Paulette Watson MBE is a visionary tech leader, global equity advocate, and award-winning author committed to closing the digital divide for underserved communities. As the Founder and Managing Director of Academy Achievers, Paulette is internationally recognised for her bold mission to democratise Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum Computing, and Computational Thinking for Black women and girls worldwide.
In 2024, Paulette was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for her outstanding contributions to STEM and AI education. She was also conferred the Freedom of the Borough in recognition of her lifelong work harnessing artificial intelligence to support social mobility, digital equity, and innovation in local and global communities.
Paulette has recently been nominated as a finalist in two prestigious categories at the Women in Electronics Leadership Awards 2025:
These nominations reflect her continuing impact at the forefront of the global conversation on ethical tech, representation, and justice.
Paulette is the acclaimed author of 'She Disrupts: A Black Woman's Journey in STEM and AI Industries', a searing critique of how biased algorithms and exclusionary data models perpetuate inequality for Black women. The book offers a roadmap for dismantling these systems while providing hope, strategy, and direction for those committed to inclusive design and equitable futures.
She exposes algorithmic oppression's real-world dangers, reveals her battles within tech spaces, and offers solutions rooted in community empowerment, AI ethics, and radical truth-telling.
Deeply passionate about AI agents, Paulette views them as more than self-operating systems—they are co-creators of opportunity, especially when designed with equity. Her current research and advocacy explore how ethical AI agents can support youth education, public health systems, and workforce development globally.
She is also a rising voice in Quantum Computing, opening up access and visibility to this next frontier of tech for girls and women who have historically been shut out. Through her unique lens of critical thinking and computational literacy, Paulette makes these complex systems accessible, tangible, and impactful.
Paulette's impact spans London to Lagos, Jamaica to Johannesburg. Her global initiative, #BeMeDigitalinclusion, has reached over 900,000 women and girls through mentorship, digital upskilling, work experience programs, and international exchange.
Her recent #BeMedigitalinclusion & SheDisrupts program—powered by Google Cloud—teaches young women how to use Vertex AI, BigQuery, and ethical design to tackle real-world challenges, from sustainable energy to healthcare access.
She is also the driving force behind Python London Nights, a growing community and platform that combines tech training, career development, and representation for Black women in coding and AI careers.
Paulette is reshaping how organisations hire, mentor, and invest in underrepresented talent. She consults on equity-first hiring strategies, runs corporate partnerships that connect young people with actual career pathways, and supports companies in meeting their apprenticeship levy goals through structured, high-impact programs.
She also advises as a Non-Executive Director (NED) and critical friend on AI governance, digital transformation, and ethical tech frameworks—ensuring that organisations embed inclusion from the boardroom to the algorithm.
Paulette is not just a leader—she is a movement builder. Her voice resonates across platforms, from LinkedIn to conference podiums, where she challenges dominant narratives and encourages institutions to lead with care, clarity, and courage.
She uses storytelling, data, and deep systems thinking to craft interventions that empower others to create change. Through her Medium blog, podcast appearances, and keynote speeches, Paulette urges audiences to imagine and build a world where Black women don't just participate in the future—they shape it.
Her life's mantra is simple: Technology should not replace people but empower them.
Connect with her on Paulette Watosn MBE
