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‘It’s like being in the fastest lane you can think of’: one woman’s career in tech
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A sense of curiosity has powered Anne Sheehan’s impressive career. As she navigates her new role at Microsoft, General Manager of Enterprise Commercial Western Europe, she emphasises the importance of collaboration, resilience and creativity.
“It’s like being in the fastest lane you can think of.” This is how Anne Sheehan describes working in the tech sector. “With the pace that technology is moving, the market expectations, the pace which our customers want to transform – it is quite incredible.” This combination – the interplay between technology and consumer expectations – and the importance of adaptive leadership are features of her career, which spans two decades and is driven, she says, by a sense of curiosity.
In February this year, Anne became General Manager of Enterprise Commercial for Western Europe with Microsoft. The role sees her hold responsibility for driving digital transformation, AI adoption, and strategic partnerships with some of Microsoft’s most significant commercial customers and partners across Western Europe. It follows almost three years as General Manager of Microsoft Ireland since October 2021, which came after her role as Enterprise Director at Vodafone UK.
Anne’s is a career that has been marked by her willingness to embrace change. She started out at IBM, where she spent 16 years exploring various roles across sales, marketing and finance. “IBM allowed me to understand every aspect of the business, which laid a solid foundation for my future,” she says. After her tenure there, she transitioned into telecommunications, where she had the opportunity to bring a brand to life in local markets. Later her path led her back to the tech sector at Microsoft, where she now leads the enterprise business across 10 countries in Western Europe.
In high-demand roles, maintaining mental and physical fitness is non-negotiable. I've learned that to lead effectively, you need to be in a good place personally.
Reflecting on her experiences, Anne notes the significant shift in consumer attitudes towards technology and the growing appetite for innovation. “Companies are no longer just pushing technological advancements; consumers actively seek out and demand personalised experiences,” she says.
This dynamic is a driving force in today’s marketplace and understanding customer needs has become increasingly crucial. “Today’s consumers want to feel valued and recognised,” she says. With the advancements in AI and machine learning capabilities, she believes the potential for hyper-personalisation in customer interactions is “unprecedented”.
Anne speaks extensively about how collaboration plays a crucial role in the tech industry today. “We don’t just experiment with our technology in isolation; we do it alongside our partners and customers. This collaborative approach allows us to spin up technology quickly and tackle challenges together.” She explains the importance of partnerships within the tech ecosystem. “By working closely with our partners, we can deliver solutions that not only meet but exceed customer expectations. It’s about leveraging collective expertise to innovate faster.”
Pictured, left, Siobhan Noble, Ashling Cunningham and Anne Sheehan as part of the IMAGE x PwC Women in Tech series.
For Anne, the importance of diverse experiences is paramount in shaping a leader’s approach. “It’s essential to step outside your comfort zone,” she asserts. “This breadth of experience allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the challenges teams face.” She also highlights the critical role of resilience in sustainable leadership. “Resilience is about being able to cope with whatever comes your way… it’s essential in a constantly changing landscape,” she says. Resilience includes maintaining one’s mental and physical wellbeing, she says and it is a vital piece of her leadership arsenal that Anne diligently prioritises.
“In high-demand roles, maintaining mental and physical fitness is non-negotiable. I’ve learned that to lead effectively, you need to be in a good place personally,” she says. “I didn’t realise this when I was younger but I have done so over the past 10 years. Getting a proper sleep and feeling fit in yourself – you just have to do it. You cannot do these roles if you don’t; if you are not fit and healthy in yourself. I love to walk and because I am time-poor I do that with friends – weekends in the mountains with friends. I balance this with the gym.”
This belief in self-care translates into cultivating resilience not only in herself but also in her teams. “When leaders model healthy behaviours, it creates a culture where teams feel empowered to prioritise their wellbeing, ultimately leading to better performance and innovation.”
If you’re not curious, if you’re not willing to learn... then you can stifle creativity.
Beyond her leadership role at Microsoft, Anne is a passionate advocate for diversity, particularly in encouraging women to enter STEM fields. Recognising that the representation of women in technology has plateaued, she says there’s a need for systemic changes in education to inspire and empower young girls. “We need to ensure we’re creating pathways for young women to engage with technology at a young age,” she says, underscoring the importance of educational initiatives that can spark interest and build confidence in young girls pursuing careers in technology.
“What if?” This is the question Anne always asks herself. “If you’re not curious, if you’re not willing to learn… then you can stifle creativity,” she explains. “The worst thing you can do is to stifle creativity. I love ideas,” she enthuses. “No matter how mad they are, some of them work. Some of them don’t work and that’s just life. As a leader, I’ve always been super curious and what excites me is transformation. I love to take businesses, to transform them.”
This mindset continues to fuel her ambition and drives her to seek innovative solutions while embracing challenges. “As companies face ongoing disruption, it is a mindset of particular importance for effective leadership,” she believes.
Pictured, right, Ashling Cunningham, Anne Sheehan, Siobhan Noble, Kelly McKillen, Shreya Aggarwal and Adebola Olomo as part of the IMAGE x PwC Women in Tech series.
Curiosity also brought her on this career path. “The natural route would have been accounting and finance – to stay on that route. But it comes back to being curious. I thought, ‘What if I could go and explore and see what it would be like?’ And so that was really the reason why I ended up in tech.”
Now, powered by this mindset and armed with her unique leadership style, she is at the forefront of Ireland’s technology scene and inspiring future leaders. “If you build high-trust, high-challenge teams, you will inspire the next generation of leaders,” she explains.
This article originally appeared in the IMAGE Autumn 2024 issue.
The “Women in Tech” series, sponsored by PwC, spotlights seven inspiring leaders who have carved out remarkable and diverse careers, while contributing to the advancement of Ireland’s technology scene and empowering other women to excel in the sector.
Credits for this photoshoot include – Photography: Barry McCall, Stylist: Sarah Rickard, Hair: Eva Kyne, Make-up: John Bowe, and Video: Dan Dunne.
Styling credits: Ashling Cunningham wears Italian crepe dress, And Tate, €850 at Emporium Kalu. Anne Sheehan wears jacquard dress, Natan, €939 at Emporium Kalu; velvet courts, Ted Baker, €135.95 at zalando.ie. Siobhan Noble wears satin pleated dress, Amsale, €1,050 at Emporium Kalu; leather courts, €65 at Marks & Spencer. Kelly McKillen wears pinstripe waistcoat, €129; and trousers, €139; both Whistles at Brown Thomas; cream boots, Dwrs, €149.99 at styledby.ie. Shreya Aggarwal wears fit and flare dress, Weekend Max Mara, €325 at Brown Thomas; suede courts, €65 at Marks & Spencer. Adebola Olomo wears blouse, Avn, €339 at Emporium Kalu; tapered trousers, €120 at Marks & Spencer.
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