Top 10: Women in Technology in APAC

Within APAC, research conducted by Google found that only 5.7% of startup businesses have women founders - a figure that has reportedly remained stagnant for the past five years.

With women continually a minority within the technology industry, getting women into STEM and uplifting them into leadership positions is essential. 

In the wake of Technology Magazine’s Top 100 Women in Technology publication, we reveal our Top 10 leading women in technology in APAC. The women featured in this list are committed to digitally transforming the sectors within which they work, in addition to supporting efforts to amplify women in technology.

10. Sapna Chadha, VP, Southeast Asia and South Asia Frontier, Google Asia Pacific

Sapna Chadha, a passionate advocate for an inclusive digital economy, leads Google's efforts in Southeast Asia and South Asia frontier markets. Her role encompasses driving diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives while empowering businesses and communities on their digitalisation journeys. As a founding member of Google APAC’s DEI Council, she inspires and enables more women in tech.

Championing responsible technology, her teams bring helpful tools and equip people across the region with skills for safe and effective internet use. With a commitment to equity and responsibility, Sapna navigates the dynamic and diverse landscape, paving the way for a digitally-enabled future.

9. Michele Lemmens, APAC Head of Business Sustainability & CTO, Tata Consultancy Services

Michele Lemmens, a Singapore-based senior executive, is the CTO APAC and Head of Business Sustainability at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). Passionate about embracing sustainability, she recently led the establishment of the GRI Regional ASEAN Hub. With deep experience in enterprise business model transformation across APAC, the Middle East, and the UK, Michele has expertly navigated strategies involving new markets, M&A, JVs, startups, and strategic alliances.

Joining TCS in 2007, she held increasingly senior roles, including establishing all-female business centres in Saudi Arabia. Prior to TCS, she consulted for organisations like the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. In 2020, recognised as one of Asia's Most Inspiring Executives, Michele holds a Business Sustainability Management degree from the University of Cambridge.

8. Mei May Soo, Chief AI, Global Solution Specialist, Dell Technologies

Coming from a background of Finance, Accounting, Procurement and Logistics, Mei May Soo leads the AI/ML initiative in Global Presales at Dell Technologies, which involves working closely with customers to solve problems scientifically and objectively. 

A recent example is where her team designed and built a Deep Learning model that recognises and identifies different types of corals as part of conservation efforts of the Great Barrier Reef. In addition, Dell Technologies continues to embed and deploy AI across businesses.

7: Vidya Rao, Chief Technology and Transformation Officer, Genpact

Vidya Rao, Genpact's Chief Technology and Transformation Officer, spearheads the company's digital transformation and AI-first approach. With over 30 years of transformational experience, she reimagines Genpact's technological capabilities, driving innovation and shaping functions for the future.

Establishing a world-class data office, Vidya leverages existing technologies while pushing boundaries. She leads the global ERP program and collaborates with partners for transformation at scale. A passionate mentor, she coaches budding women leaders, and has been recognised as a Top 50 Technology executive and Top 10 woman globally. Previously at Accenture, she led technology delivery for multinational clients and served on Microfocus PLC's board.

6: Huei Sin Ee

A senior technology leader, Huei Sin Ee is President of Keysight Technologies' Electronic Industrial Solutions Group. In her role, Huei Sin is responsible for Keysight's business in the automotive, energy, general electronics, manufacturing, education, and semiconductor market segments.

With more than 30 years of experience, Huei Sin has managed broad business portfolios encompassing general purpose, electronic measurement, and semiconductor industries. Previously, she served as the vice president and general manager of Keysight’s General Electronics Measurement Solutions business.

5: Melanie Perkins, CEO & Co-founder, Canva

Co-founding the online visual communication platform Canva in 2013 at the age of , Melanie Perkins is an Australian entrepreneur and one of the youngest female CEOs of a technology startup.

Owning an estimated 18% of the company, she has been responsible for building one of the world’s most valuable privately owned companies, with the software reportedly attracting 130 million monthly users.

4: Archana Ramanakumar, SVP & Global Head of Industry Solutions, Cognizant

Archana Ramanakumar is a Senior Vice President at Cognizant, specialising in technology solutions, consumer pharma, media, technology and life sciences. With a career spanning over two decades at Cognizant, first joining in 1996, she rejoined the company in 2023 after leaving to join LTIMindtree.

Known for her leadership, strategy, innovation, and engineering skills, Archana has harnessed her expertise to drive the company's Industry Solutions Group (ISG) forward, helping clients achieve better outcomes.

3: Aarthi Subramanian, Group Chief Digital Officer, Tata Sons Ltd

Aarthi Subramanian is the Group Chief Digital Officer at Tata Sons Ltd, reporting to the Group Executive Chairman. With over 28 years in global technology, she started at Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) holding diverse roles in India, Sweden, the US and Canada. Aarthi drove delivery excellence, governance, and compliance before heading the TCS Retail & CPG Business unit for seven years, achieving customer service excellence.

A computer science graduate from NIT Warangal with a master's in engineering management from the University of Kansas, she began her career as a TCS graduate trainee in 1989. Her hobbies include music, movies, reading and fitness.

2: Roshni Nadar, Chairperson, HCL Technologies

As Chair of HCL Technologies, one of the world’s leading technology companies, since 2020, Roshni Nadar Malhotra is the first female chairperson of a leading IT company listed in India. She is also CEO of the holding company HCL Corporation. 

She has been listed in Forbes’ World’s 100 Most Powerful Women for three years and was recognised by Horasis as the Indian Business Leader of the Year 2019. She is an inspirational speaker and leads numerous philanthropic initiatives. Roshni is a member of the Dean’s Advisory Council at the MIT School of Engineering, USA, and is also a member of the Kellogg School of Management Executive Board for Asia. She has an MBA from Kellogg.

1: Andrea Della Mattea, President ASEAN, Microsoft

Andrea Della Mattea is the President ASEAN at Microsoft, leading the company's strategic direction and operations across 15 countries in the region. With over 25 years in the technology sector, she champions digital acceleration and inclusive economic growth by enabling businesses to embrace innovation. A passionate advocate for inclusivity, Della Mattea encourages girls in STEM, supports women in leadership, and enhances employability for people with disabilities.

Prior to Microsoft, she held senior leadership roles at Insight Enterprises & Software Spectrum in North America and APAC, most recently as Asia Pacific Managing Director. A distinguished alumnus of James Cook University with a Bachelor's in Computer Systems Engineering, Della Mattea is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

She serves on boards including HSBC, Meals on Wheels NSW, and her alma mater's advisory board. In 2022, JCU awarded her an Honorary Doctorate in Engineering for outstanding achievement and service.

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