What does it take for a woman to lead a billion-dollar product line in tech? For Siki Giunta, the answer was a mix of courage, self-assessment and a willingness to break the mold.

Ahead of the Women in STEM Summit 2025 in Dublin, Siki Giunta, EVP & Head of Cloud Native CoE at HCLTech reflects on her tech career and the pivotal moments that shaped her leadership style. The Women in STEM Summit 2025 is a premier event dedicated to promoting and empowering women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. The Summit brings together leaders, innovators and advocates from around the globe to share insights and inspire the next generation of women in STEM. Giunta's participation as a keynote speaker underscores her commitment to advancing gender equality and fostering an inclusive culture in the tech industry.

Important milestones from her career

Giunta's career took a significant turn when she moved from Europe to the US to take on a larger product line. This decision, driven by a mix of courage and self-assessment, was pivotal in shaping her leadership style. Transitioning from managing three products to a billion-dollar product line required conviction and self-assurance to meet both personal and professional expectations. After spending 25-30 years living and working in Europe the physical move alone was a challenge. She emphasized the importance of stepping out of her comfort zone and embracing new challenges for continuous growth. Bold decisions can lead to rewarding results.

“Moving to the US alone was a pivotal decision for me. It forced me to step up and become the person I am today. I could’ve stayed in Europe, taken an easier job and my life and leadership style might have been different. Choosing this path required strength, curiosity, self-reflection and a lot of courage.”, highlighted Giunta.

Challenges for women in tech

Women in the technology sector continue to face challenges even as the industry evolves. Giunta believes that regardless of background, every individual faces challenges in their career. For women, there are gender-related obstacles, yet Giunta emphasizes the importance of focusing on what you can control: having self-determination, acquiring skills and earning credibility. “I think a lot of times there is this perception that we are more emotional than others. I believe that we have a unique way of communicating when we care about something – whether it is solving a problem or delighting a client. Not everyone can respect these differences. I believe that all women are willing and ready to learn, to be disciplined and have ethics that reflect the diverse populations we work with. The important thing is to realize that sometimes you may have to prove yourself a little more. People may ‘see’ a woman and what they see limits their ability to appreciate the skills you bring to the table. Taking this approach helps create one’s own destiny and sets the path for career advancement.”

Key skills and strategies for success

According to Giunta, a blend of both hard and soft skills is essential for success in the tech industry. Hard skills, such as coding or management, are capabilities that can be learned and honed over time. Soft skills like giving and earning respect, leadership, ethical behavior and passion are as important as hard skills. By focusing on both hard and soft skills, understanding their value and continuously adapting and learning from feedback, women can prepare effectively for leadership roles in the tech industry.

“You have to be able to have a good understanding of your soft skills and how to evolve, especially in leadership. We start in leading in isolation and eventually realize that leading is easier when we are more inclusive. That's a soft skill,” says Giunta.

How are organizations fostering an inclusive culture?

Giunta stresses that organizations must actively work towards creating a diverse and inclusive culture to ensure they attract and retain talent effectively. This initiative is vital, particularly as organizations face global challenges to the value of diversity. Recent political shifts are signaling a rollback on the programs designed to incent and require diversity and equity.

“I always say that if you want cappuccino, you have to put milk in the coffee. Otherwise, you will always have black coffee. Diversity is one way we can improve the workplace. As a manager we choose the talent and skills we need from a diverse pool of people who we believe will add value to the company. Diversity gives you more choices and equity ensures that, regardless of differences, we are all incented to do our best work,” Giunta commented.

At HCLTech, diversity and inclusion are not just buzzwords but practiced values. Initiatives like "MentorMe," launched over a year ago, are gaining momentum as they provide an opportunity for individuals across diverse backgrounds to seek mentorship and support. This initiative has been particularly impactful for women in technology but is open to all employees who wish to learn from experienced leaders.

The message is clear: everybody faces challenges and seeking support should be encouraged. Whether you're a leader or just starting your career, building an open culture of mutual support is important for personal and organizational growth. 

Creating opportunities for women with AI and GenAI 

As the AI and GenAI era evolves, it's opening incredible opportunities for women in the tech industry by leveling the playing field. These tools allow people without deep technical skills to excel in roles like data analysis, coding, marketing and legal work. 

According to Giunta, everyone should adopt AI to enhance their skills and learn to leverage the technology. The fear of job loss due to automation is often misplaced. While tasks may be replaced, skills are still required to effectively combine tasks to deliver superior outcomes. Historically, we saw this as the way workers adapted during the automation wave of the last decade. 

In this transformative era, especially within cloud-native environments, learning AI tools will increase the value of skills for women and remove the fear of technological replacement. The AI revolution is happening now and it's a pivotal moment in technology. The changes it will bring will empower everyone; work life will be more enjoyable and it is opening doors to personal growth and new opportunities. 

Driving inclusivity and growth for women in tech at HCLTech Ireland

HCLTech has been a significant player in the tech space in Ireland since 1991. We are committed to creating a supportive environment for women and other diverse groups, offering them career development opportunities and helping them to advance and succeed in the industry.

The opening of a new delivery center in Ireland will further enhance these opportunities, offering more roles and resources for women to thrive in STEM fields. Siki Giunta, along with Divvya Sippy, Ivan Desmond Allen, Wayne Rollo and Amit Kumar Arora, are instrumental in driving these initiatives, ensuring that HCLTech continues to support and inspire women in STEM in Ireland.