Session Abstract

Enterprise architecture feels like a conceptual mountain of technology – which unfortunately is true. Organizations today are investing in endless platforms, software, and features, much of it is AI. Enterprise Architects is a role many leaders don’t know they need until it’s too late, resulting in continued silos and cumbersome processes that cost too much and don’t provide business value, but stick around because the c-suite committed to investing in it despite not understanding it. Women represent less than a quarter of EAs, some reports even less than 15%. Over the course of my career, I have been tapped on the shoulder for roles and chased others. All roads have led me to Enterprise Architecture and I didn’t even know it. Women bring unique qualities to the table and if we have to bring our own chair, so be it! In this session, I’ll share my journey and three lessons to articulate why women should consider EA as a role and what you can do to explore this job type. For hiring managers, I’ll highlight why hiring a woman and/or those with non-linear or IT backgrounds is a distinct advantage and how to support/retain a female EA.

Sarah Wimberley

Sarah is a detail-oriented leader with twenty years of experience in marketing and cloud-based technology, specializing in sales, marketing, customer service, and reporting tools. As principal and founder of Ulster Technologies (www.ulster-tech.com), Sarah drives innovation to foster collaborative, data-driven decisions with her clients. She has served as an enterprise architect, product owner and program/project manager at leading regional and national healthcare institutions. Sarah led dynamic, cross-functional teams through multiple product and platform migrations, passionately improving business processes and driving sales growth. A graduate of Rosemont College with a Master’s in Strategic Leadership, Sarah is also an active volunteer, serving on various boards and committees, including as Vice President of Communications, Technology & Marketing for Village on the Ridge and as a Board Member and Technology Co-Chair for Philanos.