Interview: Saranya Balaji, Lloyds Banking Group, Women in Tech Excellence Awards finalist

‘The biggest opportunity for the women-in-tech community in the coming year is to turn growing visibility into lasting influence.’

The Women in Tech Excellence Awards celebrate the outstanding contributions of women in all areas of technology, from software development and engineering to AI, cybersecurity, and beyond.

Saranya Balaji is Product Owner for the Controls & Integration Lab at Lloyds Banking Group, (LBG) leading the vision and strategy for innovative integration solutions that enable organizations to seamlessly connect platforms and accelerate digital transformation. She transforms experimentation into enterprise-ready capabilities, partnering with engineers, architects, and business leaders to deliver solutions balancing agility, security, and scalability.

As a Google Customer Advisory Board Member, she shapes the evolution of cloud products with enterprise insights. A neurodivergent single parent, Saranya champions diverse perspectives in technology leadership, demonstrating how unique problem-solving approaches drive innovation, resilience, and transformative outcomes in financial services.

Saranya is a Women in Tech Excellence award finalist in the Problem Solver of the Year category. We talked to Saranya to find out more about her and LBG’s challenges and achievements over the past year.

Why do you think awards like the Women in Tech Excellence Awards matter? What would winning mean to you and your company?

These awards matter because they shine a spotlight on the impact and value of women leaders in technology. Recognition of this kind not only honours individual achievement but signals to the wider ecosystem that women in tech are driving strategic business outcomes. By celebrating diverse problem-solvers, they inspire confidence, visibility and aspiration for others.

For LBG, winning this award would reinforce our commitment to inclusive leadership and highlight how diverse voices fuel innovation and competitive advantage. It would allow me to use the award as a platform to advocate for women in technology, helping mentor, guide and raise the profile of female talent across the organisation.

What would you say is your company's proudest achievement over the past year?

Lloyds Banking Group’s proudest achievement over the past year has been enhancing our Technology Centre enablement, strengthening how our technology and engineering teams collaborate, modernise their ways of working, and lead with confidence. Alongside this cultural shift, the Group delivered a strong financial performance: a total ordinary dividend that rose 15% and shareholder distributions of around £3.6 billion in 2024.

This achievement is particularly meaningful because it creates pathways for women in technology: visible roles, leadership opportunities and a culture of empowerment. It’s a statement that at LBG diverse leadership matters and is delivering tangible business results.

What have been the biggest challenges of 2025 so far and how have you overcome them?

One of the biggest challenges has been leading through accelerating change while maintaining clarity and momentum. Balancing strategic priorities, operational stability and team wellbeing required consistent communication, strong leadership and trust. Our people made the difference.

Teams stepped forward, adapted to new ways of working, supported one another during transitions, and took ownership. By giving them the frameworks, clarity of roles and autonomy to act, they turned potential disruption into opportunity. This collective strength underpins our success in navigating complexity.

How do you think the industry has changed over the past year and what changes do you think it still needs to make?

Over the past year, the women-in-tech community has become more visible, more connected, and more confident in its collective voice. There is stronger advocacy, greater sponsorship, and a growing recognition that women are not just contributors in technology. They are shaping strategy, influencing decisions, and leading transformation.

However, the community still needs deeper structural support. Visibility alone isn’t enough, women need clearer pathways into senior roles, more access to influential networks, and consistent opportunities to showcase their leadership. The next stage is moving from inspiration to true empowerment; ensuring women have the authority, sponsorship, and space to lead at scale.

As a leader, I’m committed to helping drive this shift, creating environments where women can rise with confidence and feel fully supported in their journey into leadership.

What do you see as the main opportunities for the industry in the coming year?

The biggest opportunity for the women-in-tech community in the coming year is to turn growing visibility into lasting influence. As more women step into technical and strategic roles, there is a powerful moment to strengthen networks, amplify each other’s achievements, and build pathways that make leadership more accessible to the next generation.

There is also an opportunity to shape how organisations think about inclusion, moving beyond representation and towards cultures where women feel confident leading major programmes, challenging assumptions, and driving business outcomes. I plan to capitalise on this by using my platform to actively mentor, sponsor, and advocate for women across the organisation. By sharing experiences, creating safe spaces for conversation, and elevating emerging talent, I hope to help more women recognise their potential, step into leadership roles, and shape the future of our industry.

The Women in Tech Excellence Awards took place on 27th November in London. Click here to view the winners list!