Melissa Di Donato is Chair and CEO of Kyriba, a global leader in Liquidity Performance.
She has worked in tech for 20+ years, spanning roles at IBM, SAP, Salesforce, and SUSE, where she was the first woman to lead a billion Euro IPO in Germany.
She serves on the boards of JPMorgan, Porsche AG and is co-founder of the education charity Inner Wings, which provides kids from around the UK, especially girls, with the support and tools needed to build their confidence. Melissa has previously held UK government positions including non-Executive Director of the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology and Member of the Small & Medium Enterprise Digital Adoption Task Force.
How did you land your current role? Was it planned?
I was thrilled to join Kyriba in 2023. Leading a genuinely best-in-industry company is a rare opportunity to come by, so it was an easy decision for me. It was clear Kyriba had enormous potential to further expand its market presence – something that we proved true last year with record-breaking growth!
I grew up in the US but have lived and worked in Europe and the UK for many years. I’m optimistic about the opportunities in the Technology landscape here. In recent years, there’s been a lot of discussion about whether Europe and the UK can catch up with US tech. I believe we can—we have extraordinary talent in the region; but we need to think differently about how we best use it to play our own tech game, not follow in others’ footsteps.
What are the key roles in your field of work, and why did you choose your current expertise?
I didn’t always plan to work in tech. My academic background is actually in Russian Language and History. But, around graduation, my business school Dean told me, “this SAP thing is catching on – you should look into it.” So I decided to explore engineering, coding, and tech. That advice changed the course of my career.
But answering a question on what the key roles in tech are is a bit of a minefield. Tech is everywhere now and no one business or role in the sector is the same. If I look at Kyriba and the work we do helping CFOs, corporations, banks and other organisations optimize their cash flow in today’s volatile global economy, many of the core roles in our business are not stereotypical “tech roles”, but they are no less important. Yes, product developers and coding engineers are the lifeblood of our business growth – but so are treasury and currency experts, sales and marketing, HR and finance. Tech is much more than its geeky reputation; you don’t need to be a coding pro to work in tech.
Did you (or do you) have a role model in tech or business in general?
I am a firm believer that finding the right mentor will be the best thing you ever do for your career. Larry Hirst, former Chairman of IBM, has been a truly brilliant friend and mentor over the years. He was the one who encouraged me to go to my first female-focused business event, which opened my eyes to the issues many women continue to face in workspaces globally, and especially in tech. Before I went to that first event, I just wanted to get the job done and blend in – wearing black, blue, and pinstripes amongst my male counterparts. Being in that room was a real turning point for me, hearing story after story of how hard all the women in the room had to fight to get to where they were all while watering down their personalities in order to ‘lay low’ amongst the men. I realised my steps to fit in were just making a bad situation worse. I now wear exactly what I want to wear, aka pink and bright colours galore! I’ll be forever grateful to Larry for putting that event on my radar.
Additionally, I really admire Poppy Gustafsson, former CEO of Darktrace and now Minister of State for Investment in the UK. I don’t think we should underestimate how important it is that currently, two of the prominent financial leaders in government are women. She’s a great role model for women across industries and stages of life, demonstrating how to make an impact in business and government.
What are you most proud of in your career, so far?
Women too often shy away from individual recognition and are taught to downplay their successes. I appreciate this kind of question – let’s celebrate more of our hard-earned wins.
Professionally, I’m incredibly proud of what we accomplished at Kyriba last year: delivering four record-breaking quarters, attracting new private equity investment, and ranking among the top 25% of tech companies for employee engagement. It was a huge moment of validation for our organisation, and I couldn’t be prouder of the team that made it happen.
On a personal level, some of my most meaningful work has been with Inner Wings, the charity my husband and I founded to empower kids across the UK with the confidence to make their voices heard and make their way in the world. Last year, we hosted an event to meet some of the incredible individuals who’ve been through the programme, and it was a humbling reminder of how much potential the next generation holds. Our job is to make sure they have the tools and support to succeed—no matter where they come from.
What does an average work day look like for you?
I make it a non-negotiable to wake up early, go for a run and have a good breakfast before starting work everyday. How I start my morning really does determine the kind of day I am going to have.
My days tend to be filled with back-to-back meetings across a lot of time zones. It is intense, but I love how many people I get to meet and speak to everyday. We work flexibly at Kyriba, so speaking to as many employees as possible is essential to really know what’s working and what isn’t.
I’m also a big believer in time blocking. If I know I have a deadline looming and work that needs my attention, I’ll look ahead and block spaces in my calendar to ensure the work gets done. As a CEO, you need to be available pretty much all the time, so time-blocking helps me be present in meetings, knowing I’ve also carved out time to concentrate on urgent priorities.
Logging off when you’re running a business operating in multiple time zones is easier said than done. Some days I am better than others; we’re all human! That said, my husband and I make a big effort to cook and eat dinner with our kids. It’s the one moment in the day where we’re all together as a family and I really treasure it.
Have you ever faced insecurities and anxieties during your career, and how did you overcome them?
Imposter syndrome is the bane of pretty much every working woman; it affects us all! But, I learned a long time ago that insecurity gets me nowhere. About ten years ago, the sudden death of my husband left me alone in London with my baby daughter unable to pay rent. It was a scary time, but I knew I had to step up. and doubting myself was simply not an option. Having to provide for my daughter focused my attention on my career; I needed the job and I needed to succeed at that job, so I did. It might sound overly simple, but I didn’t have the luxury of doubt then and I don’t allow it in myself now.
Entering the world of work can be daunting. Do you have any words of advice for anyone feeling overwhelmed?
Don’t try too hard to fit in. I saw a video of Davina McCall telling new university graduates to “sit at the front” – it will feel awkward and people might think you’re trying too hard, but who cares? Sitting at the front forces you to be seen and it teaches you the habit of putting yourself out there, despite the short-term discomfort. Growth and comfort rarely exist together.
So, I encourage others to keep putting themselves in positions that feel hard or a bit scary. Ask a senior colleague for advice over a coffee, attend that networking event on your own, raise your hand for a new project you don’t know much about. It makes a difference.
What advice would you give other women wanting to reach their career goals in technology?
Be intentional in seeking out mentorship. I’ve had (and still have) mentors throughout my career; I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. We all need help every now and again, so don’t be afraid to ask for it.
Look for and cultivate relationships with the people you can learn from the most. Regardless of the role or organisation, if you are surrounded by people you can learn from, it will be worth your time. A job doesn’t have to be perfect, but you should feel like you’re learning. If you are learning, you’re growing. That growth will be central to reaching your full potential in your career, whether in tech or any industry.
