Anuja Shah, Head of Strategy and IT, Zurich International Life Ltd, on leadership, inclusion, and driving innovation in enterprise technology.
As part of Techitup Middle East’s International Women’s Day 2026 Leadership Series, we spotlight women leaders shaping the future of technology across the region. In this feature, Anuja Shah shares her professional journey, leadership insights, and advice for women in tech.
We are entering a defining AI-driven era. How is AI changing leadership expectations for women in tech?
Anuja Shah: AI is already playing a major role in shaping the future of work. Leadership at its core remains about people. It involves curating a strong AI talent strategy for attracting, upskilling and retaining people, finding the right use-cases, investing in the right infrastructure, seeing initiatives scale from internal pilots to external deployments and realize benefits on investments while avoiding the pitfalls of chasing every shiny new AI framework.
With technology that emerges, concerns have been voiced about its impact on existing jobs many times throughout history. While new technology often replaces certain jobs, it also creates new roles. Leaders today will need to change the narrative from ‘Will AI take our jobs’ to ‘How will AI take our jobs to the next level?’. Leadership is about staying relevant, enriching roles and equipping our teams to have the skills needed to thrive in the ever-shifting technology landscape.
What is one structural barrier that still needs to change for women to scale into more C-level and board positions in tech?
Anuja Shah: The seat at the table, be it technology, management or Board positions, is based on merit, not gender. As is with any field, the ability to be able to use your voice for shaping direction, prioritization and delivery is key, and the overall organizational climate should be supportive of that.
We already stand tall on the shoulders of the trailblazing women who shattered glass ceilings before us, paving the way in business, technology, and beyond. Women in the C-Suite, in Board positions, as founders and as key contributors have very successfully, already shattered the barriers of mindset, and the very rich talent pool of women already working in tech and studying various streams across the spectrum guarantee that this is would only increase.
Was there a defining moment in your career that changed your trajectory?
Anuja Shah: The realization that growth could be vertical (as we know it conventionally), but also horizontal and diagonal has defined my career trajectory. I have had the privilege of working in trade finance and commercial banking, retail banking, remittances, fintech and insurance across multiple functions, and taking opportunities across fields and functions has given me both, breadth and depth of experience.
Having seen projects and products that I’ve been part of from ideation to launch, do well over a span of over a decade has given me the sense of purpose and fulfilment in creating sustainable value for customers, partners and for the business.
What leadership trait has helped you the most in navigating the tech industry?
Anuja Shah: Keeping a pulse on business needs and leveraging technology as an enabler has held us in good stead, enabling us to deliver on the digitization roadmap year-on-year. Being aligned to a common vision, knowing how individual contributions fit into the overall organizational objectives gives a sense of both, belonging and becoming.
As Head of Strategy and IT at Zurich International Life Limited, Middle East, I have been part of drafting the strategy on one end and part of the team responsible for executing strategic transformation initiatives, on the other. Understanding the nuances and levers of business and using technology as a means to further the right outcomes has been key.
Lastly, what practical advice would you give young women entering the AI and digital economy today?
Anuja Shah: Technology has the power to transform, and anyone, irrespective of age, gender or geography can harness that power. It holds the power to transform lives, businesses, user experiences and influence better outcomes.
The spectrum of technology and digital transformation is quite wide, and the opportunities that are available across AI, analysis, program management, development, testing, infrastructure, cloud, network, security, etc. are varied, with the potential to pick new skills and shift gears, along the way.
Don’t hold yourself back. Playing scenarios over and over in our minds often results in us second-guessing ourselves, not speaking up or standing up enough, not participating in a development opportunity, not applying for a role, etc. But if we give the world around us a fair chance, you’ll be surprised at the network effects, at how supportive your colleagues and your organization can be and at how harsh the critic inside you is.
I’m fortunate to be working alongside some fantastic coders, developers, testers, UI / UX designers, infrastructure and security analysts, business analysts and scrum masters who happen to be women. I’m very grateful to be working alongside women and men who have been my sounding boards, mentors and friends.
Every one of us has a unique journey, and the key is to take that first step with confidence.
This interview is part of the Techitup Middle East IWD 2026 Leadership Series, for women leaders who continue to accelerate innovation, champion diversity, and redefine the technology ecosystem across the Middle East and beyond.
