The tech industry is synonymous with innovation and opportunity, but it still faces a significant, outdated challenge: the gender gap. In fact, the percentage of women working in tech in 2023 has decreased since 1990!
This decline comes even as diversity is championed as a core business value, highlighting persistent issues that hinder progress. Retention remains a significant issue, with half of women in tech leaving by age 35, driven by challenges such as unsupportive workplace culture, limited career growth, and the struggle to balance professional and personal life (Source).
As a result, the gender gap is especially visible at senior levels. Just 14% of top executive roles in tech are held by women (Source), and only two of the largest 50 tech companies have female CEOs (Source).
Despite these challenges, mentorship stands out as a powerful tool to bridge close the widening gender gap for women in tech. It helps women build confidence, navigate workplace bias, and unlock career pathways. Mentorship also fosters essential connections and supports women in developing strategies to thrive in demanding environments. Leaders who mentor others play a pivotal role in shaping an inclusive industry that encourages women to advance and succeed.
To celebrate those who are making a tangible difference, here are the Top 25 Mentors for Women in Tech in 2025—inspiring figures who empower women to lead and thrive.
And, they’re all eager to connect with YOU to help advance your career, expand your network, and create industry-wide change on Upnotch. To make mentorship environment and create a community of knowledge sharing, Upnotch is free for ALL professionals!
Adriana Pirela – Chief Marketing Officer |
Adriana Pirela is the Chief Marketing Officer at Brava, bringing over 20 years of marketing leadership experience. Previously, she was the CMO at Mindvalley, a renowned personal growth platform, and Digicel Financial Services, where she oversaw strategic initiatives across 32 global markets under the Digicel Group. Adriana's expertise spans the US, Canada, UK, Latin America, Caribbean, and Pacific regions. With proven success in driving revenue, customer acquisition, and retention, her work has impacted industries including SaaS, financial services, and telecommunications. A proud mentor on Upnotch, she champions diversity and mentorship, particularly for women in tech.
An advocate for empowering others, Adriana is known for fostering professional growth and breaking barriers as an immigrant woman in a male-dominated industry, embodying resilience and strategic excellence.
Praise for Adriana |
Adriana is kind and passionate about mentoring others. She takes the time to listen to what your interests and goals are, and shares her wisdom with you. She is invested in following her mentees' growth.
Alicia Anderson – Small Business Owner |
Alicia Anderson is a seasoned Travel Advisor and entrepreneur based in Seattle, owning AAP Travel, affiliated with Fora Travel, a Virtuoso Agency. Alicia’s 15+ years in the travel industry, including her leadership at Expedia Group and as Director of Sales Enablement at Convoy Inc., underscore her expertise in customer success, business development, and strategic relationship management. At Convoy, she led revenue operations, driving a $37M portfolio and launching impactful programs like a Customer Advisory Board. A Purdue University graduate in Hospitality and Tourism Management, Alicia is also a lead wedding planner at Your Perfect Bridesmaid. Alicia would be an excellent mentor for individuals interested in people management, event management, sales, and account management.
Praise for Alicia |
It was a pleasure connecting with Alicia and I could gain some valuable advice from her, which could help me both in my job search and career progression. Looking to stay connected with Alicia!
Amy Heinemann – Senior Sales Operations Manager |
Amy Heinemann is a Senior Sales Operations Manager on the Global Programs team at F5, focusing on optimizing processes to empower Sales and Sales Ops teams with the knowledge necessary to support customers effectively. Amy thrives in collaborative environments, working cross-functionally to enhance efficiency and drive F5's transformation into a SaaS leader. Previously, she managed the Sales Ops Support team at F5. Before joining F5, Amy worked at the World Affairs Council as a Program Coordinator for the Global Classroom, advancing global education for K-12 students and teachers. Amy holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics from the University of Washington.
Praise for Amy |
I love working with Amy. She is a thought leader who can see the big picture and objectives and identify gaps and challenges. She is able to create structure out of ambiguity and consider all stakeholders in building solutions. Amy's openness to feedback and ideas exemplifies her collaborative approach. I look forward to our conversations!
Bernadette Risley – Customer Success/Sales Leader |
Bernadette Risley is an accomplished B2B SaaS Sales and Customer Success Leader with expertise in driving revenue, customer retention, and employee engagement. She has built and scaled Customer Success teams at renowned organizations, ensuring improved customer satisfaction, adoption, and renewal metrics. As a Certified Professional Coach and Energy Leadership Master Practitioner, Bernadette champions operational excellence and continuous improvement. Her strategic leadership has influenced positive outcomes at various leading companies, developing exceptional client experiences aligned with corporate growth. She advocates for high standards and performance, believing that empowered employees drive profit growth.
