For Madiha Shakil Mirza, life changed when she was introduced to the power—and potential—of technology. As a child growing up in Pakistan, she was delighted when her father bought a Windows 95 PC for the family. Her fascination and curiosity were further fueled by the digital children’s educational games she played at home.
“My parents encouraged me to explore how those programs were created,” Mirza says. “Their support set me on the path that led me to where I am today.”
As a graduate student working on her master’s degree in computer science, she had the opportunity to research natural language processing (NLP), an advanced subfield of artificial intelligence (AI). Mirza’s advisor, an internationally renowned NLP expert, introduced her to generative AI and large language models (LLMs) before these systems became mainstream. This new area of study helped expand her horizons and strengthen her academic work.
“My master’s thesis focused on building language models to teach computers and conversational agents, like chatbots and voice assistants, how to understand and generate humor,” she explains. “I also collaborated with my advisor on projects like developing a machine learning system to detect irony in tweets.”
Mirza’s graduate school experience deepened her passion for AI and all its possibilities for cutting-edge innovation. Today, she is a senior consultant for AI at Avanade, a global tech leader that employs 60,000 professionals in 26 countries.
Here, Mirza shares what she’s responsible for in her role, how she’s continuously empowered by Avanade’s supportive culture, and her best advice for young girls and women who are striving to tear down systemic barriers in tech.
What led to your job at Avanade, and how did you know the company would be a good fit?
During my final semester of graduate school, I applied to many jobs. I wanted to join a workplace that balanced technical innovation with real-world impact, and Avanade was the perfect fit. I was drawn to the company’s culture, which is driven by human-centric innovation.
The interview process made it clear that Avanade values technical expertise, problem-solving finesse, and a passion for developing innovative solutions that are deployed in a safe, ethical way. The opportunity felt like a dream job, allowing me to apply the AI skills I gained during my graduate research to build real-world solutions.
Six years later, I’m still excited to be at Avanade. Every project pushes me to think outside the box.
What are the core responsibilities in your role? Why does this work excite or inspire you?
As a senior consultant, I design and develop AI-driven solutions using machine learning, NLP, generative AI, and deep learning to help Avanade’s clients solve critical challenges. My work spans a range of projects—from building chatbots and text summarization tools to training neural networks for logical structure recognition in unstructured documents. I’ve developed machine learning systems to enhance the order management systems of clients in the retail and fast-food industries. I’ve built predictive maintenance tools for automotive and manufacturing clients and LLMs for semantic search to improve enterprise data quality. I’ve also worked on AI-powered solutions for healthcare modernization.
I’m most excited by the tangible impact of my work. Whether it’s a health insurance chatbot helping patients navigate their coverage or an AI system optimizing decision-making processes in retail, I love using technology to help individuals and transform industries. Being part of that transformation is both inspiring and rewarding.
You’ve been at Avanade for more than six years. Reflecting on your career journey, where did you start, and how did you end up in your current role? How did Avanade’s leadership and culture support this trajectory?
I started as an analyst, and now I’m a senior consultant. From the beginning, I’ve been part of Avanade’s Artificial Intelligence Practice, helping build AI-driven solutions that impact our clients and improve Avanade’s internal processes. Being part of the company’s inaugural North America Midwest AI team was an incredible opportunity, setting the foundation for my career growth.
Avanade’s people-first culture has been instrumental in my journey. Leadership promotes an inclusive, supportive environment. The company prioritizes continuous learning—a key to excelling in client-facing roles. Tech consulting is a fast-moving field, and Avanade consistently provides opportunities to embrace my uniqueness, identify areas for growth, and refine my strengths.
Beyond career development, Avanade invests in employee well-being through flexible work options, wellness programs, and paid time off (including time for volunteering). I’m at Avanade because leadership trusts and empowers me to experiment, grow, and deliver excellence.
What’s one highlight of your career thus far at Avanade, and why?
It’s hard to choose just one. Beyond my client work, I serve as a Citizenship Champion in my region and the Allyship Lead for Men as Allies program. I also led the 2023 INSPIRE Black Employee Network’s Social Justice Hackathon. One of my biggest goals was to expand the hackathon’s global impact. Under my leadership, we brought in speakers, panelists, and participants from beyond North America for the first time.
