Paving the way: SAS leaders inspiring the next generation of women in tech

At SAS, diversity and inclusion are central to shaping the future of technology. Across Australia and New Zealand, women at SAS are driving innovation, mentoring emerging talent, and creating pathways that help the next generation of female tech leaders thrive. 

From AI in public services to empowering students in STEM, the unique approaches of SAS's female leaders show how leadership, advocacy, and hands-on guidance can transform careers and industries alike.

Mentorship That Builds Bridges

For Milica Gallardo Petkovich, SAS' Public Sector Lead, meaningful progress begins with connection. "My passion lies in bringing people together so we can learn from one another, grow collectively, and build technology that serves society responsibly," she says. 

Milica is committed to leading the responsible adoption of AI and data analytics within the public sector, ensuring transparency, accountability, and diversity are embedded from the outset. A central pillar of her leadership is elevating women and underrepresented voices in technology, particularly across defence, public safety, and data-driven roles. 

"Directing the Elevate Women Mentorship Program, I had the privilege of pairing senior women in defence with early- and mid-career STEM professionals. Creating a space of shared learning and mutual mentorship taught me how intergenerational guidance and inclusive pathways create resilient, future-ready industries", Milica continues. 

Tzuwei Tsai, a Data Scientist at SAS, extends this approach to the next generation of tech talent. Spearheading the Girls in Tech initiative, she collaborates with SAS' education team to offer Year 9 and 10 students the hands-on opportunity to explore data and AI across a series of events and workshops. 

Alongside this, she mentors university 'capstone' students, supporting student-led projects with learnings and insights from her own experiences and collaboratively tackling real-world challenges. Tzuwei comments that this mentoring helps to exemplify the pathways of students, graduates, and early-career women in tech. 

"Working with these students underpins my commitment to nurturing the pipeline of emerging women in tech and shows how encouragement and collaboration create meaningful career pathways. It's been tremendously rewarding", Tzuwei says. 

Advocating for Visibility and Opportunity

Creating opportunities is more than mentoring. Michela Guimaraes, Senior Customer Success Manager, blends her experience in strategic client leadership with community engagement to champion women's empowerment in the tech industry and beyond.  

"As a Latin American woman working in a male-dominated sector, I am deeply committed to fostering diversity and equality. My advocacy is rooted in the belief that authentic mentorship, community engagement, and creating opportunities are essential", she says.

Bringing this to life, Michela works closely with the SAS Women in Tech Program and the IT BR Women community, where she coaches women into their first tech roles, helping them navigate career paths, gain confidence, and step into leadership positions.

Vanessa Low, EME-AP Campaign Manager, empowers young marketers across Asia Pacific. By providing mentorship on how to navigate diverse languages, cultures, experiences, and marketing channels, she's learned that scalability, clarity, and empathy are essential to empowering the workforce. 

"I'm passionate about supporting women in the broader marketing ecosystem. My philosophy is simple: people don't come to work intending to make mistakes. I believe if we encourage them to think beyond the norm, consider alternatives, and prepare for contingencies, they'll feel empowered to push boundaries and showcase their creativity," she continues. 

Creating Pathways and Scaling Potential in STEM and AI 

Technical mentorship is equally important. Harshini Jayakumar, AI and Analytics Innovation Lead, combines practical guidance with strategic expertise to create meaningful pathways for women in STEM and AI. Sharing her journey and extensive industry knowledge, she has led numerous hands-on workshops and mentorship panels with students at top universities across Sydney. 

"Sharing insights with women at the start of their careers is a privilege. Through leadership and mentorship, I am incredibly proud that I'm able to use my platform to focus on nurturing holistic growth, helping young women scale beyond their roles, build confidence and capability early, and gain a head start in shaping strong, sustainable futures," she reflects. 

By connecting technical mentorship with purposeful leadership, Harshini accelerates women's career growth and contributes to a more inclusive and representative technology ecosystem. 

Leadership That Shapes the Future

As a leader in business operations, Catherine Brighton is proud to lead, mentor and nurture outstanding women as they advance their careers. 

"I view my leadership role holistically", Catherine, Senior Manager of Business Operations at SAS, comments. "By refining my approach to be grounded in trust and accessibility, I strive to foster an environment where future and current female leaders at SAS can shine."

"It's been a tremendously rewarding journey and learning experience", Catherine reflects. 

At a global scale, Terisa Roberts, Sydney-based Global Director and Head of Risk Modelling, Decisioning and Governance, combines operational leadership with her strategic outlook to promote and support future female leaders. 

Reflecting on her leadership philosophy and work across key SAS initiatives, including the SAS Women in Tech Program and the Women's Initiative Network, Terisa sees proactive mentorship and strategic approaches to industry equality as key momentum builders towards dismantling systemic barriers. 

"A leader's legacy is defined by the elevation of others. I've seen firsthand how proactively supporting female leaders is not only reshaping careers but also strengthening the technology sector into a more inclusive and future-ready industry," Terisa says.  

Across sectors and roles, these female SAS leaders share a single vision. They foster inclusion, mentorship, and representation to ensure the next generation of female leaders are equipped, empowered, and inspired. 

As International Women's Day highlights women's achievements worldwide, the efforts of SAS' female leaders show that building a better future is not only about breaking barriers. It is about creating foundations for generations to come.