Give to Gain: Women shaping the future of tech
Health tech, People & Culture
25 February 2026
By Louisa
This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the power of giving and sharing expertise through the #GiveToGain campaign. We believe that when women lift others, everyone benefits; from individuals to communities and across the tech sector.
To mark the occasion, we spoke with Dr. Alice Davis, Research Product Owner at Mayden, about her journey from academia to data science, the mentors who inspired her, and the importance of creating space for others to grow. Alice’s story shows how representation, mentorship, and saying yes to opportunities can shape careers and transform the tech landscape.
“Seeing other women in tech roles helped me believe I could do it too. Celebrate every success; it all counts.” – Dr. Alice Davis
Alice joined Mayden having completed a PhD in medical statistics. Unsure whether a long-term career in academia was the right fit, she took part in a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP); a collaboration between University of Bath and Mayden, combining academic research with real-world problem solving.
“I’ve always been interested in how data can be used to make a tangible difference,” Alice explains. “Especially in healthcare, where the insights you generate can directly influence outcomes for patients and services.”
That interest, particularly in mental health, led her to join Mayden full time as a Research Product Owner, where she went on to establish a data science team and now leads the development of iaptus insights; a suite of analytical tools designed to help services understand performance, improve care quality and ultimately deliver better outcomes.
What got you interested in the world of data & tech?
My passion for data started early. As a participant in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), I spent years completing questionnaires, attending health checks and contributing to research without fully realising the scale of its impact at the time.
I’ve been part of research since birth. Seeing how something as simple as filling out a questionnaire could contribute to large-scale insight and influence how healthcare evolves was incredibly powerful. That stayed with me.
What is your top tip for women looking to start a career in tech?
Jump at opportunities, especially those that give you access to mentorship. Seeing other women in technical roles makes a huge difference; it helps you believe that you can do it too.
I’ve learned the importance of celebrating every success, no matter how small. So much goes right, but it’s easy to focus on what didn’t. Taking time to recognise progress builds confidence and momentum.
If I could give one piece of advice, it would be to focus on the positives and say yes to opportunities that help you learn, even if you don’t feel completely ready yet.
What is the one thing you would do to encourage more women into the tech sector?
For me, it comes down to mentorship and representation. At the start of my KTP, both of my supervisors were women, and that had a huge impact on my confidence. Being able to see women already doing the role made it feel achievable and realistic.
After finishing my own KTP, I had the opportunity to organise and supervise another one. I went from being the junior on a project to supporting someone else through the same process. That experience showed me how powerful it can be to create space for others and support them as they grow.
Seeing women create their own roles at Mayden also played a big part in my journey. Watching someone spot a gap, put themselves forward and shape something meaningful, gave me the confidence to do the same. Without that visibility, I don’t think I’d be where I am today.
If we want more women in tech, we need strong role models, accessible mentorship and environments where people feel supported to step up, try new things and lead in their own way.