ALEISHA AMOHIA: REDEFINING TECH FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

With a quiet determination, Aleisha Amohia has broken through barriers and carved out space for herself in the tech industry. Now, as a Technical Lead at Catalyst IT, Aleisha is guiding the next generation of tech talent, all while fiercely advocating for diversity and inclusion in a male-dominated field. We sat down with her to discuss her journey, vision for the future, and how she’s creating a more inclusive industry.

At 15, Aleisha had no idea that a two-week school holiday programme would - in many ways - shape the course of her career. The programme she participated in was the Open Source Academy, a hands-on immersion facilitated by Catalyst IT, where students developed technical tools and skills by contributing to a real- life open source software project. The project Aleisha chose was Koha, an open source library management system started in Aotearoa New Zealand.

“We would write patches and code during the day, and during the night, people around the world would be testing it The next day, we’d refine and improve based on their feedback It was exciting,” she recalls.

More than a decade later, Aleisha has come full circle - she now helps to lead the same programme for the next generation of students. “Helping young people make their own contributions to the project is so rewarding. For many people, it’s their first step into the tech sector - and there’s a really empowering sense of community around it.”

It’s all part of her role as a Technical Lead at Catalyst IT.

It’s a position that means a lot to her. Her journey through the organisation started at 16, shortly after participating in the Open Source Academy, when she joined the team as an intern to continue working on Koha.

Over the past 10 years, she’s worked her way upprogressing through junior, intermediate, and senior roles - each step reflecting her drive and resilience.

As a senior leader, Aleisha’s days are varied “On any day, I may do software development, requirement gathering, or more front-facing work like consulting, training, marketing, or public speaking.”

Aleisha’s learnt many valuable lessons from her rise to leadership - and there are plenty of lessons anyone can take away. A willingness to embrace the unknown is one. “It’s not about knowing everything, but about knowing where to find an answer, or having the initiative to learn something. I’ve learnt you have to be okay with making mistakes and taking a risk.”

The importance of communication is another. “Being able to relay information to different groups is important,” Aleisha explains. “You need to absorb problems from the client or customer, translate them into technical requirements, and then present those in a way that business leaders understand.”

Naturally, there have been challenges along the waymany stemming from working in a male-dominated industry. For Aleisha, community has been her strength. “There’s power in numbers, I believe in that fully. I never go into tech spaces alone - I’ll always find other women. There’s an unspoken rule that we’ve got each other’s backs. It’s like a safety net - we use each other to feel safe in spaces and hype each other up.”

But Aleisha isn’t content to just find comfort in community; she’s advocating for systemic change. “Companies are waking up to the fact that diversity leads to better solutions, and we can all help keep that momentum going. I’ve learned that data is a powerful tool for advocating change. There’s plenty of research proving that diversity leads to better outcomes—we just need to remind leaders of that.”

This theme of advocacy runs through much of Aleisha’s life. While studying for a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Science at Victoria University of Wellington, she founded a Women in Tech group after feeling isolated and disenfranchised during her studies. “At the time, I was working as a Junior Developer at Catalyst. At work, I was thriving - but as a student, I felt really incapable I just couldn’t understand the misalignment.”

The group quickly became a place of belonging for Aleisha and other wāhine. Under her leadership, the group grew to over 200 members in just two years. “We hosted social events, networking sessions, and ran programmes for high school students. It gave me so much personal and professional value. I realised I wasn’t alone, and it helped me get through university.”

Today, Aleisha continues her advocacy work as President of the Wellington Branch of the National Council of Women New Zealand. She’s been with the organisation for over 5 years. During her tenure, she’s been involved in elections, rallies, social events, panels, and performances, all designed to provide a safe space for women. “It’s about letting young women know there’s a channel for their rage and feelings, and there are places for them to activate around things they care about.”

Aleisha’s tireless efforts to create more inclusive spaces haven’t gone unnoticed. She was recently recognised with an industry award for her contributions, a moment that left her both honored and motivated “I see it as a challenge - an opportunity to live up to the expectations that come with it. The Matihiko Awards 2024 Rangatiraranga award has given me the remit to use my platform and position to do even more.”

Looking ahead, Aleisha is turning her attention to the future of tech and equity, particularly when it comes to the ethical implications of new technologies like AI. While the industry is pushing boundaries, she remains cautious about the speed at which AI is advancing. “AI scares me,” she admits.

“Historically, data hasn’t been collected in ways that are safe for Māori, ethnic groups, or women It’s not representing us accurately, and I worry that the rush to develop AI is overshadowing the need for accountability.”

But, true to her nature, Aleisha doesn’t just see the challenges - she sees opportunities too. "There’s a chance for Māori and other underrepresented groups to become the architects of this new technology,” she explains.

“By upskilling and becoming data scientists, we can take control of how data is used and ensure it’s being applied ethically. But we need to always be asking: ‘Who is this benefiting? Who might be harmed?’ The industry needs to be held accountable."

This drive for equity and inclusivity is central to Aleisha’s vision for the future.

“I want to create a world where future generations can bring their full selves into any space - without needing to leave any parts of their identity behind. I can’t do this alone, but I’d love for my future children to walk into school or work knowing they don’t have to hide who they are.”