Women in Tech: Mei Reyes-Tsai on innovation, and visibility

For our latest Women in Tech interview, Salt Founder and APAC CEO Jacqui Barratt spoke to Mei Reyes-Tsai, General Manager of Technology and Delivery at TTC Global, to discuss translating complex ideas into scalable solutions and encouraging and supporting women in the tech industry.

Salt Recruitment’s Women in Tech interview series speaks with thought leaders from around the world to get their opinions and advice on how they have grown their careers in tech and overcome challenges and adversity during their careers.

What is the most exciting part of your work as General Manager of Technology and Delivery at TTC Global?

Leading innovation that directly shapes how testing is delivered across industries. I have worked in consultancies my whole life and have always been a ‘consultant’. I love advising customers and helping them solve their problems; I thrive on transforming ideas into scalable, impactful solutions.

What has been your proudest or career-defining moment?

The first was leading the Water Services Reform programme for the Department of Internal Affairs— winning a massive RFP, then eventually managing a team of 46 consultants across multiple SaaS platforms to deliver a modern test platform, was both complex and deeply rewarding!

Another proud moment was launching TTC Global’s open-source practice, an initiative that continues to grow and empower our testing community.

What should we be doing to encourage girls and women to consider a career in technology?

We need to normalise visibility by showcasing women in leadership roles, providing early-career mentoring, and creating safe spaces for experimentation and failure. Being active in Women in Tech communities is absolutely vital, and I wish more women leaders could help drive these initiatives.

In your opinion, what is the biggest obstacle to women’s career progression?

A lack of sponsorship is the biggest obstacle. Mentorship is common, but sponsorship—or someone actively advocating for your career advancement—is much rarer, and much more powerful.

How have the best allies throughout your career supported you?

I’ve been fortunate that, during my career at TTC Global, I have had leaders and colleagues who have consistently championed my ideas, invited me into strategic conversations, and trusted me with high-impact initiatives, like our AI Leadership team and Technology and Innovation strategy.

How valuable has mentorship been to you, and how have you found the right mentors?

Mentorship has been extremely valuable in helping me navigate ambiguity and scale my leadership capabilities. My criteria for finding mentors is to seek out individuals whose values align with mine, and who challenge me to think bigger!

What can individuals and organisations do to develop capabilities for and encourage non-conventional career paths?

Recognise potential beyond credentials; hiring managers and organisations need to look beyond what’s written in a CV—look at an individual’s attitude and potential—you might be surprised!

What can we do to promote and nurture women’s careers?

As a manager, I focus on creating visibility and access by advocating for women in forums where decisions are made and ensuring women are considered for strategic projects. I provide honest, constructive feedback and encourage women to speak up.

I highly recommend that anyone reading this interview read Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez. It’s an eye-opening exposé of the invisible biases in our everyday lives—disadvantaging women but profoundly impacting us all.

Who is your modern-day hero?

At the risk of sounding incredibly cheesy, my mum and sisters! Through them, I’ve learned the essence of grit, resilience, and passion.

Watching them navigate life’s challenges with strength and grace has deeply influenced my leadership style. They’ve taught me that empathy and determination aren’t mutually exclusive and that leading with heart is just as important as leading with strategy.

Do you have any media recommendations for staying updated?

I follow Harvard Business Review, Ministry of Testing, and CIO for insights on leadership, testing trends, and digital transformation.

I also like following thought leaders on LinkedIn, especially Michael Bolton, Lisa Crispin, and Tariq King—to name a few!

What is your biggest stress reliever?

Travelling! Every few months, my husband and I like to get away (although I can be a bit naughty and still monitor my emails, because who’s ever fully offline nowadays?!)

What is one piece of advice you wish somebody had given you at the beginning of your career?

Don’t wait to be ready! Say “yes” and then figure it out, because growth often comes from the stretch. I need to tell my current self this more often, too!

What job did you dream of when you were a kid? What was your ‘Plan A’ career path?

I wanted to be an artist! Then I got into technology, which evolved into a love of systems thinking. I still get to scratch my artsy itch by making beautiful presentation decks! 

What is a fun fact about you?

I once built an AI-powered prototype over a weekend that was used in a pilot project; it started as a curiosity and turned into a capability! But that doesn’t sound like much fun, does it?!

On a more fun note, I’m from a tropical country (the Philippines) but have always loved the snow. In fact, I love it so much, I had a winter wedding and have finally found a sport I love—skiing! I had never learned to ski until I moved to New Zealand, and now I love it so much that we travel to Queenstown every year for a ski trip!