Suzanne Ward
Suzanne Ward is a seasoned technology leader with more than 35 years of experience spanning medical devices, high tech, and enterprise IT. She began her career in product management within the healthcare space, working on blood pressure cuffs and vital signs monitoring systems, where she led forward-thinking innovation—including becoming the first to eliminate latex from product lines in the late 1990s. Known for her willingness to step up and take on complex challenges, Suzanne built a global career collaborating with teams across Asia and Eastern Europe, contributing to next-generation medical technologies and earning multiple patents, including U.S., Korean, and international recognitions.
Following the 2008 economic shift, Suzanne transitioned into high tech, where she played a pivotal leadership role at Intel. There, she led the multi-year, $2 billion Alder Lake program, guiding large, cross-functional global teams to deliver complex products on time and within budget. Her ability to bridge communication between engineering, marketing, and leadership teams became a defining strength, helping transform struggling teams into high-performing, collaborative environments. Today, she brings that same expertise to the University of South Florida, where she leads Identity and Access Management initiatives that support secure, scalable access across the institution.
At the core of Suzanne’s career is a passion for building strong, happy teams and fostering environments where people can do their best work. She is widely recognized not just for delivering results, but for how she leads—prioritizing communication, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Engineers and colleagues alike often reflect on her projects as some of the best experiences of their careers, a testament to her leadership style. Outside of work, Suzanne enjoys following University of South Florida football and collegiate sports, maintaining a balance between her professional impact and personal passions.
• 6 Patents (3 U.S.
• 2 Korean
• 1 International)
• University of South Florida BA, Economics
• Florida State University MPA, Public Administration
• Drake University MBA, Business Administration
• Portland State University MEng, Systems Engineering
• Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity (40 years)
• Foundation Advisory Board for Alpha Kappa Psi
• Alumni Mentoring at Florida State University
• University of South Florida
• Drake University
• And Portland State University
• Co-founder of Portland Alumni Chapter for USF
• USF Sports Supporter
• Mentoring USF Football and Track Players on Career Transition
• Donating Baseball Tickets to Veterans
What do you attribute your success to?
I've always been willing to step up when management said 'We need somebody who...' and I'd say 'I'll do it.' That willingness took me all over the world and helped me learn how to work with global teams and cultures. I'm very goal-oriented and just drive things to fruition. I don't say no. I'm a lifelong learner - there's always something else to learn. My mother used to joke that I'm constantly in college, and it's true. There was something in my personality that was always driving learning, goals, and success. It's just always been there. I also made sure that I was listened to, and I believe in having fun and celebrating wins, and even sometimes celebrating failures that you can turn into wins. We spend so much of our lives at a job, so you better be having fun.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Just do it. It's out there. You can do it in any type of direction you want. Project management is sometimes a nice, easy way to start - women seem to do better at project management, and then you can project manage a technology project and get embedded in technology, kind of like I did, and start learning the technology. You have to work on how you present yourself. I've done the research, I believe this, I'm recommending, and I stand behind my recommendation. It can't be uncertain - your voice can't go up at the end like a question, because that leaves a perception that you don't know what you're talking about. You have to learn how to pose it the right direction, that yes, I have a right to sit in this chair and give you my opinions, and for my opinions to be listened to. That's a mantra we have to constantly say. You've got the same degree as everyone else. You have a right to be here, and your opinion matters.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge is that we're still losing females early - it has to start at about 4th grade, and they're not even being set down the path. When I go to college events with women getting their bachelor's degree in technology, they still question whether they should be there. I tell them, you've got the same degree as everyone else, you have a right to be here, and your opinion matters. But still having to reinforce that is disheartening. I think they get invited to the table and then don't know what to do with it. Some of it is learning how to present yourself - women's voices go up at the end, which leaves a perception that you don't know what you're talking about. They need to learn to say 'I've done the research, I believe this, I'm recommending, and I stand behind my recommendation' with confidence.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty is huge for me. As an engineer, I need to know what's going to break, so people need to be honest with me so that I can make decisions. Goal orientation is also very important - I'm very goal-oriented and drive things to fruition. But I also believe in having fun and celebrating wins, and even sometimes celebrating failures that you can turn into wins. You gotta have fun. We spend so much of our lives at a job, so you better be having fun. I definitely value having a balanced life with work and personal time.
Locations
USF St Petersburg
140 7th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701
USF Sarasota-Manatee
8350 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL, 34243