Introducing Annabel Heywood
I’m a Management Consultant in the Technology, Strategy and Transformation service area at Deloitte. I hold degrees in Psychology and Information Technology and am also currently studying part-time towards a degree in Carbon Innovation.
My main areas of interest in my role are Conversational Artificial Intelligence, Agile Project Management and Sustainability / Carbon Management. I’ve had great opportunities in my current role to work across all three.
What inspired you to go down this career path?
My heart has always been in the arts, it has always been what I’ve excelled at. I’m fascinated with human behaviour and the forces that influence how we go about living our lives as individuals and societies.
Since leaving university as a 21 year old with a degree in psychology, I’ve come to appreciate how much technology plays a role in all of the big concepts and theories I was interested in, traversing everything from social change to economics. Technology is impactful and important in the role it plays in our world. The same things that I am passionate about in the arts hold true for technology— they are both powerful instruments for bringing about positive change in society. The same passion forhuman behaviour and the world at large have served me well in the tech world.
Why have you decided to join the TechWomen executive committee this year?
I’m excited by opportunities to contribute to work that will have a positive impact on people’s lives. Building the number of women in the tech world is something that does just that—it not only provides opportunities for individual women but is proven to improve innovation in the workplace. Both things enhance the productivity and prosperity of New Zealand and are something to get excited about. Getting more women into tech and working to make it a better place to be (and stay) is important work that TechWomen focuses on and I’m proud to be a part of that.
What advice would you give to a woman considering technology as her career?
Technology doesn’t have to be the sole thing you’re passionate about to consider pursuing it as a career, but because it spans everything, a career in technology is broad and flexible enough to provide a great deal of opportunity no-matter what your other areas of passion—be it psychology, medicine, health, media, law, fashion, engineering… anything!
What is it like to be a woman working in technology for you?
There’s so much opportunity in this space and there is room for everyone. However, there is still a representation problem; women are underrepresented in technical and functional roles. There are lots of issues surrounding that, but one that I found especially challenging was finding a female mentor. Having now found one, it has made a real difference in my career. It’s also something that TechWomen are working to make more accessible to more and more women.
What is the one quote you live by that you could share with our members?
“The Only Thing That Is Constant Is Change” Heraclitus
