TechWomen100: What happened next for Victoria Riess

Victoria is a Senior Strategy Leader of McKinsey Digital, Cambridge MBA, and award-winning Women in Tech.

She has a track record as a women leader in tech and over twelve years of leadership experience in general management, digital strategy consulting, and corporate strategy on digital transformation. She leads digital strategy consulting programs across the EMEA region in IT and fintech as well as intelligent transportation. She has experience in business strategy, digital transformation, Cloud DevOps Engineering, data science, and leadership.

Victoria is a sound Senior Strategy Leader in technology and builds and leads digital functions with high performing global teams. She demonstrates senior leadership in technology by combining business acumen with innovative strategies to attract and develop top talent. She is a known thought leader in technology, showcasing value of digital capabilities to a wider audience. She collaborates with different senior stakeholders to enable digital experience across my organisations, digital ecosystems, and services and products. She encourages digital innovation to further positive impact solutions, sustainable practices (ESG), and a more inclusive working environment for Women in Tech.

How did you feel when it was announced that you’d won a TechWomen100 award?

When it was announced that I had won the TechWomen100 award, I felt very honoured to receive this prestigious Women in Tech award from Goldman Sachs. I was humbled that my achievements in demonstrating a clear passion for technology, paying it forward and helping other Women in Tech were recognised.

A dream came true!

I was also grateful to receive this award alongside big (female) thinkers in the tech industry.

Please tell us what has happened in your career since winning the TechWomen100 award?

Since winning the TechWomen100 award, I developed into a sound Senior Strategy Leader in technology by being promoted into a senior role at McKinsey Digital, building and leading digital functions with high performing global teams. I demonstrated senior leadership in technology, combining business acumen with innovative strategies to attract and develop top talent. I developed into a known thought leader in technology by being invited to over five speaking engagements with more than 15,100 attendees, showcasing the value of digital capabilities to a wider audience. I collaborated with different senior stakeholders to enable the digital experience across my organisations, their digital ecosystems, and services and products. I encouraged digital innovation to further positive impact solutions, sustainable practices (ESG), and a more inclusive working environment for women in tech. Besides the TechWomen100 award, I was recognised with the prestigious WomenTech Global Awards by the WomenTech Network, three-times shortlisted as Women in Tech Award Finalist, and nine-times nominated for the Women’s Leadership Awards.

What advice would you give to someone else going through the award’s process?

Just go for it!

Overcome your imposter syndrome and ask your sponsors and mentors to nominate you – or simply nominate yourself.

Then, when you are “in”, always remember “It takes a village…” So connect to your entire community of women champions and allies to continuously promote and inspire you to reach your full potential in the tech industry – and simply ask them to vote for you!

What tips would you give to our other members to enhance their careers?

I have learned to achieve success as women within a senior role in the technology industry and display qualities of dynamism and daring in my working life. So my tip, which I would give to your other members to enhance their careers, is that they should use their leadership skills beyond their own career such as I did by serving on boards of other tech organisations and my involvement with furthering the interests of women in the technology industry.

Be bold, think big, impact the world, and fail forward fast!

I am now considered a role model in the technology industry and am making a significant impact by driving change across the tech industry.