IN the male dominated world of government technology, authority is often dressed in tailored suits and delivered in bass and baritone. But Anika Shuttleworth was never interested in proving her “testicular fortitude” to climb the ranks. Instead, she honoured her femininity while paving her own path to the top; morphing leadership into the unmistakable clop of heels and flash of bright red lipstick.

“I would say to young women, just walk in boldly with your head held high, with your heels and your red lipstick. Be proud about it,” she says. “It’s not about gender. It’s about who you are, the capabilities and competencies you bring. Step in knowing you already know your thing.”

Today, as Chief Information Officer at the ICT Authority, Shuttleworth occupies one of the most influential seats in Jamaica’s public technology landscape. But the climb, she reflects, required both resilience and resolve.

There were moments early in her career when she had to navigate subtle signals that questioned whether she belonged. Nothing overt. Nothing explicit. Just the small things; the pauses, the second-guessing, the need to prove what others did not.

“I’ve never had anybody say, ‘oh, you’re a female, therefore just cast you aside,’” she said. “They’re not so bold to do that. But yo
u see the little things, and you have to know how to pivot and own your space. That’s how I’ve dealt with it over the years.”

Interestingly, technology was never part of her childhood dream.

She was fascinated by psychology the workings of the human mind and initially saw her future there. But during a visit to The University of the West Indies, Mona, her strong Mathematics grades redirected her path toward Computer Science. She took the advice, completed her Bachelor’s degree in the field, and later earned a Master’s in Computer-based Management Information Systems.

Fresh out of university, she joined what was then eGov Jamaica Limited, now the ICT Authority. Young, driven and quietly confident, she began building her career in an organisation she would eventually help to lead.

“What is really humbling is that this was my first job,” Shuttleworth said. “I started here when fiscal services transitioned to eGov Jamaica Limited and then to the ICT Authority. I left for a few years and came back because I truly believe in the value of this organisation to the country. To move through the ranks and now be at this point, it’s a proud moment.”

Shuttleworth is clear about what shaped her leadership. It was not comparison… not competition… and certainly not imitation.

It was faith.

“I’m very firm about my personal mission — what I’m supposed to be doing,” she said. “I am grounded in scripture. I am a Christian, unashamedly so. I’m mindful about who I’m serving, what I’m doing and why I’m doing it. So irrespective of how people may demonstrate their own situations or expectations, I’m grounded in what I’m supposed to do.”

That grounding, she says, steadies her through both professional pressures and personal responsibilities.

Behind her success is a strong support system — her faith, her family, and close friendships. Balance, however, does not always look neat.

“A typical day is a whirlwind,” she laughed. “From getting my children ready for school, that is, breakfast, lunch, all of that — to back-to-back meetings throughout the day. Even when I leave the office, sometimes the meetings continue until I get into my safe domain, which is home.”

Mother. Wife. Executive. Leader. The roles overlap constantly.

To manage it all, Shuttleworth relies on structure and preparation. Her days do not begin by chance.

“I prep for each day. I don’t just jump into it. I need to know what I have lined up, where I need to go, what time I need to be there, even what kind of attire is appropriate. It’s a lot of scheduling across every aspect of my life, both professional and parenting.”

Even now, at the pinnacle of her career, she acknowledges that being a female leader in a male-dominated field creates a particular dynamic.

“As a woman, you have to stand firmly in your skills and abilities in the marketplace,” she said thoughtfully.

Her message to young women entering their own boardrooms is simple and direct: do not measure yourself against a man’s approach.

“Never look to say a male is doing this better than me,” she said. “We all have different skills and abilities. Women are wired in a particular way, but we are wired for strength just as much as men are. We complement each other.”

And then she returns to the image that defines her philosophy; one she hopes other young women will embrace: “The ways in which we operate and get into the detail of things, a male may handle things differently, but this is interestingly how we complement each other in the world of work. Hence, I’m saying to any female, just step in with your head held high, with your heels and your lipstick, and go forth and do that which you’re supposed to.”

For Shuttleworth, leadership is not about lowering her voice to be heard.

It is about knowing exactly who she is and then walking boldly in that truth.

Anika Shuttleworth.