Rachel Scheel is the SVP for Global Diversity Equity, Inclusion and Sustainability at Criteo, a fast-moving media advertising technology company. Rachel started this role in March 2021 and prior to this, she was the Global Head of Culture, Engagement and Inclusion for GE Healthcare.
With over 20 years of experience in HR Leadership and Talent and Organisational Change, Rachel is originally from Australia and moved to the UK to pursue her career ambitions almost 15 years ago. Rachel is passionate about diversity and inclusion and sees the power that it has to ignite an organization’s culture. She has specific expertise in all things talent, people, and culture and has a breadth of HR executive-level experience operating across large complex organizations.
Especially for the WomenTech Network, Rachel agreed to give an interview, share her story and experience.
Watch Rachel's talk "Strengthening a Culture of Belonging for Women in the Workplace ", and other inspiring sessions on our YouTube channel.
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⚡️ Save the date: Women in Tech Global Conference 2023 will take place on May 9-12!
Tell us about your experience as a Women in Tech Global Conference 2022 speaker.
I truly enjoyed the opportunity to share my topic with the attendees of the Global Women in Tech conference. The event was organized well, and it was a topic that I’m incredibly passionate about (Belonging and Women in Tech). I received great responses and encouragement via the chat throughout the session, which was very helpful, as I could see that what I was sharing and discussing resonated with the audience. Following the event, I received many personal messages via LinkedIn from attendees which have been great for forming new networks and developing this topic even further.
What is your favorite thing about working in tech?
The industry is so fast-paced and ever-changing. We have a real opportunity to change and shape this industry to have a positive impact on society and the environment. It is a far-reaching industry, and the talent space has so much potential for those in the industry now and for new entrants and those deciding to undertake tech career paths.
What advice (and tips) would you give to women who want to start a tech career?
Women have the potential to really shape the industry for the future. We need stronger gender parity across the industry to ensure that tech demonstrates more creativity, is able to change rapidly to adapt to the future, and ensures that the tech we create is free from bias. The opportunities for women to grow, develop and progress are endless in the industry and we need more women to see their potential inside the industry, and to encourage more women to consider career paths in STEM.
Who would you recommend to join the WomenTech Network?
I would encourage anyone from within the tech industry to join. There is a great benefit to including women who are students, mid-career level to senior executives so that they can build their networks and support each other. However, I would also encourage men to join, especially those with strong experience in the tech sector. They have a role to play to ensure that the women entering tech careers or those in the industry already are strongly supported. There is so much to be said for active sponsorship and mentorship for women, and advocating for women’s advancement in the industry, supporting inclusion for now and the future.
To recognise the achievements of our community and beyond we are hosting the annual Women in Tech Global Awards 2022. Nominate yourself or someone else: