Una Stevenson, COO

I attribute my success to resilience, grit, and the ability to keep moving forward in the face of fear and uncertainty. I’ve learned that setbacks don’t define you unless you let them, and I choose to rebuild and grow from every challenge, much like the art of Kintsugi where broken pieces are restored into something even stronger and more valuable. Being often the only woman in the room, growing up with five brothers, and a sister in my grandparents household, have all shaped my strength and confidence, teaching me early how to navigate adversity and unfamiliar spaces.

The best career advice I’ve ever received came from a business mentor who encouraged me not to focus on everything I could be doing, but instead to stay fully present in what I am doing right now. He reminded me that the path naturally unfolds in its own direction when you focus on excellence in each current step, rather than trying to force or predict the future. Given that my career has been somewhat unorthodox, this perspective helped me trust the process and concentrate on doing each role well, which in turn has guided my growth in ways I didn’t always anticipate.

I would advise young women entering my industry to take every opportunity in front of them and confidently leverage what they already know, without waiting for permission to move forward. Trust that your knowledge has value, even if you are the first to apply it in a certain space, and don’t underestimate the strength that comes from preparation and continuous learning. I’ve seen in fields like finance that women often take the time to understand deeply before acting, which can actually make them stronger and more effective decision-makers. In today’s evolving areas like AI implementation, business development, and strategy, no one has all the answers, and we are all learning as we go. My advice is to go for it, use what you know, stay open to growth and pivots, and move forward with confidence, even when you’re leading the way.

I see both a challenge and an opportunity in today’s AI and business operations space. A key challenge is addressing the hesitation and uncertainty many people feel around AI adoption, which is understandable given concerns about safety, security, and responsible use. The work lies in bridging that gap by clearly communicating what is being implemented, how it works, and why it matters for their specific business needs, while easing fear of the unknown with transparency and education. At the same time, the opportunity is significant, there is a growing demand for accessible, digestible education as people absorb information quickly but need it delivered in clear, meaningful ways. This creates space to continuously educate, stay transparent in the process, and bring people along on the journey so they not only understand the value of the tools being used, but also feel confident in how and why they are being implemented.

My core values are faith and family. My faith is foundational to everything I do. It gives me direction, grounding, and a steady belief system that guides how I lead, make decisions, and show up in my work and personal life. It shapes my sense of purpose and how I move through the world. Family is equally important to me, and I define it broadly to include both my loved ones and my close circle of friends who feel like family. My husband and children are central to my life, and I am intentional about raising my children to be strong, independent individuals. Together, faith and family are the through line in how I live, work, and support others every day.