Starling Bank’s Sarah MacNeill Named Outstanding Woman in Tech

At the recent Women in Tech Employer Awards, Sarah MacNeill, a Software Engineer at Starling Bank, was honoured as the Outstanding Woman in Tech. Her journey from a Chemistry student to a leader in developer experience and diversity initiatives is a testament to her passion, perseverance, and dedication to making tech more inclusive.

A Career Built on Curiosity and Purpose

Sarah’s path into technology began at the University of St Andrews, where she initially studied Chemistry. However, after taking an elective in Computer Science, she discovered a newfound passion for programming. Reflecting on her decision to switch degrees, she shares:

“A few weeks in, I realised that, although it was difficult, I was having a lot more fun in my Computer Science class, so I convinced the Dean to let me switch degrees.”

During her studies, Sarah explored Human-Computer Interaction and took on a teaching module that introduced algorithms to six-year-olds, reinforcing her love for technology and education.

Her professional career began with an internship at JPMorgan Chase (JPMC), where she later joined their graduate programme as a full-stack Software Engineer. This experience allowed her to develop her skills and gain exposure to the technical demands of the banking industry.

Seeking new challenges, Sarah joined Starling Bank, where she now plays a key role in the Developer Experience engineering team, focusing on internal tooling, training programmes, and diversity initiatives.

“Highlights from the past two years include building a bunch of internal tooling with a user experience focus, developing an impactful interactive training program to help engineers feel more confident with incident management, and getting involved with various diversity and inclusion initiatives,” she says.

Beyond Code: Driving Diversity and Inclusion

Sarah’s contributions extend beyond software engineering—she is deeply committed to diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.

One of her standout achievements is her work with Code First Girls (CFG), a programme offering free coding courses for women. As a CFG instructor, Sarah has:

• Taught 200+ women how to code.
• Mentored students into their first tech roles.
• Helped train future educators in coding.

“It’s so rewarding to see students go from having never written a line of code to producing fully-fledged websites, databases and programming projects,” she shares.

At Starling Bank, Sarah has continued her advocacy through the #WithWomen network, which now has over 1,000 members. She played a key role in setting up the CFGDegree programme at Starling, providing women from non-coding backgrounds with free training and employment opportunities in tech.

“The CFGDegree programme at Starling has received great feedback from the participants’ managers and is running again this year with a bigger cohort based on that success,” she notes.

Overcoming Challenges and Creating Opportunities

As a woman in tech, Sarah acknowledges the challenges of working in a male-dominated industry, including isolation and the struggle to find role models. However, she has tackled these barriers by seeking mentorship, embracing new challenges, and becoming a visible advocate for diversity.

One of her most impactful projects at Starling Bank has been the development of an interactive incident training session. Before her training, only 58% of participants felt confident in incident management—afterward, confidence levels soared to 92%, leading to a waiting list for the rota.

“Not only was it rewarding to see people build their confidence, but we also created so much interest for the rota that there was a waiting list to join!” she says.

Outstanding Woman in Tech Recognition

Winning the Outstanding Woman in Tech award has been a moment for Sarah to reflect on her achievements over the past five years. She hopes her journey will inspire other women to take on challenges and share their ideas.

“Though I only graduated five years ago, I’ve achieved a lot, and I hope this can inspire others to be ambitious. Don’t let being early in your career stop you from starting projects, sharing ideas and getting involved with causes you care about.”

Sarah credits much of her success to the mentorship and support she has received throughout her career. She also values reverse mentorship, believing that learning is a two-way street between mentors and mentees.

Advice for Women Aspiring to Succeed in Tech

Sarah’s advice for women looking to thrive in tech:

• Ask for what you want – whether it’s a promotion, a learning opportunity, or the chance to present your work. “It’s scary to ask, but the awkward conversation doesn’t last long. Your manager needs to know what you want so they can help you succeed.”
• Be your authentic self – you’ll do your best work when you’re passionate about what you do.
• Take every opportunity – even if you’re not sure you’re ready. “There are so many resources and opportunities out there. Don’t be afraid to try things or put yourself forward, even if you don’t think you’ll get it.”

Sarah MacNeill is a true role model in the tech industry, not just for her engineering expertise but for her commitment to diversity, education, and mentorship. With employer partners like Starling Bank, who actively support initiatives that advance gender diversity in technology, the industry is becoming a more inclusive and accessible space for all.

📖 Read more about Sarah’s journey: Women in Tech UK