Most Influential Women in UK IT 2018: Rising Stars
Computer Weekly reveals the judges’ choices for this year’s female Rising Stars of the UK tech sector
Computer Weekly has revealed the five Rising Stars for 2018 as part of its list of the Most Influential Women in UK technology.
Each year, the judges who help Computer Weekly decide the winner and order of the list of the 50 top women in UK tech also choose five women who are working to make their mark on the sector.
The five Rising Stars for 2018 were selected because their growing influence in the industry is likely to make them candidates for the 50 Most Influential Women in UK IT list in the future.
Computer Weekly hopes that by shining a light on these women, it can add to the number of visible role models in the technology industry, in turn helping to encourage other women into the sector.
The Rising Stars category was added to the Most Influential Women in UK IT in 2014 to increase the number of women honoured for their contribution to the tech sector.
The 2018 Rising Stars are:
Emily Brooke, founder and CEO, Beryl
Emily Brooke launched Beryl, formerly Blaze, in 2012 with the Blaze Laserlight, which is now used on every Santander Cycles bike in London. Brooke originally launched Beryl to encourage more people in cities to use bicycles and “build a better world”. Funded by Kickstarter, the Blaze Laserlight is now sold in more than 65 countries and has been trialled by New York Citi Bikes.
In 2017, Brooke won the Everywoman Woman of the Year Award.
Melinda Nicci, founder and CEO, Baby2Body
In 2015, Melinda Nicci founded Baby2Body, an application driven by artificial intelligence (AI) which helps pregnant women to be as healthy as possible throughout their pregnancy.
After taking part in the 500 Start Ups Programme in Silicon Valley in August 2016, the app now has almost one million users and is part of the Wayra and Velocity Health Accelerator.
Rav Bumbra, founder, Structur3dpeople
Rav Bumbra founded Structur3dpeople in 2015 to help organisations to recruit a more diverse workforce for technology, digital and leadership roles.
As well as helping firms set up diversity strategies, retention programmes and career development programmes for women, the firm also runs mentoring programmes for women who are considering a career in tech.
Suki Fuller, founder, Miribure
Suki Fuller founded Miribure in 2015. The company uses data gathering and analytics to promote strategic decision-making in firms.
She is also a founding ambassador of the FiftyFiftyPledge and is co-founder and CEO of incubator and accelerator Salaam Ventures, which focuses on assisting ethical startups.
Kriti Sharma, vice-president for AI, Sage
Kriti Sharma has been vice-president for AI at Sage for two years, during which time she founded Messaging Bots London, a community of chatbot developers.
Named one of the Forbes 30 under 30 in 2017, Sharma is a fellow of the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.
Before joining Sage, Sharma was vice-president, head of product, real-time big data analytics at Barclays.
Hall of Fame
As well as supporting up-and-coming women in the tech industry, each year Computer Weekly also announces new members to the Hall of Fame – women who have dedicated years to the technology industry.
