Alexandra Foster

Part of the IT Leaders 100 - a list of the most influential IT leaders in the UK in 2025.

Alexandra Foster leads Banking, Financial Services & Insurance at Fujitsu, where she drives transformation through AI, quantum computing, and cybersecurity. She was formerly Managing Director of BT's Division X, where she led innovation in 5G, IoT and edge computing across global industries. Her career began in investment banking, where she helped pioneer electronic trading.

Named one of Computing's Top 100 UK IT Leaders in 2023 and recipient of the UK Prime Minister's inaugural Award for Cyber and Innovation, Alexandra combines commercial foresight with inclusive leadership. She founded Fujitsu's Women in Private Sector network and is known for turning complex technologies into practical, purpose-led solutions that deliver business impact, resilience, and growth

What's the most exciting part of your current role?

Leading purpose-driven transformation at a moment of renewal for both the financial services sector and Fujitsu. I joined during a time of change, bringing energy and strategic focus to an organisation committed to building innovation, resilience and trust.

What motivates me is delivering practical, sustainable business value - not just innovation for its own sake. From preparing clients for the commercialisation of quantum computing to addressing challenges like post-quantum encryption (PQC), I focus on organisational readiness: helping clients adopt emerging tech responsibly, at pace.

Resilience is just as key. It's not enough to recover from disruption - we help clients rethink, rebuild and evolve. And for me, leadership goes beyond technology: it's about amplifying diverse talent, anticipating change, and shaping solutions that endure.

What do you consider your greatest IT achievement of the last 12 months?

In the past year, I've led programmes that helped financial institutions move from hype to execution translating emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing into real, measurable business outcomes. One example: deploying AI-driven fraud detection and sentiment analysis that significantly reduced response times and boosted customer satisfaction. At the same time, supporting clients in preparing for the next wave of change - guiding quantum strategy and post-quantum cryptography (PQC) planning to build secure, future-ready infrastructures.

Internally, I launched Fujitsu's Women in Private Sector network, before stepping up to lead our broader Fujitsu Women's Business Network, now actively connected with other industry groups. It's become a recognised platform for cross-industry mentoring, inclusive leadership, and strategic collaboration. It's not just a network - it's a vehicle for building resilience and innovation through diversity.

For me, the achievement lies in the balance: advancing cutting-edge technology externally, while driving cultural renewal internally. When innovation and inclusion are aligned, businesses don't just keep pace they shape what comes next.

What's the biggest challenge facing IT leaders today, and how are you tackling it?

Some days, the greatest challenge is realising you've accidentally or intentionally been replaced by your own AI genetic strategy!! But in all seriousness, the core challenge is turning emerging technology into meaningful business value. AI, quantum, and cloud offer huge potential but without clear strategy, governance, and alignment, organisations risk chasing hype instead of solving problems and worse, burning through capex with little to show for it.

My approach is grounded in Beyond the Hype: Practical Solutions for Real Businesses. Whether deploying AI for fraud detection and sentiment analysis, or guiding clients through post-quantum cryptography (PQC) readiness, I focus on readiness, resilience, and results - not experimentation for its own sake.

And just as critically, we build resilience from the start embedding scenario planning, risk modelling, and response frameworks so clients adapt, evolve, and grow stronger. Because innovation without resilience is fragile. And leadership today demands both delivered with clarity, pace, and integrity.

What piece of technology could you not live without, and why?

As much as I'm energised by the possibilities of quantum computing and I do enjoy a smart gadget (my connected fridge, fitness tracker, AI hairbrush and smart corkscrew included), the one piece of technology I truly couldn't live without is my smartphone.

It's more than just a device: it's my personal and professional command centre. It keeps me connected to global teams, clients and partners but just as importantly, to family and friends. In a world where we're constantly on the move, that blend of accessibility and connection helps me stay grounded and responsive.

It's also a quiet enabler: as someone with dyslexia, tools like voice input and predictive text turn what could be barriers into bridges.

It's not the flashiest piece of tech I use, but it's the one that makes everything else possible.

What excites you most about the future of IT?

We're entering a new era where technology isn't just an enabler it's centre-stage, reshaping how we live, work, learn, and lead. Three forces make this future especially exciting:

1. Intelligent agents & composable IT. AI copilots that learn in real time, combined with modular, cloud-native "Lego block" architectures, will empower us to solve problems at the speed of curiosity. Business models will pivot in days not years.
2. Quantum + AI convergence. Quantum computing won't replace classical systems it will enhance them. Together, they'll optimise risk, climate, and supply chain scenarios in minutes, not months. Helping organisations prepare for this horizon is one of the most energising parts of my role.
3. Sustainability, inclusion & resilience by design. These technologies can power greener computing, financial inclusion, and cyber-resilient infrastructure. When innovation is led by diverse teams and ethical design, it becomes a true force for good helping businesses evolve.

What excites me most? The opportunity to turn deep tech into deep impact for people, planet, and performance.

What’s the strangest job you’ve ever had?

While my early student jobs - from waitressing to optimal route mapping at Land Rover, and actuarial support - weren't particularly strange, the most unexpected role I've had wasn't a job at all: serving as a juror on a lengthy case.

Stepping into a paper-first, low-tech environment, where your time is no longer your own and phones are traded for pens, was a sharp contrast to the hyper-connected digital world I live in. But what stayed with me most was the people: 12 strangers from all walks of life, with different perspectives and biases, working together to reach a fair and evidence-based decision. It reminded me of the power of diversity, listening, and consensus-building lessons I apply in technology leadership every day.

A close second? Being a class rep at my children's school. Negotiating with six-year-olds and fellow parents over fetes and trips turned out to be surprisingly useful for stakeholder management in complex tech transformation projects!

If you could instantly master one new skill, what would it be?

Can it only be one? I love learning. While mastering quantum computing would be powerful for the future of tech leadership, I'd actually choose fluency in multiple languages.

As someone with dyslexia, I've seen first-hand how technology can turn challenges into enablers spellcheck didn't just help me write, it freed me to lead with ideas. That experience shaped my view of innovation not as progress for its own sake, but as a tool to break down barriers.

While AI-powered translation is impressive, language is about more than words. It's culture, empathy, and connection. In today's global environment, being able to speak directly with colleagues and clients in their own language builds trust and fosters collaboration.

Sometimes, a simple "thank you" - gracias, merci, danke, ありがとう - can open more doors than the most advanced algorithm. Because in leadership, communication isn't just about clarity - it's about connection.