Praise for Bernadette |
Bernadette is an exceptional role model for all professionals. She has incredible experiences and insights especially around customer service and impressively creating desired outcomes. Can't wait to continue to our discussions in the future
Brittany Hansen – Chief Marketing Officer |
Brittany Hansen is the Chief Marketing and Impact Officer at Viiision, Inc. and co-founder of Liiingo, specializing in the luxury sector. She partners with product and design teams to market SaaS solutions, working closely with the C-suite to drive both short- and long-term company strategies. Brittany’s marketing experience includes persona creation, event coordination, and managing public and partner relations. She previously served as Director of Community Relations at Bonbr, where she led public-facing content creation and event planning. Brittany has studied psychology at BSU and professional studies at BYU-I, with a passion for continuous learning and relationship-building in tech.
Praise for Brittany |
Brittany is an incredible mentor and a true inspiration. Her wealth of experience in marketing and strategy, especially in the luxury and SaaS sectors, has been invaluable. She has a gift for breaking down complex concepts into actionable insights, making it easy to understand and apply her advice.
Edit Illes – Global Sales Leader |
Edit Illes is a seasoned Global Sales Leader with over 20 years in IT and sales, including 15 years in leadership roles. Her expertise spans digital, inside, and field sales, vendor management, direct sales, and channel development. Edit has excelled in driving sales productivity and team development at major companies like SUSE, Palo Alto Networks, and Oracle. She currently serves as an RTT® Therapist and Consultant at CoachKitty.nl, empowering individuals and organizations to overcome challenges. Edit is also a volunteer mentor at Upnotch, where she guides professionals toward leadership roles.
Praise for Edit |
Edit goes above and beyong just guidance, she is attentive, empathetic, and provides not only practical advice but pinpoints which skills to develop and how to do this
Elaina Dulaney – Director of Communications |
Elaina Dulaney has over 30 years of experience in high-tech communications, with the last 13 focused on managing relationships with Microsoft’s device partners, including Dell, HP, Samsung, Lenovo, and Qualcomm. As Director of Partner Communications and Events at Microsoft, Elaina drives marketing strategies that enhance partnerships and brand awareness. She has successfully executed integrated marketing programs that resulted in increased sales and business impact. Previously, Elaina led Salt and Light Communications, fostering long-term partnerships with Microsoft, Dell, and Samsung. She has also worked at WE Communications and Traveling Software, launching key products and expanding business growth. Elaina is passionate about building strong communication channels and creating positive business outcomes.
Praise for Elaina |
Elaina is a fantastic mentor. She always gives actionable advice that is tailored to my specific needs and goals. She's also great at asking clarifying questions to help me think through my challenges and come up with solutions on my own. I really appreciate her flexibility and willingness to reschedule meetings when necessary. She's truly dedicated to helping me succeed and I'm so grateful to have her as a mentor.
Glynnis Swan – Senior Global Talent Manager |
Glynis Swan brings over 18 years of expertise in HR and Global Talent Mobility, with significant experience at top companies like Microsoft, Deloitte, and Xerox. She has led the development of talent mobility and relocation strategies for global organizations and has mentored employees and leaders on career development and conflict management. Glynis is deeply committed to advancing DEI initiatives, constantly seeking innovative practices to create lasting change. Her contributions were recognized in 2023 when she was named a Global Mobility Top 100 Diversity Champion.
Praise for Glynnis |
Speaking with Glynnis was such an amazing experience. She shared some incredible advice on what next steps I can take to progress in my career, and I felt truly inspired to work on some things following up on our session. Thank you so much Glynnis, for your time and guidance!
Iliana Quinonez – Director of Customer Engineering |
Iliana Quinonez is an accomplished tech executive with experience at top companies like Salesforce, BEA Systems, SAP, and Informix Software. She co-led mobile payments projects at Sybase365, created prototypes for Marriott’s mobile customer experience at Magnet Systems, and launched Salesforce's first mentorship program for solution engineers. Iliana advises and invests in Latinx and URM-founded startups and coaches professionals transitioning into tech. As the founder of IQ Accelerate, she focuses on A.I., BIPOC initiatives, and entrepreneurship. Iliana holds an MSc from The London School of Economics and a BSc from Universidad Iberoamericana.
Praise for Iliana |
Iliana is a great mentor for anyone looking to learn about how to start and grow a business/company in a smart and strategic way. She knows how to coach, and her experience and background provides tangible solutions to any challenges you may face as a founder. I feel extremely lucky to have her in my life.
