In the bustling tech scene of Atlanta, extraordinary women leaders are making waves, driving innovation, and shaping the future of technology. From cybersecurity to digital transformation, these trailblazers are not just breaking barriers but setting new standards in their fields. With only 27.1 percent of the total tech workers in Atlanta being female, it is more important than ever to showcase these top women in tech. Let's meet some of the top women in tech who are leaving an indelible mark on Atlanta’s technology landscape. The list is presented in alphabetical order.
Clarissa Banks, Chief Information Security Officer at Deluxe
Clarissa Banks is a seasoned information security executive with over 20 years of global experience. Previously, she held leadership roles at The Walt Disney Company, E*TRADE, AGCO Corporation, Zappos, and Equifax. Clarissa excels in developing and scaling cybersecurity programs aligned with business goals, covering areas such as security operations, intelligence, compliance, and data privacy.
D'Lovely Gibson, Former SVP, PDAT Planning & Delivery at Equifax
D'Lovely Gibson accelerates cloud technology transformations and market growth, bridging business and technology. As an SVP at Equifax, she led a $1.5B cloud transformation, improving revenue and reducing costs. With expertise in strategic leadership, agile methodologies, and digital transformation, she has held key roles at Delta Air Lines, IHG, AIG, and Turner. She serves on advisory boards for ATP, Lesbians Who Tech & Allies, and Personality Plates, advocating for innovative solutions.
Faylene Bell, Senior Director, Digital Marketing at NVIDIA
Faylene Bell is a senior executive specializing in digital marketing and product management with experience in advertising, financial services, telecom, and high-tech industries. She excels in digital strategy, social media marketing, and agile development. Faylene has increased revenue by 46%, reduced costs by 35%, managed $250M budgets, and launched over 176 marketing campaigns. She is proficient with tools like Adobe Experience Manager, Salesforce, and Google Analytics.
Felicia Hedgebeth, CIO at Georgia Department of Banking and Finance
Felicia Hedgebeth is the Chief Information Officer at the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance, where she has worked for over 18 years. Felicia holds a Master’s in Network and Communications Management from the Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University. She is an active speaker at conferences such as CIO & CISO Think Tank, SINC and SecureWorld's Southeast Virtual Conference, sharing her expertise in information security and management.
Gail L. Edwards, VP of Operations & Technology at Atlanta Technical College
Gail L. Edwards has over 20 years of experience in higher education and corporate sectors. Specializing in project and program management, contract negotiation, relationship management, and strategic program design, Gail is a leader focused on innovation, staff empowerment, and effective solutions. She has a proven track record in improving student success, financial management, and implementing efficient operational strategies.
Georgina Murape, Head of Software Development, Americas at Landis+Gyr
Georgina Murape is a global software development leader with over 20 years of experience in engineering and over 10 years in managing geographically distributed teams in the Energy, Smart Metering, and IoT industry. Currently, she heads Software Development for the Americas at Landis+Gyr, overseeing a multi-product portfolio with teams across the USA, India, and Brazil. She has extensive experience in Energy Management, Smart Grid infrastructure, AMI, and Grid Edge Intelligence, with a passion for technology innovation and team building.
Gretchen Hiley, CISO, North America at Randstad
Gretchen Hiley is the CISO for North America and Global Lead for Data Security at Randstad. With over 25 years of experience, she has built and led information security and privacy programs for global companies, and conducted assessments of security programs following data breaches. Her previous roles include CISO at Crawford & Company and senior positions at PwC and Apogen Technologies. Gretchen excels in managing IT risk and implementing pragmatic security solutions.
Hawn Nguyen-Loughren, Managing Director, Software Engineering at JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Hawn Nguyen-Loughren has over 20 years of experience in IT software engineering, with leadership roles at AWS and a financial institution. She has demonstrated expertise in software architecture, development, and execution, building on her background as a developer. Her career showcases proven leadership skills and a strong technical foundation, driving innovation and excellence in software engineering.
Huiming Qu, VP, Data Science, E-Commerce and Marketing at The Home Depot
Huiming Qu has held various senior roles, including Sr. Director and Head of Data Science, focusing on machine learning products, search, and personalization. Prior to this, she worked as a Data Scientist at American Express, a Sr. Software Engineer at Dstillery, and a researcher at IBM. Huiming holds research experience from the University of Pittsburgh and began her career at Neusoft.
Joye Purser, Field CISO at Veritas Technologies LLC
Joye Purser manages the ransomware assessment program and driving business profitability through security expertise at Veritas. With over 25 years of experience in private sector and government roles, she focuses on risk, audit, compliance, strategy, and global leadership. As a Leadership Board Member at the Cyber Risk Alliance, she promotes cybersecurity best practices. Joye also founded East by South Solutions, offering consultancy on security, risk, and change management.
Julia Fare, VP, Global Partner Ecosystem at PagerDuty
Julia Fare is a seasoned leader in strategic alliances and partner ecosystems, driving revenue and growth for technology companies. She has built relationships with top technology and consulting partners like Accenture, AWS, and Salesforce. An advocate for women in technology, Julia has held roles such as board member of Women in Technology and executive sponsor of Salesforce's Women's Network. She champions values-based leadership, fostering collaborative, vision-driven cultures for success.
Kesha Williams, Senior Director, Enterprise Architecture at Slalom
Kesha Williams is an award-winning enterprise architect and tech leader with nearly 30 years of experience in AI and cloud computing. Renowned for simplifying complex technologies into scalable business solutions, she's made significant industry contributions. As an engaging global speaker and passionate mentor, Kesha fosters innovation, growth, and inclusivity within tech teams, inspiring professionals worldwide.
