My first move to Large Enterprise Sales happened at 22 years old. I learnt a lot from this experience: first, the person who helped me combat my imposter syndrome and built my confidence up was a man, second, the person who told me it was too early and I didn’t have the right traits for this job was a man, and third, the only person who stood in the way of the results I wanted to achieve was myself. I was not ‘’too agreeable’’ for sales, or ‘’not STEM enough’’ for python or ‘’not bullish enough’’ to negotiate. Being a woman in data taught me that despite it being a complex, highly opinionated reality to navigate, you are in complete control of your journey.

My advice to others would be to remain authentic because this is the path of least resistance. I hope that in the long run there will not need to be a ‘’woman in data’’, but today, it is an imperative to help bridge this gap in our fields by sharing our stories and overcoming our biases.

Bio

I joined Snowflake in October 2023 in Enterprise Sales, after four years at Gartner, a global research and consulting company. I come from a business and statistics background and left university torn between pursuing a career in data science or taking a ‘’step back’’ to understand the fast moving tech landscape, which led me to Gartner. I joined Snowflake because my customers pushed me to look into this promising company, and I have loved every day since.

My job is to look after customers to ensure that they make the best use of the platform and that they are successful in their data journeys. This typically involves developing a good understanding of what they are trying to achieve, the challenges they want to overcome and which solution would suit them best. I hone my skills by asking the right questions and resiting the urge to speak, provide answers and miss out on important cues.

In my spare time, I work with a non-profit to help children in various disadvantaged situations to succeed in school and build their self esteem. This surprisingly really helps day to day to pay more attention to body language, to listen and become more patient.

I always loved maths and science and knew a career in STEM was always on the cards. Data is the backbone for how we understand the world today, whether that’s taking calculated risk to drive innovation or making evidence based decisions. The importance of data in our everyday lives is paramount and was a driving factor in what inspired me to build a career where I can help others unlock its value.

Throughout my journey, I’ve chosen paths that are often male-dominated, from pursuing a defence-sponsored career in sixth form to studying Electrical and Electronic Engineering as one of only five women in a class of 60+. I’ve never felt there was something I couldn’t achieve as a woman, but I recognise the importance of confidence and support in breaking down barriers for others who might not feel as bold. This drives my passion for helping women succeed in these spaces.

One of my career highlights so far has been mentoring our Sales Development Representative team at Snowflake. Being able to share technical knowledge to help them in their role has allowed me to give back to the wider community, just as my colleagues supported me in the beginning and to this day. I am incredibly lucky to work with some of the best data professionals in the industry, whose willingness to support and collaborate is invaluable.

To women aspiring to grow in data: ask questions, seek mentorship, and take opportunities to learn. The worst anyone can say is “no,” but in this field, you’ll find many who are willing to say “yes.”

Bio

Alison is a SnowPro-certified Sales Engineer at Snowflake with over two and a half years of experience helping financial services and insurance customers solve complex data challenges. Specialising in data sharing and collaboration within the data cloud, Alison has presented on various topics to large audiences, showcasing both technical expertise and thought leadership.

With a BEng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Alison is passionate about supporting early careers in the Sales Engineering field, combining technical acumen with a commitment to mentoring the next generation of data professionals.

Being a woman in data, I’ve seen the power of community completely transform my life. On a personal level, I have built life-long friendships with other women in this field.  Professionally, community with other women in data has been a significant driver of my career success.

The catalyst for every promotion I achieved was the unwavering support and mentorship of remarkable women. They not only broke through my confidence gap, but also empowered me to take on new challenges with conviction. Now as I wrap up my first year as a senior second-line leader, I’m reminded not only of the importance of visibility of female leaders, but also the need for intentional investment from women and allies alike in nurturing and promoting talented women.”

Bio

Andrea Onuigbo is a strategic sales leader at Snowflake, based in Amsterdam, with a remarkable career spanning leading technology companies such as Atlassian and Oracle. Her journey from door-to-door sales to her current leadership role exemplifies resilience, a passion for learning, and a commitment to excellence. Andrea’s experience includes navigating cultural expectations, building camaraderie within remote teams, and balancing ambition with well-being. She is dedicated to fostering self-awareness, coachability, and competitiveness within her teams, and is passionate about mentoring the next generation of women in data and technology.