Jasmine Yadeta – Product Manager |
Jasmine Yadeta is a Product Manager for Mobile Apps at Ticketmaster, where she oversees the global strategy for their apps. Previously, she worked in iOS development and eCommerce, holding positions such as eCommerce Product Owner at BroadbandTV and Operations Coordinator at Paragon Testing Enterprises. Passionate about tech, Jasmine is a first-generation university graduate with a degree in Computer Science and Psychology from the University of Victoria. She also founded Mindful Hunt, a platform for promoting wellness in the tech industry.
Praise for Jasmine |
Jasmine was awesome! Very generous with her advice and assistance. She gave me really good perspective and offered to help in any way she could. If you get a chance, I would highly recommend connecting with her!
Katherine Glavin – Customer Success Executive |
Katherine Glavin is a customer success executive with over 13 years of experience, specializing in client satisfaction, growth, and strategic partnerships. Currently the Vice President of Client Success & Delivery at Sermo, she leads a high-performing team managing $15 million in revenue, achieving a 99.5% client satisfaction score. Katherine mentors aspiring leaders through Upnotch, Women in Customer Success, and served as a Growth Coach at Catalyst Software. She is an active member of Pavilion and holds a degree from Villanova University. Katherine is passionate about driving client success and empowering individuals in the customer success industry.
Praise for Katherine |
Katherine immediately made me feel comfortable in our session, and I resonated so much for her perspective and guidance. She is incredibly thoughtful, articulate and a clear leader. I love how she values and respects mentoring, and the effort she shows to building community.
LeeRon Yahalomi, VP of Customer Success |
LeeRon Yahalomi is the Head of Customer Success at regie.ai, where she leads a team focused on delivering exceptional outcomes using GenAI and automation. With over 20 years of experience, including 10 years in startups, LeeRon has built multiple customer success teams and has expertise in sales and go-to-market strategies. She has also served as a Founding Member of RevRoom, a Customer Success Coach at Catalyst Software, and a Board Advisor at Tombolo Institute.
As a Founding Mentor at Women in Customer Success, she mentors professionals and helps startups build successful customer success strategies.
Praise for LeeRon |
I come away with more insight and motivation every time we meet. LeeRon is a great mentor and has helped me scale my leadership.
Lindsay Ruiz – Founder and CEO |
Lindsay Ruiz is the Founder & CEO of human as usual, a venture dedicated to helping scaleups accelerate growth while embedding humanistic practices. With over 20 years of leadership experience across industries such as advertising, healthcare, tech, and consumer goods, Lindsay has driven global transformations. She is also a Workplace Psychological Safety Advisor, focusing on organizational change and ethical leadership.
Lindsay holds advanced degrees in applied behavioral sciences and has worked at companies like BlackBerry, JLL, and Revlon. As a mentor, she guides mid-career professionals and leaders on building inclusive work environments and navigating organizational change. Lindsay is a member of Chief.
Praise for Lindsay |
Lindsay, you're a lifesaver! Your insights into workplace narcissism have been invaluable. I've struggled to navigate these toxic environments for years, but now I finally feel empowered to protect myself and thrive. Thank you for being such a supportive and knowledgeable mentor. I'm so grateful to have found you!
Lisabeth Uranga – IT Project Manager |
Lisabeth Uranga is an IT Project Manager at C2 Labs, a consultancy specializing in automation, DevOps, and cloud services for regulated industries. Her career spans health and kinesiology, state government, technology, and the private sector, with a strong focus on data-driven decision-making. Lisabeth has worked as a Senior Customer Success Analyst at Extreme Networks, Customer Success Manager at Librestream Technologies, and Data Analyst at Benefitfocus.
She holds a BS from Texas A&M University and is a Certified Scrum Master. Passionate about helping others, Lisabeth mentors early-career professionals, particularly those looking to pivot industries.
Praise for Lisabeth |
Lisabeth is motivated and asks good questions about enhancing her skill set to advance her career.
Lori Lizotte – Chief Revenue Officer |
Lori Lizotte is an accomplished executive with over 20 years of experience driving revenue growth and scaling SaaS businesses. Currently, she serves as Chief Revenue Officer for WomenTech Network and is a RevOps Co-op Member. Previously, Lori held leadership roles, including Director of US Sales at Bodypoint, Inc. and Vice President at ADP, where she led multiple regions and business units. Lori excels at building high-performing teams, developing strategic partnerships, and implementing data-driven sales strategies.
Known for her focus on customer-centric approaches, she is passionate about mentoring talent and driving exceptional business outcomes through collaboration and leadership.
