Tolu Oke, Global ID&E Customer Engagement Leader at Amazon Web Services (AWS), was announced as the winner of both the ‘Diversity Lead of the Year’ at the Women in IT Awards 2022 and the ‘WISE D&I Award’ at the WISE COVID Unsung Heroes Awards celebrating women in STEM. Both awards recognise Tolu’s work in promoting diversity, equity and inclusivity at AWS and in the broader IT sector.
As a black woman in tech, now more than ever, I’m truly grasping the responsibility I have to be a visible role model in this industry, and being the woman I needed when I was growing up.
The Diversity Lead of the Year at the Women in IT Awards is a distinction given to those who have demonstrated success in addressing inequalities and improving outcomes, those who ensure a culture where all employees can thrive, who are a champion of inclusivity and who inspire and motivate others to improve the business for all.
The WISE COVID Unsung Heroes Awards celebrating women in STEM are given to those who have advanced the role of women in STEM careers. The WISE D&I Award recognises individuals, groups or organisations who found innovative ways of ensuring that Diversity & Inclusion targets were met during the last year.
The WISE panel stated: “Tolu’s work during the pandemic was impressive for several key reasons, the most salient being that she had a global impact on the progression of D&I in the business. Tolu won because she helped establish a global network of 1,450 ambassadors committed to helping to deliver D&I for AWS across 28 countries.”
“Awards and recognition can sometimes feel like vanity when we have a lot of work to do in DE&I, but I’m so grateful for all the recognition,” Tolu said after winning the awards. “It means so much to me, not just as someone committed to this work, but as a black woman committed to making a real difference.
“As a black woman in tech, now more than ever, I’m truly grasping the responsibility I have to be a visible role model in this industry, and being the woman I needed when I was growing up.”
Read about our diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives for women and girls at Amazon.