In 2023, the Social Justice Hackathon earned the Avanade Volunteer Impact Award. This career highlight was a testament to the power of technology-driven solutions in tackling critical social justice issues. The solutions addressed real-world challenges, from increasing accessibility in education to leveraging AI to reform the criminal justice system and end wrongful convictions. The experience of leading the Social Justice Hackathon reinforced my belief in using technology as a force for positive change.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve experienced thus far in your career, and how did you overcome it?
I was born and raised in Pakistan, where the education system encourages passive listening. Students are expected to agree with everything the teacher says, and women, in particular, are discouraged from voicing their opinions.
Earlier in my career at Avanade, I hesitated to express myself. Avanade has been instrumental in building my confidence, assuring me that I belong in the room, my voice matters, and my opinions are valued.
A key turning point in overcoming this challenge was my involvement in the peer review feedback process of Avanade’s Presentation Excellence Program. As part of the program, members of our region were encouraged to give presentations about their projects and share learnings to increase knowledge across our teams. I delivered several presentations that were reviewed by my peers, and I incorporated their feedback into my subsequent presentations. This event made me a better public speaker, and I’ve been invited to speak at several data science and AI conferences.
Women and girls still encounter barriers in the STEM field. What advice would you give those determined to pursue a STEM career? How can they gain confidence, overcome systemic issues, and successfully navigate biases that prevent upward mobility and equity in the workplace?
Gender biases in science, technology, engineering, and math fields are symptoms of systemic inequalities that have long hindered women’s participation in these careers. Women continue to face significant barriers, such as hiring and retention gaps, workplace microaggressions, and a lack of female role models and mentors.
A key issue is the absence of female role models, which is a reflection of the cultural gender biases that portray STEM as a masculine domain. This false stereotype is harmful because it discourages young girls from pursuing careers in these fields.
For girls to gain confidence, the first step is simply to start—whether coding a project, joining a STEM community, or seeking a mentor. Taking the first step is critical. Surround yourself with allies who will amplify your voice and advocate for you. When possible, be that ally for others.
Achieving gender equality in STEM requires action—no matter how small. Every action paves the way for upward mobility and creates more inclusive, equitable workplaces.
What steps can companies take to leverage technology for social good and equity? How has Avanade made actionable steps toward this initiative?
Technology should be a tool for innovation and inclusion. At Avanade, we have programs like the Corporate Citizenship initiative, which encourages employees to engage in volunteer opportunities that support our human-impact goals. Additionally, our Digital Ethics and Responsible AI initiative ensures that we consider the ethical implications of our technology on people, society, and the environment.
What sets Avanade apart is its ability to use technology to drive meaningful change. I’ve been an Avanade Citizenship Champion for three years. I’ve enjoyed collaborating with colleagues to empower youth, inspire change, and develop innovative solutions that drive social good and equity. When we unite, we accelerate progress toward an equitable and sustainable future for all.
As a woman in tech, what does equitable representation mean to you? How has Avanade supported and enabled this across decision-making areas of the business?
Equitable representation means women should be involved at every step of the technological process. This is essential to prevent the deployment of new technologies within existing biases and to ensure our voices help shape future innovations. It’s not enough to simply have women in the room—they must have a seat at the decision-making table. Avanade champions this vision through programs like the Women’s Leadership Development Program, which prepares women to participate in the decision-making spheres of technology and be at the forefront of leadership within the company.
Who are your female role models, mentors, or sources of inspiration that have helped guide your career path in tech? How have they contributed to your growth and success?
My Avanade family has supported me throughout my journey. Leadership, mentors, and career advisers have guided me every step of the way.
I’m grateful to work alongside brilliant, strong women who inspire me. These mentors and leaders have offered invaluable advice, opened doors to new opportunities, and encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone.
One of the best pieces of advice I received on a project was, “Fail fast, learn faster.” This transformed my perspective, helping me reframe failure from a setback to a necessary step toward future success.