Praise for Lori |
It has been so wonderful meeting with Lori and learning from her experience developing a SaaS company. I have gained so many valuable insights from her and appreciate her willingness to dig into the details and ask thoughtful questions to help me think about what I can do to progress in my role. She is also a genuinely kind and passionate person about this subject area and I feel like I can be candid with her and receive helpful coaching in return.
Moriam Rouse – Chief Learning Officer |
Moriam Rouse is a seasoned leader with over 20 years of experience in learning and organizational development. She currently serves as the Director of Training and Competency Assurance at Venture Global LNG, where she designs competency-based training programs for over 500 employees. Moriam is also the Founder and CEO of Learner, Corp., an EdTech startup focused on personalized learning solutions. She has held key roles such as Chief Learning Officer at AdvanceOnline Solutions and consultant at Advizori International.
A Harvard Business School alumna, Moriam is passionate about creating accessible and impactful learning experiences and mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs. She also serves as the Chief Digital Officer at Accelerated Leadership.
Praise for Moriam |
Speaking with Moriam not only affirmed my space and place in my profession, but helped me to make an important next step in my journey. She has a gift for listening and understanding, and she offered me invaluable insights and advice. I am so grateful for her mentorship and guidance. She is truly a remarkable woman and I am so lucky to have her in my life.
Nancy Martin – Career and Life Coach |
Nancy Martin is a seasoned Career and Life Transition Coach and the owner of Reclaim Flourish. With over 20 years of experience across Fortune 200 companies, startups, and academia, Nancy has guided individuals through significant life and career transitions, helping them navigate challenges with grace.
Specializing in burnout recovery, career pivots, and leadership development, she enjoys mentoring mid- to senior-level leaders in tech and other industries. As a former engineer, environmental policy director, and business development manager, Nancy uses her diverse background to support clients in building confidence, enhancing leadership skills, and achieving work-life balance. Her mission is to empower people to step into their fullest potential and lead with purpose and intention.
Praise for Nancy |
Nancy was great to connect with! We discussed our shared commitment to empowering women in tech and overcoming challenges in the industry. Her wealth of experience and thoughtful insights were invaluable, and she offered helpful advice. I highly recommend a session with her!
Peggy Way – Global Head of Employee Relations |
Peggy Way is the Principal and Global Head of Employee Relations at Cloud Software Group, a leading multinational in cloud computing, networking, and virtualization technology. With over 11 years in human resources, she has held various leadership roles, including Senior Employee Relations Manager at Citrix. Peggy specializes in managing complex employee relations issues and guiding HR strategies, conflict resolution, and change management.
She is passionate about mentoring and enjoys supporting individuals in their career journeys, helping them build strong relationships and improve communication. Peggy's extensive experience spans employee development, training, and corporate restructuring, with a focus on creating inclusive, productive work environments.
Praise for Peggy |
Peggy is an incredibly knowledgeable mentor who has a deep understanding of what's important to a company. Her insights have been invaluable to me, and I always feel comfortable speaking with her. She has a gift for getting to the heart of an issue and providing clarity. I'm so grateful to have her as a mentor.
Ranada Samuel – Senior HR Leader |
Ranada Samuel is an award-winning senior HR leader specializing in recruiting, internal mobility, and DEIB. With extensive experience across nonprofit and corporate sectors, she designs innovative human capital programs to drive performance and revenue growth.
Currently, Ranada leads R Harrison Enterprise, where she partners with nonprofit and corporate clients to implement strategies for talent development and DEI initiatives. Previously, she has worked with LPL Financial, Compass Group, and Capital One, where she pioneered DEI recruitment models and reduced turnover through internal mobility strategies. Ranada holds an MA from University of Illinois Chicago and a BA from Kent State University.
Praise for Ranada |
Ranada was so forthcoming with her career goals and desires. She willingly listened to my suggestions and I can tell that she's going to put them to use. Ranada is very motivated to take her career to new heights!
Saná Walker – HR Leader and Founder |
Saná Walker is an esteemed HR leader with expertise in HR strategy, coaching, and DEI initiatives. She is the Founder and Chief Girlfriend of HR Girlfriends LLC, a community empowering women in HR through professional collaboration, networking events, and development seminars.
Sanà has worked as a DEI Consultant and Trainer with PDT Global, and held leadership roles at McClendon Center and BayFirst Solutions LLC. She holds an M.A. in Human Resource Management from The Catholic University of America, and certifications from the International Coach Federation (ACC), HR Certification Institute (PHR), and SHRM (SHRM-CP).