For more insights into Andrea’s career journey and leadership philosophy, you can watch a recent interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhjmSlEEzlM

Being a woman in data has been a journey of growth, resilience, and leadership. Over the past 21 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work across infrastructure, databases, and cloud technologies, leading teams in Latin America and EMEA.

My leadership journey began at Oracle, where I learned the importance of taking initiative and building strong cross-functional relationships. A pivotal moment came when Oracle acquired Sun Microsystems—an opportunity I seized to expand my network and explore new business areas. This experience deeply influenced my leadership approach, teaching me how to navigate change and foster collaboration across different functions.

What excites me most about data is its transformative impact—helping businesses unlock insights, drive innovation, and create new revenue streams. Throughout my career, I’ve learned that being bold—speaking up, leading projects, and seizing opportunities—helps you gain visibility. Helping others succeed is equally important for visibility, and investing in your network can open doors. Supporting other women through mentorship and sponsorship is essential for career advancement.

At Snowflake, I’m proud to support Women in Data, helping more women thrive in this field. My mission is to mentor the next generation of leaders, ensuring equal opportunities for all.

Bio

Marcela is a Sales Engineering Director with 21 years of experience in the tech industry, spanning infrastructure, databases, and cloud technologies. She has helped businesses from different industries and regions harness the power of data to drive innovation, efficiency, and revenue growth.

At Snowflake, Marcela co-leads GTM efforts to ensure customers maximize the value of their data, unlocking new revenue streams with speed, security, and efficiency. She has led diverse, high-performing teams across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, delivering strategic impact at a global scale.

Marcela’s leadership career began at Oracle Latin America, where she turned the acquisition of Sun Microsystems into a career-defining opportunity. She leveraged this transition to expand her network, collaborate across business units, and step into leadership, eventually leading Solution Engineering teams.

Eager to gain global experience, she pursued a Master’s in Sales and Marketing at ESIC Barcelona. Later, she returned to Oracle EMEA as a Cloud Solution Engineering Manager for Southern Europe, further cementing her leadership in the industry.

A dedicated advocate for diversity and inclusion, Marcela has led cross-functional mentorship programs, supported numerous professionals in advancing their careers, and actively participates in Women in Data panels with customers and partners. Her passion lies in coaching and developing aspiring leaders in tech, ensuring equal opportunities for all.

As an AWS-certified Machine Learning Specialist, I have a strong passion for delivering impactful data-driven solutions. In my role at Aviva, I lead key projects within the Counter fraud space, focusing on developing machine learning pipelines, automating workflows, and driving sustainable data practices that enhance efficiency and collaboration. Outside of work, I am committed to empowering others through mentorship and have founded a community that supports tech professionals in navigating their careers. 

What is it you enjoy the most working with data?

I love the thrill of uncovering hidden insights and solving complex problems through data. Working with data allows me to connect the dots between raw information and impactful business decisions, driving innovation and improving processes.

The ability to turn numbers into stories and solutions is what excites me the most!

When I was at secondary school, my dad bought me a copy of Fermat’s Last Theorem by Simon Singh. This book made me re-examine what I thought I knew – Maths can actually be fun! I can get a job solving puzzles in real life!

After graduating with a PhD in Maths, I have spent many enjoyable years working both as a post doctorate in the research sector and at various levels of data scientist in the insurance industry at Aviva. And in both roles, I was doing just that. Solving real-life puzzles that make a huge difference to stakeholders and customers. From examining the inner workings of plant-microbial interactions, to optimising the claims process at Aviva.

As a female, I’ve become quite accustomed on this journey to being a minority in the room, and having to shout that little bit louder to get my voice heard. I’ve taken on increasing leadership responsibility and am loving my current role as Principal Data Scientist, where I get to lead a team of data scientists, who all likewise love solving complex problems and seeing what they can achieve.

What is it you enjoy the most working with data?

I love how data has the power to truly revolutionise the customer experience, from enhancing our workforce to streamlining the way we do business. Technology moves so fast and this keeps me constantly engaged, as I strategise on how to harness these opportunities to stay competitive and deliver the best for our customers.

