages as a woman already operating within this space, opening my eyes to the barriers to entry for others who were not do deeply ingrained.

So, I founded a Women in AI community at Sopra Steria. What started as an informal gathering to share our learnings and ask questions has grown into something really impactful: a space where almost 50 women from across all levels and areas of the business come together to build confidence, share successes and fears.

Women who range from analysts to directors are no longer just consumers of AI, but contributors to it. They now feel emboldened to go out and be part of the conversation and have their voice heard.

What is the most significant challenge you have overcome?

One that I suspect resonates with many women which is being taken seriously whilst refusing to fit the traditional "leadership" mould within most organisations.

I have often been told that I need to be a louder voice, be more aggressive or simply assumed to not have a technical understanding because I am a woman. I refuse to fit into the traditional confines of leadership from a male dominated perspective, and aim to always lead with empathy, understanding and care.

My work sits at the intersection of AI and data technology and what impact that technology has on people. It is so important to me that I continue to represent a different style of leadership who owns the responsibility of asking "who does this effect?" and "whose voice is missing from this conversation and why?".

I'm often seen as too people-focused for the techies, and too techy for the consultants! But I think this is where the power lies, in being able to understand both perspectives.

Tell us something about you people would find surprising

I never intended to have a career in technology! I chose my university degree last minute and didn't read the description properly. I thought I was applying for a business degree, but it was in fact Business Information Systems. I learned all about system modelling, SQL and VB.NET during my course and it turned out to be the best mistake I ever made!

I previously had very little experience of technology and computers, but luckily, I absolutely loved it once I got started.