Natasha Sayce-Zelem
Natasha Sayce-Zelem | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Sayce-Zelem winning STEM leader of the year award in 2017 | |
| Born | Natasha Zelem |
| Alma mater | Northern Film School |
| Known for | Women in Technology |
Natasha Sayce-Zelem (née Natasha Zelem) is the Global Head of Partner Engineering at Amazon Prime Video. She is a founder of 'Empowering Women with Tech', a social enterprise showcasing female role models working in digital media, science, and technology with the goal of getting more women to consider a career in STEM in England.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
She was named the 27th most influential woman working in tech in 2021[7] and in Computer Weekly's 'Most Influential Women in UK Tech' shortlist from 2018 to 2023.[4][8][9][10] In 2023, Sayce-Zelem was nominated for the "CI/TO of the Year" category in the Women in IT Awards 2023.[11]
On 5 May 2024, it was announced that Natasha Sayce-Zelem would have her name engraved on a new sculpture, Ribbons, in Leeds city centre. Designed by Pippa Hale, the sculpture will celebrate 383 women past and present who have contributed to the city as chosen by the public.[12][13] When asked about the sculpture, Sayce-Zelem commented “Leeds is home. The city’s bold ambitions, proud independent spirit, and vibrant culture have profoundly influenced the person I’ve become. Born, raised, and educated here, Leeds is also where I forged my career in technology. It’s an honour to represent our inclusive Leeds Tech community with this prestigious accolade.” [14]
Early life and education
[edit]Natasha was born in Leeds in 1983. Her father Eugene Zelem was a props master in film and television. Her mother emigrated from Poland to Leeds. She has one sister, Helena who also works in a digital career.
Sayce-Zelem graduated with a first class degree from the Northern Film School where she specialised in producing and editing.[1]
Career
[edit]Prior to working in technology and digital development, Natasha Sayce-Zelem began her career as a freelance music photographer, working with acts such as David Bowie and Rage Against the Machine.[15] She has gone on to work at various technology and media companies, including ITV, BBC, Sky and Amazon.[16]
Sayce-Zelem founded 'Empowering Women with Tech' to highlight and improve upon the lack of visible female role models working in STEM, and help women begin their careers in the field. Over 10,000 people have attended an Empowering Women with Tech event, with past speakers including Dr Sue Black, Samantha Payne, Linda Liukas and Sarah Beeny.[17][18]
In October 2017, Sayce-Zelem won 'STEM Leader of the Year' for Yorkshire, North East and Scotland[19][5] and has written nationally for Business Cloud,[20] Huffington Post[21] and i Newspaper.[15]
In 2018, Sayce-Zelem joined the steering group for the BIMA Diversity & Inclusion Council alongside Sue Black, Amali de Alwis and Pip Jamieson.[22]
In 2021, Sayce-Zelem was announced as a team member of the Newsubstance collective, one of 10 commissioned project for Festival UK 2022. The STEM led commission is a "physical manifestation and celebration of the British weather and UK coastline; a large-scale installation that addresses global questions, encourages playfulness, elicits joy and presents an experiment in change."[23][24]
In January 2021 it was announced that Natasha Sayce-Zelem had joined Amazon to lead the Partner Engineering organisation at Amazon Prime Video.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Empowering Women with Tech". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ "Technology event in Leeds will encourage more women to take up careers in STEM". Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ "Sky on the hunt for women to join technology team". Computer Weekly. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ a b "Most influential women in UK tech". Computer Weekly. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ a b "Yorkshire on top at Forward Ladies Awards". Yorkshire Evening Post. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ "Women in IT Awards 2018 – finalists revealed for UK awards". Women in IT Awards. Information Age. 2018-01-03. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ "Magazine reader | Technology". technologymagazine.com. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
- ^ "Most Influential Women in UK Tech: The 2019 longlist". ComputerWeekly.com. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
- ^ "Most Influential Women in UK Tech: The 2021 longlist". ComputerWeekly.com. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
- ^ "Most influential women in UK tech: The 2023 longlist | Computer Weekly". ComputerWeekly.com. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
- ^ "WIT UK Awards 2023 | Bonhill PLC". WIT UK Awards 2023 | Bonhill PLC. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
- ^ "Leeds sculpture to celebrate city's notable women". BBC News. 2024-05-05. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
- ^ "Ribbons Sculpture Leeds". Ribbons Sculpture Leeds. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
- ^ Hindmarsh, Courtney (2024-04-24). "Public sculpture Ribbons launched to champion women of Leeds". Leeds City College. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
- ^ a b "The tech industry won't learn empathy until it gets women through the door". i Newspaper. 2018-04-12. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
- ^ "Natasha Sayce-Zelem". LinkedIn. Retrieved 11 February 2019.[dead link]
- ^ "Empowering Women with Tech and Science". InnovateHer. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
- ^ "Leeds International Festival 2017: Empowering Women With Tech Conference". Leeds Living. 2017-04-30. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
- ^ "Yorkshire, North East & Scotland Regional Final Winners". Forward Ladies Awards. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ Natasha Sayce-Zelem. "Tech Scene Needs Female Coder on Strictly Come Dancing". Business Cloud. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- ^ Natasha Sayce-Zelem (2018-05-02). "Why Don't More Females Consider A Career In Tech?". HuffPost. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ "BIMA Diversity council". BIMA. Retrieved 11 February 2019.
- ^ "The 10 teams". Festival UK* 2022. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
- ^ "10 teams to lead celebration of creativity and innovation in 2022". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2021-08-11.