I also find great joy in inspiring others to excel in this dynamic environment and to develop their own creative solutions. As a mother of three inspirational girls, I am particularly committed to encouraging more women and girls to enter the field, ensuring they feel welcomed and valued. Promoting STEM subjects to the younger generation is a cause that is very close to my heart. Just like my dad all those years ago, I just adore planting those seeds and watching them grow.

Education: BSc Geography

https://www.linkedin.com/in/siobhan-waldron-ab6a97270/

Talk about a squiggly career! Upon leaving university I went travelling around the world for a year, upon returning I began an exciting career in the Ministry of Defence. It was here I honed my skills for threat intelligence and the collection process. I began to understand the broader threat landscape and the actors that played their part to disrupt our way of life in the UK. 16+ years later, I needed a new challenge and discovered my skill set fit well with the cyber security world.

My role has opened many doors, opportunities, and experiences for my personal and professional growth. Currently, I am responsible for communicating cyber threats across the organisation through data collection and analysis, sustaining a community of practice and developing strategies and policies.

I have a passion for equality, diversity, and inclusion and for being a role-model for women in cyber and data.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-read-0a761936/

Expertise: Building high performing teams that maximise value extraction from data solutions

Education: TOGAF Certified Architect, Oracle Certified Associate, SCRUM Alliance Certified Product Owner.

Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of building and leading data-driven teams across various industries, all with a core focus on leveraging data to deliver tangible business value. I’m a seasoned data leader, with a strong background in data platforms, cloud technology and data strategy. In previous roles, I have led data teams at a major BPO and headed up the data architecture function at a financial services company.

At EDF UK, I have led the EDF UK Customers business migration to AWS/Snowflake and have led numerous large scale data transformation programmes. I promote a less is more tech strategy and am focussed on ROI and driving reusability wherever possible.

I’m deeply committed to driving diversity within tech, which I champion through my involvement in the EDF UK data and tech steering group. I’m fully supportive of initiatives such as early careers programmes that help develop and nurture talent. I passionately believe that the gender disparity in roles such as a tech and engineering needs to be addressed and it’s on all leaders to create a culture and environment where talent can flourish.

In the data landscape, I believe that data is more interconnected than ever and the ability to share data between producers and consumers is vital to drive innovation.  As we advance in this data marketplace era, I’m excited to continue building strategies that use technological transformation to drive real-world impact. And of course, developing talent that enable value to be extracted from data and drive an innovative data culture.

Expertise: Driving AI initiatives into operational business applications
Education: Applied Science, 25 years in data innovation

https://www.linkedin.com/in/owen-eszeki/

My adventure into the world of AI began in the mid-90s, pre-internet, as a Geographical Information Systems Analyst for the Australian Government. I quickly realized the immense value of data accuracy and cleanliness. Hungry for more challenges, I moved into the vibrant world of publishing at Lonely Planet Publications. Here, I understood the critical importance of project deliveries, cost efficiency vs. accuracy and digital publishing, witnessing the dawn of Google Maps and its transformative effect on the industry where I learnt that I would, where possible need to be at the forefront of data technology. Fuelled by my passion for exploration, I sold everything and travelled the world, eventually landing in the UK. My freelancing days were filled with diverse data projects, sharpening my skills and expanding my horizons. I found a home at Kimberly Clark Professional, where I turned raw data into actionable insights and honed my data engineering skills. This marked my first foray into data science, developing predictive churn models, stunning data visualizations, and natural language sentiment models. These experiences laid the groundwork for building digital marketing insights and eventually leading the data team. Recognizing the impact of ML and AI seven years ago, I transitioned to a small startup, honing my data and AI skills while leading projects and teams, especially in NLP. This path led me to EDF, where I initially served as a consultant before becoming a full-time member in the EDF Blue Lab incubator as an AI Lead. Today, I am at the helm, driving AI innovation to operational scale deployments. I oversee strategy, governance, and the responsible deployment of AI, working alongside my talented award-winning team. With a profound understanding of AI technologies and strong management abilities, I ensure foster innovation within my team. My commitment to responsible AI practices upholds transparency and ethical standards in every initiative and support EDF in understanding AI Governance practices building their AI strategic future. With over 25 years of experience working with data, my leadership and passion for advancing AI technologies empower EDF UK to achieve extraordinary results, enhancing sustainability and operational efficiency. I take pride in contributing to a culture of excellence and responsibility, shaping the future of energy innovation.