Skye He

Skye He’s achievements include automating the production of 400 product-level climate reports for a FTSE100 insurer, reducing time per report from 8 hours to 1 minute, and designing an end-to-end ESG tech solution for the same organisation. This transformation strengthened the company’s ESG commitments. She is also leading a reporting transformation for the London Market, streamlining processes for over 100 syndicates.

A champion of diversity and inclusion, Skye has mentored women through programmes like RaiseYou and Elevate, helping two women achieve promotions. She actively speaks at industry events on technology, data, and diversity, and contributes to professional communities including ICAEW and WIBF.

Skye continues to develop her expertise through certifications and industry involvement, promoting cost reduction, efficiency, and innovation in Financial Services. She is a role model for gender equality and a strong advocate for technology adoption and culture change.

How does it feel to be nominated for the Tech Leader Award, and have you been involved with WIBF before now?

I joined WIBF as a member in March 2024 through KPMG corporate membership. I’m thrilled to be on of the finalists in the Tech Leader category this year, alongside 8 other brilliant female leaders in the industry. I’m very much looking forward to the Awards evening on 14 November to celebrate together.

Can you tell us about your career journey in tech so far and how you got to where you are today?

I have always been interested in consistent performance improvement for business functions, and technology has become the key enabler to achieve that. Before I came to the UK, I worked for Bank of China in Global Trade where I started taking small steps to help the team become more effective in their day-to-day job through shortcuts and automation you can set up with Excel and Word.

I started in audit as my first job in the UK, where I saw first-hand the end-to-end process of how a bank, an insurer or an asset manager run their business and the big scope of efficiency and performance improvement through process rationalisation and technology enablement. I got qualified as a Chartered Accountant with ICAEW and moved across to management consulting swiftly after that to explore the intersection of technology and finance in finance transformation.

Over a decade, I focus on how the finance function and the wider business can be supported by technology to achieve better business outcomes, be it compliance, value adding or cost reduction. I help business to start with functional requirements, then through design using the most appropriate technology and vendors available in the market to deliver, covering data sourcing, transformation and reporting. Increasingly, I lead ESG reporting transformation programmes, expanding reporting solutions beyond financial and reglatory reporting.

You actively participate in programmes such as RaiseYou, Elevate and KPMG Cross Company Allyship Programme – what inspires you to do this and what has been the most rewarding achievement through these programmes?

Through participating in those programmes, I had the opportunity to speak at a few D&I events, to mentor others, and to volunteer and contribute, ultimately paying it forwards in my day to day.

I also enjoy the networking opportunities provided to form relationships and to have some really good thought-provoking conversations. Carve out some time to myself to step back and think more strategically.

I have always been fascinated by new ideas and perspectives, looking for new ways of doing things and to improve the status quo. I love the revelation and conviction I receive from those programmes in not just advocacy for women and minority in FS, but also wider shifts in status quo being challenged and new paths being formed to help individuals reach their full potential.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to advocate for women more effectively in the workplace?

• Look for neurodiversity rather than just how people look.
• Look out for those who get things done but have a quieter personality
• Take consistent actions, small steps but never stop.

Who are your role models and why?

I feel very fortunate that I have worked with some amazing people throughout my career and each one of them have had an influence on my thinking and actions I took. There are also people who had a big impact on me through very brief encounter. There are aspects of people, who I have never met in person, that I admire and find inspiring through books and media platforms. However, ultimately, I believe in finding one’s own path with a strong support network. Lead by example, shape what is important for you and pay it forward. It’s a journey of discovery and fulfilment.