Laura Miller, EVP & CIDO at Macy's
Laura Miller is a decisive, results-driven executive with over 20 years of success in digital strategy, operations, enterprise data, and cybersecurity. At Macy's, she drives transformational initiatives, including AI/ML solutions for inventory and sales forecasting. Laura's extensive board experience includes EVO Payments and LGI Homes. As former Global CIO of IHG, she increased digital and overall revenue while expanding into new markets. Her multi-industry expertise spans both public and private sectors.
Lori Temples, VP, Head of AI and Data Governance at GreenSky
Lori Temples is a strategic leader with over 20 years of experience translating business imperatives into technology solutions. As Head of AI and Data Governance at GreenSky, she established an AI governance framework and executed an AI roadmap. Formerly Deputy CISO at Goldman Sachs, Lori managed security vendor relationships and led cross-functional remediation initiatives. Known for her collaborative spirit, she excels in articulating complex strategies to executives and fostering a culture of excellence within teams.
Mallory Freeman, VP, Enterprise Data and Analytics at UPS
Mallory Freeman leverages data and analytics to empower leaders and build transformative technology. With nearly a decade at UPS, she has advanced from roles such as Director of Data Science and Sr Director of Advanced Analytics. A keynote speaker on topics like Data4Good and Operationalizing AI, Mallory excels in driving data strategy and fostering analytics leadership. She is dedicated to democratizing data and parallel innovation.
Miriam McLemore, Director, Enterprise Strategy and Evangelism at Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Miriam McLemore is a Fortune 100 executive known for her leadership agility and expertise in cloud adoption, global enterprise leadership, and big data analytics. With a career spanning roles in consulting, finance, marketing research, and IT, she has led top-tier strategy and development teams across 30 major markets. Currently, as Director of Enterprise Strategy and Evangelism at AWS, she helps organizations transform their business with cloud services. Previously, she served as CIO at Coca-Cola, driving global technology solutions.
Natalia Migal, Chief Risk Officer US Region at DLL
Natalia Migal is a Senior Risk Management Executive specializing in tech-driven risk frameworks for financial services. With a background in risk data analytics, predictive modeling, and cyber security, she has served as Chief Risk Officer at LeasePlan USA and Regional Chief Risk Officer for the US, Mexico, and Brazil. Natalia excels in aligning risk management strategies with business objectives and fostering high-performance teams.
Penelope Prett, Global Lead for the Workday Business Group at Accenture
As Accenture's Global Lead for the Workday Business Group, she partners with clients to address challenges and explore future possibilities. Previously, as Chief Information Data and Analytics Officer, she led one of the largest global Workday deployments, impacting over 700,000 employees across 120 countries. She has held various leadership roles, managed large transformation programs, and actively contributes to inclusion and diversity initiatives within Accenture.
Shannon Johnston, CIO and SEVP at Global Payments Inc.
Shannon Johnston is the Chief Information Officer and Senior Executive Vice President at Global Payments, Inc., driving technology transformation and delivery across global teams. An advocate for women in tech, she leads initiatives like the Global Payments Pride Network and Mentorship Program. Shannon holds a bachelor's degree from Georgia Southern University and resides in Atlanta with her husband.
Sharon James Jordan,VP, Operations at SPS
Sharon James Jordan is a seasoned global operations leader with a passion for driving operational excellence across diverse industries including insurance, financial services, and transportation/logistics. With over 25 years of experience, she excels in strategic planning, business optimization, and fostering high-performance teams to deliver exceptional customer and employee experiences worldwide.
Shuchi Mittal, Cloud Strategy and Platform Leader at Honeywell
Shuchi Mittal is a dynamic global IT executive renowned for her strategic vision and transformative leadership in digital technology. Previously, she was the Global Head of Digital Transformation Platforms at Fiserv where she drove innovation through cloud solutions, application modernization, and new product developments. With a passion for building high-performing teams and fostering innovation, Shuchi champions sustainable growth and competitive advantage across global markets.
Stacy Hughes, SVP, CISO at ABM Industries
Stacy Hughes is a seasoned leader in cybersecurity, risk, and compliance, with over two decades of experience in FinTech. Currently SVP and Chief Information Security Officer at ABM Industries, she has held pivotal roles at Voya Financial and Global Payments, driving industry-leading cybersecurity programs and fostering innovation in digital security technologies. Stacy is a recognized speaker and advocate for advancing security practices in financial services.
Suzi Connor, CIO at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Suzi Connor is a Global Transformational Executive renowned for building diverse, high-performing teams and driving operational success through innovative IT and data solutions. With a career spanning public and private sectors, she excels in organizational transformation, process optimization, and strategic product management. Suzi's leadership is marked by a collaborative approach, leveraging emerging technologies to solve complex business challenges and deliver tangible results across industries.
Teresa Ostapower, Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Diebold Nixdorf
Teresa Ostapower is a seasoned technology leader with over 30 years of experience. She has held executive roles, including SVP at AT&T, where she led major transformations in technology and digital operations. As AT&T's first Chief Digital Officer, she drove business strategy, sales, and customer experience. Known for her passion, innovation, and results-driven approach, Teresa excels in IT strategy, digital modernization, and operational excellence.
Tracy Daniels, CDO at Truist
Tracy Daniels is a Strategic Technology Executive with a track record in Fortune 500 companies, specializing in data, operations, and business integration. Known for client-focused technology solutions and navigating complex challenges with innovation and compliance. A global leader in team building and inclusivity, Tracy drives performance and accountability through metrics-driven systems.
Atlanta’s tech industry owes much of its dynamism and growth to the vision and leadership of remarkable women like those highlighted here. From spearheading global digital transformations to fortifying cybersecurity frameworks and driving business innovation, these leaders exemplify excellence in their respective domains. As Atlanta continues to evolve as a hub of tech innovation, their influence and achievements will undoubtedly continue to shape the future of technology both locally and globally.
