The Role of Women CTOs in Shaping the Future of Technology

Annika Olme leads the technological direction at SKF Group, overseeing global R&D, innovation, and product strategy. With over 20 years in tech leadership across engineering and data science, she champions diversity, STEM, and governance through board roles in industry, academia, and research foundations.

In a thought-provoking interaction with Global Woman Leader Magazine, Annika shares her insights on the evolving role of women CTOs in accelerating digital transformation, leading ethical AI development, and navigating tech disruptions to shape inclusive, resilient, and future-ready technology strategies across industries. She draws from SKF Group’s playbook to shed light on how the company approaches digital transformation, AI’s ability to augment human capabilities, and constant evolution to stay relevant.

To know more about Annika’s perspective on women’s evolving role in tech and the tech landscape’s evolution, read the Q&A below.

Given the current tech landscape, how do you see the role of women CTOs influencing the pace of digital transformation and shaping future technology strategies across industries?

The current tech landscape demands a holistic approach, blending innovation with a deep understanding of societal needs. Women CTOs, with their often collaborative and empathetic leadership styles, are particularly well-suited to drive this.

At SKF, we see digital transformation as a fundamental shift in how we create value for our customers and the planet. I strongly believe that it's our differences that make us stronger. Different perspectives, cultures and ways of thinking enable us to meet the needs of our increasingly diverse markets and stakeholders with innovative products, services and solutions. I foster a culture of openness & trust to enable and drive innovation and cross-functional collaboration to accelerate the pace of change and ensure that technology strategies are effectively implemented across all levels of the organization and our partner ecosystem. We focus on long-term value creation, ensuring that technology solutions are more comprehensive and address the needs of a broader audience.

With rapid AI advancements, how can women in top tech leadership redefine ethical AI development and governance, ensuring inclusivity and unbiased innovation in enterprise applications?

AI's potential to transform industries like ours is immense, but it's crucial that this transformation is guided by ethical principles. Women in top tech leadership positions are playing a vital role in redefining AI development and governance. Their emphasis on inclusivity and fairness helps to ensure that AI systems are developed and deployed in a way that benefits everyone.

At SKF, we believe that AI should augment human capabilities, not replace them. Through our AI Centre of Excellence, we are promoting the development of ethical frameworks and ensuring that our AI solutions are inclusive and compliant. This helps us to remain proactive in mitigating potential risks, ensuring that our innovations are both powerful and responsible.

As technology increasingly drives business decisions, how can women CTOs balance technical leadership with business strategy to create sustainable competitive advantages for organizations?

Today, technology is at the core of every business strategy. And women CTOs excel at bridging the gap between technical expertise and business acumen. By understanding market trends and opportunities, they create innovative solutions that address customers' evolving needs. Their focus on collaboration and communication helps to ensure that technological advancements are seamlessly integrated into the business strategy, driving success.

At SKF, our technology strategy is closely aligned with our overall business goals, which include delivering superior customer value and driving sustainable growth. By translating complex technological concepts into clear business value, we enable the business to make informed decisions, ensuring that our technological investments directly contribute to our competitive advantage.

How do women leaders in technology development challenge conventional R&D mindsets, fostering innovation that is not only commercially viable but also socially impactful?

Leaders in technology development, regardless of gender, can inspire teams to think beyond traditional boundaries, challenge conventional mindsets and foster a more holistic approach to purpose-driven innovation. By considering the broader social implications of technological advancements, leaders can ensure that innovation is not only commercially viable but also socially impactful.

At SKF, we are committed to developing intelligent and clean solutions that contribute to a more sustainable world. We do this by encouraging a culture of experimentation and calculated risk-taking and championing the development of technologies that address global challenges such as climate change and resource scarcity. Our goal is to ensure that our innovations create value for both our business and society.

In a world where resilience in leadership is critical, how can women CTOs uniquely navigate tech disruptions, regulatory shifts, and evolving workforce expectations to drive transformation?

No doubt, the world is changing at an unprecedented pace. Women CTOs, like their male counterparts, are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of tech disruptions, regulatory changes, and evolving workforce expectations. I have mentioned above that women leaders often demonstrate a high degree of adaptability, empathy, and collaboration, which are essential for navigating these challenges.

At SKF, we are constantly evolving to ensure that SKF remains competitive and responsive to changing market conditions. We focus on building strong, diverse teams, fostering a culture of continuous learning, and adapting to changing circumstances. I am also a big believer in the power of communication, transparency, and collaboration, which helps to build trust and ensure that our teams are aligned and motivated during times of transformation.

Looking ahead, how can diverse technology leadership reshape the industry's talent pipeline, ensuring more equitable access to top leadership roles and fostering long-term systemic change?

I believe that diverse leadership is a business imperative. Various reports state that organizations with diverse leadership teams are more innovative, more adaptable, and more successful. To reshape the industry's talent pipeline and ensure more equitable access to top leadership roles, we need to create a more inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.

They say a rising tide lifts all boats, and that rings true in this case as well. Women leaders are crucial in driving this change, serving as role models, mentoring aspiring talent, and advocating for policies that promote equity and inclusion. By creating a more diverse and inclusive talent pipeline, we can ensure that the technology industry is more representative of the world we live in and that we have access to the best and brightest minds, regardless of their background. This will not only benefit individual organizations but will also drive long-term systemic change across the entire industry.