International Women's Day 2025

Meet Ashlie Thurston, Head of IT & Digital Transformation

What inspired you to pursue a career in IT?

“I sort of fell into it. I graduated from university with a degree in Sports Management and joined a fintech company in London as a finance assistant. I quickly learned that I was more interested in the development of technology and the platforms that made my job easier. From there, I became a Product Manager, where I was responsible for building and developing our in-house capabilities across the banking networks within finance. I developed my business analyst skills along the way, gained some experience in retail, and shortly after that, I joined Stonegate.”

 

How did you get your start at Stonegate?

“Stonegate was the polar opposite of my previous experience. In my previous roles, I was focused on one specific function within the IT department, but what really drew me to Stonegate was the opportunity to work across so many different types of technology and projects within a big company in a new and exciting industry.”

 

Can you share a defining moment in your career that made you proud?

“There are a few that stand out. I’ve been with Stonegate for nine years, so there aren’t many projects I haven’t been involved with.

One of the largest projects I undertook was the merger of Stonegate with EI Group. Deciding which technology platforms to keep, ensuring these two huge companies could communicate effectively, giving everyone access to the right platforms, merging email databases, sorting out servers— it was a bit of a minefield. But it was exciting because we had the opportunity to cherry-pick the best platforms and implement them company-wide.

MiXR (Stonegate’s digital network, comprising a booking and loyalty app as well as a digital screen network across our managed businesses) is definitely one of the most exciting projects we’ve ever done at Stonegate. Not only is it the first of its kind within the hospitality industry— and now winning awards— but it also allowed us to work cross-functionally with different departments across the business.

We’re also exploring ways to harness AI to support the wider business, as there’s exciting potential for more automation. Our focus has always been on making our colleagues' and guests’ lives easier— for example, automated booking phone lines for out-of-hours inquiries. We want to ensure that we’re using the right technology for the right reasons. It’s about identifying needs and leveraging technology to enhance and improve processes.”

 

What challenges have you faced as a woman in the tech industry, and how did you overcome them?

“It was definitely challenging when I started. Things have improved significantly, but women are still in the minority. It remains a male-dominated industry, and with that come the usual challenges— fighting for equal pay and the same level of respect.

There are numerous stories I could share about attending trade fairs with a male counterpart and being completely ignored. People assumed I wasn’t the decision-maker, and it had to be pointed out that if they actually wanted a decision, they should be talking to me.”

 

What are some of the biggest barriers for women in IT today, and how can we overcome them?

“I do think the narrative is changing. Celebrating the success of prominent women in the industry can help drive that change. There is now a strong focus in the education system on careers in development and coding.

Technology plays such a huge role in business, and it’s still in its infancy— the opportunity is massive. That’s why educating our children, both boys and girls, is so important. They won’t be able to avoid technology, and by the time they enter the workforce, industries will be even more reliant on it.”

How do you think we can attract more women to apply, join, and stay within the IT function?

“I think IT is a lot more exciting than it used to be. The stereotype of the IT department sitting in a dark backroom is outdated. It’s trendy to be in tech now, and I want to break that stereotype by bringing in new people and ensuring the work environment is fun and engaging.

There is so much opportunity in this space for career progression. A colleague might join my team as a business analyst but discover they’re really interested in project management— and we would facilitate that move. It’s also great to see tangible results from our work and celebrate successes, such as, ‘The project you delivered increased sales by X amount.’

I’m passionate about mentorship, having had a mentor myself, and have applied to be a mentor within my team. I want to support people who are transitioning from being excellent ‘do-ers’ to leading their own teams— the same transition I went through in my career. I want to give back to my team and others who are facing the same challenges I did.”

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Thank you, Ashlie, for taking the time to share your story!