Praise for Saná |
Saná is an outstanding mentor whose depth of knowledge in strategy, coaching, and DEI initiatives is unparalleled. Her ability to provide thoughtful, actionable advice has been transformative for me. What makes Saná truly exceptional is her passion for empowering others. I’m so grateful for her guidance and encouragement!
Sandra Faucett – Content Designer |
Sandra Faucett is an experienced content designer, currently a Staff Content Designer at Chewy. Previously, she was Lead Content Designer at TikTok, where she worked on user engagement strategies. Sandra also served as the Founding UX Content Strategist at Rover, improving product localization and customer retention on this peer-to-peer pet care platform.
Earlier roles include Senior Content Designer at Facebook, optimizing content for Marketplace, and Associate Director, Content Strategy at POSSIBLE, where she led strategies for brands like Microsoft and Lenovo. She also provides digital marketing consulting for Sponge School and Beacon Arts.
Praise for Sandra |
Sandra made it so easy to talk to her. She answered all my questions about the UX field and gave me a bunch of tips and tricks. 🤩🙏🏼 Thank you Sandra for a great session!!
Shadè Alcine – Territory Account Manager |
Shadè Alcine is a Territory Account Manager at HUMAN, a cybersecurity company specializing in protecting enterprises and platforms from bot attacks, fraud, and account abuse. With a proven track record in sales productivity, revenue management, and customer relationship management, Shadè has held previous roles as an Enterprise Account Manager at HUMAN, Business Development Executive at HUMAN, and Inside Sales Representative at Check Point Software Technologies. She also served as an Account Executive at Yelp and a Sales Manager at Bonobos Production. Shadè is eager to mentor those in tech, cybersecurity, or sales and seeks guidance from senior sales professionals to further her career.
Praise for Shadè |
Shade's conversation was incredibly enlightening and informative. She provided me with comprehensive insights on how to navigate the career field and position myself for optimal success. She patiently addressed all of my questions and demonstrated great understanding. Our meeting was a pleasure, and her guidance has certainly inspired me to pursue further growth in the field of technology.
Shannon Chapman – IT Director |
Shannon Chapman is the Director of IT Service Delivery at Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings with over 14 years of experience in IT and Enterprise Service Management. Holding an MBA from Nova Southeastern University, Shannon is an expert in ITIL and Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) and has led digital transformations at Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits.
She specializes in IT service management, process automation, and SaaS implementation, particularly using ServiceNow. Shannon enjoys mentoring professionals in ITSM, Agile, and IT compliance, and is looking for guidance from senior leaders to continue advancing her career. Additionally, she serves as Florida Chapter Leader at Women We Admire.
Praise for Shannon |
Shannon Chapman has been a great mentor to me. She has provided me with great advice and guidance on my career. She is always willing to listen to my concerns and offer her support. She is also very knowledgeable about the industry and I always learn a lot from our conversations.
Stacey Danheiser – Founder, Chief Marketing Officer |
Stacey Danheiser is the founder of Shake Marketing Group, a former Fortune 500 marketing leader turned consultant. She specializes in helping scaling B2B organizations develop growth strategies and build high-performing marketing teams. With a proven track record, she has transformed over two dozen B2B enterprises, driving YoY revenue growth, Inc 5000 listings, and over $500 million in closed sales.
Stacey is also an author of three marketing books, including Value-ology and Stand Out Marketing. She serves as a Fractional CMO for Better Business Bureau Great West + Pacific and co-founded Empressa AI, an AI assistant for women entrepreneurs. Stacey is passionate about mentoring and speaking on B2B marketing strategy.
Praise for Stacey |
Today I had my second session with Stacey, and I must say, it was truly impactful! Stacey provided invaluable suggestions and insights that exceeded my expectations. She offered amazing ideas for enhancing my exposure in ways I hadn't considered before. Stacey's depth of knowledge and expertise in her industry are evident, she's truly AMAZING!!!
Val Esway – Founder and HR Leader |
Val Esway is a seasoned Recruiting & HR Consultant at Rock Solid HR Consulting and Rock Solid Recruiting, specializing in startup talent acquisition. With over 10 years in the tech industry, especially within SaaS startups, Val offers tailored recruiting solutions to emerging companies.
She also serves as a recruiter and career advisor for SheFi, empowering women in web3. In addition, she provides expert resume writing and career coaching through her freelance work at Rock Solid HR & Career Services. Val's previous roles include People and Talent Acquisition Manager at Absolute Labs and Director of Operations at Atlas One.VolunteerMatch's products and services.
Praise for Val |
It was wonderful to chat with Val about our similar backgrounds and exchange mentorship advice. She was prepared with direct questions, a professional demeanor, and a clear focus on goals. I look forward to our continued connection and her growth as a mentor as well!
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