Pamela Maynard: Leading AI Transformation and Championing Black Professionals
Pamela Maynard, last year’s winner of the Black British Business Person of the Year award, has built a distinguished career in technology. She is now Microsoft’s Chief AI Transformation Officer, a role that follows diverse experience across consulting and tech firms, including Oracle and EY. The nominations are open for the 12th year of the awards.
From Law Aspirations to Tech Leadership
Initially, Maynard’s career path seemed destined for a different direction. Growing up in a West Indian family, she was expected to pursue a traditional professional career such as law. She recalled, “There was an expectation… I would become something professional like a lawyer, a doctor or an accountant.” She was on her way to study law at Leeds University, but a conversation with her mother changed everything.
Maynard recounted, “I walked into the house and I remember having a conversation with my mum. She said: ‘Why do you look so glum?’ And I said: ‘Because I’m not really sure what I want to do. I hope I’m not going to disappoint you by saying I don’t want to do law. What I actually enjoy is business studies’. And she said: ‘Follow your instinct.’”
Following her instincts and leaning on mentors has been a key part of her journey. Maynard stated, “My career has been characterised by not always knowing where I am going to end up, following my instinct and using mentors to help me to navigate some of those tougher decisions. I think about my mum as being one of my greatest mentors.”
Inspiration and Progress
Maynard’s parents, part of the Windrush generation, moved to the UK from Barbados in the 1960s. She emphasized the impact of their example, explaining that her parents “instilled that courage in us… and my passion comes from them.”
Discussing progress on representation, Maynard cited the Parker Review, which found that 95% of FTSE 100 boards now have an ethnic minority board member. Despite this progress, she noted that challenges remain. “When you look at the senior manager layer, there’s still only 1.2pc of those who are Black.”
Navigating Representation Challenges
Maynard highlighted the rise in conversations around diversity initiatives, observing that the UK is experiencing a degree of unease similar to that seen in the U.S. “I would definitely say there’s a nervousness. But what people are saying to me is that they’re not yet seeing the same sort of actions being taken as in the US.” She further added, “I think it’s really important in the UK that we continue to do what’s right. And what’s right is that we have the right level of representation in leadership positions.”
Maynard emphasized the value of employee networks and the importance of mentoring and sponsorship. “So ensuring that you’ve got somewhere safe for people to go to connect with others and learning from those networks is incredibly important.” She added, “how are we representing people when they’re not in the room?”
The Significance of the Black British Business Awards
Maynard reflected on the importance of the Black British Business Awards, as a source of inspiration: “What the awards do is help you to see others who look like you. It’s incredibly inspiring.” The Telegraph is a national media partner of The Black British Business Awards.
