Cia: Kathleen, you’ve built an incredible global career across finance and technology — from JP Morgan to Macquarie and now QBE. Looking back, what was one pivotal moment or person that helped you realise you belonged in tech and how did that shape the way you now mentor and support others entering the field?
Kathleen: A pivotal moment for me was being trialled on a two-week assignment with JP Morgan in Italy. Immersed in a small, multi-skilled team, I thrived, so much so that my short assignment became a four-year tenure. This experience showed me that technology is about adaptability, collaboration, and driving business transformation, not just technical expertise. It confirmed that I belonged in tech and could add real value by embracing new challenges.
This perspective shapes how I mentor and support others:
Ultimately, I aim to empower others to see their potential, build resilience, and approach technology careers with curiosity and self-belief.
Cia: Many people still think “tech” just means coding or IT. From your experience, what does a career in technology really look like today? What kinds of roles and skills are emerging that might surprise people?
Kathleen: A career in technology today is far broader than coding or IT. It’s a dynamic field where strategic thinking, communication, and problem-solving are as critical as technical expertise. Roles such as governance, testing, project management, and cyber resilience increasingly rely on skills like attention to detail, adaptability, and empathy — areas where women often excel.
What might surprise people is how skills from sports, teaching, or parenting — planning, communication, and resilience — translate directly into tech. Success in tech is about blending IQ (analytical skills), EQ (empathy and inclusion), and AQ (adaptability). Diverse perspectives and problem-solvers create the best solutions. Women’s attention to detail and ability to see the bigger picture are invaluable in roles that shape how technology is built, tested, and governed. These are not coding roles, but they are essential to making technology inclusive and robust.
In summary:
Cia: You’ve worked in technology teams across continents — what’s the most rewarding part of working in this industry for you personally? Why should women consider it as a meaningful, future-proof career path?
Kathleen: The most rewarding part of working in technology is witnessing how necessity drives innovation and how diverse cultures embrace digital change. Mentoring individuals, like a rugby player transitioning to tech, has shown me the power of transferable skills and the impact of inclusion. Technology is not just a career; it’s a toolkit for life. Digital literacy is now essential, not only in our work but in our homes. The skills gained in this field help us support our families, elderly parents, children, and friends to navigate an increasingly digital world.
Women should consider technology as a future-proof career because our world is nearly 50% female, yet historically, solutions have been designed and tested predominantly for men. For example, seat belts and medicines were once tested only on males, resulting in products that didn’t fully meet the needs of women. Technology is no different — without equal representation, solutions risk overlooking the needs of half the population.
By choosing tech, women bring vital perspectives that shape products and services for everyone. Inclusion isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s essential for innovation and progress.
Cia: You’ve often spoken about the importance of curiosity, humility, and lifelong learning. Why do you think those traits — often undervalued in traditional career models — are so powerful for women in tech?
Kathleen: Curiosity, humility, and lifelong learning are powerful assets in technology, especially for women, because they unlock new perspectives and drive innovation. Curiosity enables you to ask questions others may overlook, uncovering hidden flaws and opportunities. Humility fosters collaboration and openness to feedback, accelerating growth. Lifelong learning ensures you remain adaptable in a rapidly evolving field.
In traditional career models, these qualities can be undervalued, sometimes seen as indecision or lack of confidence. The downside is that without them, teams risk stagnation, missed opportunities, and blind spots in problem-solving. In tech, however, these traits are essential. They empower women to challenge assumptions, test systems rigorously, and bring empathy to solutions, leading to safer, more inclusive products.
Cia: What are some of the biggest barriers you’ve seen women face when trying to enter or progress in technology? And what practical changes can organisations make to remove them?
Kathleen: Women in technology often face hidden bias, pressure around balancing family commitments, and male-dominated environments that can feel competitive. Assertiveness is sometimes misread as aggression, and historically, not having a technical background was a major hurdle. With hiring now focused on skills and transferable experience, that barrier is easing. Still, many women hold back from opportunities or feel uncomfortable talking about their achievements.
Organisations can help by:
Women can help themselves by:
Removing these barriers allows more women to thrive and ensures technology benefits from diverse perspectives.
Cia: QBE and WithYouWithMe have joined forces to help more women discover their unique potential through free skills mapping and digital training. Why do you think initiatives like this are so important right now — both for women and for the industry?
Kathleen: Initiatives like QBE & WithYouWithMe are critical because education is the great equaliser, and digital literacy is now essential in both our professional and personal lives. As technology rapidly evolves, especially with the pace of AI, those who are digitally literate can adapt, thrive, and support their families, communities, and workplaces.
Teams with diverse backgrounds consistently outperform those that lack diversity. It’s less about men versus women, and more about fostering diverse thought, collaboration, and psychological safety — key ingredients for innovation and strong outcomes. When women are empowered to discover and develop their skills, organisations benefit from broader perspectives and richer problem-solving.
Our world is nearly 50% female, yet history shows that solutions designed without equal representation can miss the mark, whether it’s seat belts, medicines, or algorithms. If AI and technology are not built to reflect all values and experiences, we risk embedding bias and limiting progress. By investing in skills mapping and digital training, we create opportunities for women to contribute meaningfully, future-proof their careers, and ensure technology serves everyone. Diverse teams build better solutions, drive growth, and safeguard against the risks of a rapidly changing digital landscape.
Cia: From your perspective, how does understanding your own skills and potential change the way you approach your career? Can you share an example of when recognising a transferable skill opened a new opportunity for you or someone you’ve mentored?
Kathleen: Understanding my skills and motivations has fundamentally shaped my career. By identifying strengths, such as a love of languages and travel, I’ve been able to seek opportunities that excite me, set clear goals, and create development plans that play to those strengths while addressing gaps.
I’ve seen the same with those I’ve mentored: a rugby player seeking a second career and a service desk colleague wanting to grow. Both leveraged adaptability, resilience, eagerness to learn, and customer focus — skills not traditionally seen as technical — and built successful careers by adding new technical capabilities.
Resilience is also important in technology, especially in cyber, where challenges are inevitable. Staying calm, trying alternate solutions, and accepting that results aren’t always immediate are key. Resilience isn’t just about the upside; it’s about pushing through setbacks with support from mentors, advocates, friends, and family.
Cia: You’ve mentored people at every career stage — from students in STEM programs to colleagues stepping into leadership. What qualities or habits do you see in those who thrive in tech?
Kathleen: Those who thrive in technology have a clear sense of purpose and are goal-driven. They gain deep satisfaction from achieving and delivering on projects, whether that’s launching a new product, preventing operational issues, or restoring services to enable business continuity.
Beyond this, successful individuals consistently demonstrate:
Those who combine purpose, drive, and these habits not only excel in their own careers but also elevate their teams and organisations, ensuring technology delivers real value and reliability.
Cia: If a woman watching today is unsure whether she belongs in a digital role, what would you say to her?
Kathleen: If you’re unsure whether you belong in a digital role, remember: the only missed chance is the one you don’t take.
Growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone, so start with one small move. Take those first steps, look for opportunities, and trust that each action builds confidence and capability. Before long, you’ll look back and see just how far you’ve come.
Start your tech journey today with the WithWomen program — discover your strengths, access free self-paced digital training, and open doors to meaningful technology careers. Learn more and join the program.
