DR. MAHSA MCCAULEY: A QUEST FOR GENDER DIVERSITY IN TECH

Dr. Mahsa McCauley is a visionary leader, committed to reshaping the tech industry and tackling gender inequity head-on. As an advocate for women in STEM, she’s driving change through her pioneering work in AI, governance roles, and her own non-profit She Sharp. We chatted with this trailblazing wāhine to explore her journey, her passion for empowering the next generation, and the legacy she’s building for women in tech.

Dr. Mahsa McCauley is an incredible, multi-faceted Iranian-born Kiwi who is making waves in the tech sector as a champion for gender diversity and advocate for the next generation of women in tech.

But her story starts with a simple sense of curiosity.

“My career all started with a fascination of the practicality of computers,” she recalls. She followed that curiosity - pursuing a Bachelor in Software Engineering, and then moving to New Zealand to do a PhD in Artificial Intelligence and Computer Engineering.

Her research, ahead of its time, focused on building a machine capable of translating languages without human intervention. “Today we have Google Translate, and a whole host of other AI-based translation tools, but we didn’t have anything like that at the time,” Mahsa explains.

For her, the project wasn’t just technologically significant - it also held personal significance. Coming from Iran, the ability to remove language barriers was deeply personal. “Having a device to communicate was a dream, it made life easier and removed so many barriers.”

For Mahsa, this was just the beginning. She has since forged an impressive career, contributing to New Zealand's tech sector in many capacities, including as a Senior Lecturer in AUT’s School of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Science, where she teaches and researches AI, Machine Learning, and IoT. “I love working with curious students. The role of teachers and students is changing. It’s all about co-learning, co-contributing, and co-teaching. Honestly, sometimes my students will know more than me about a particular area.”

Beyond academia, Mahsa plays key governance roles in organisations like the NZTech, the Artificial Intelligence Researchers Association, EdTechNZ, and AI Forum NZ. “I’m passionate about governance and what’s happening in the industry to make change across the board,” Mahsa explains.

However, her work with She Sharp Charitable Trust stands out as a defining chapter in her career.

In 2014, Mahsa founded the non-profit, which provides high school girls, female tertiary students, and industry professionals with a platform to connect and learn, in an effort to address the stark gender imbalance in tech.

The idea took root when Mahsa received a Google scholarship named in honour of Anita Borg, an American computer scientist who envisioned 50:50 gender representation in the tech industry by 2020. Although Borg passed away before seeing that vision come to life, Mahsa is carrying that torch forward in New Zealand.

What started as a small group of fellow university students has grown into a thriving community of nearly 3,000 members, hosting over 80 events, each drawing over 100 attendees.

“Our goal is to change the tech landscape, one woman at a time,” Mahsa explains, her passion clear.

For Mahsa, this mission is personal. It took a lot of hard work for Mahsa to get to where she is today - and championing women in tech and inspiring the next generation is part of her personal legacy.

“We need to see more representatives as women - not as consumers, but as developers, producers, and creators of tech. We need to be open, and not just accept the way that things are.”

Her approach to closing the gender gap is grounded in practical actions. “I want to make every woman a champion of change for gender diversity in tech Not as a tick box exercise, but through real, practical efforts.” That means more learning opportunities, scholarships, funding, and mentoring programmes.

At the time that we talk, She Sharp is approaching their 10-year anniversary. Mahsa reflects with gratitude on how far the organisation has come, but she’s far from finished “I hope we can take She Sharp to every place across New Zealand.”

It’s an ambitious goal, but one that feels achievable in Mahsa’s hands. Already, She Sharp has made waves across the tech sector - and Mahsa finds great fulfilment in seeing the tangible impact amongst wāhine. “I love seeing that spark - when people come along to She Sharp events and now they’re thriving. It’s important that we keep inspiring and creating champions.”

Before She Sharp’s next chapter unfolds, Mahsa has another exciting adventure on the horizon.

She's set to travel to the United States on a Fullbright Scholarship, where she'll be working on a project that uses AI to understand bee acoustics and monitor hive stress levels.

In a field as dynamic as AI, Mahsa acknowledges the rapid pace of change. “Things are evolving so quickly - what’s relevant today may not be tomorrow.”

This has been part of Mahsa’s reality since the very beginning of her tech career. “I poured my heart and soul into my PhD at the time, but the technology it was based on is obsolete now.”

So, how does she manage to keep up? "In this field, you have to be open to learning, testing, trying, validating, and adapting. You just jump in, figure things out, and keep learning,” she explains “And it helps to have a small tribe of friends to challenge you and keep you accountable."

As our conversation draws to a close, Mahsa shares one last piece of advice - the most valuable lesson she’s learned throughout her rich career. "I didn’t need to change myself. For a long time, I wanted to be different, but staying true to my values and who I am has turned out to be the most important thing."

MAHSA’S ADVICE FOR YOUNG WOMEN INTERESTED IN STEM:

There are so many different roles that you can play in the technology sector. Technology is the future, and you can figure out how to use it as an enabler for your work and what you want to do.

[The quality key to my success] “has been a growth mindset and an openness to learning. In this area of work, you have to be open to learning, testing, trying, and validating.”