myGwork talks to Lauren Coldicott about how being trans makes her a great leader and how to show up authentically to work
BY DYLAN MANN-HAZELL
“Check your ego at the door and you can learn from everyone in the room, provided you give them the space to share their ideas.” Lauren Coldicott, Network Service Delivery Leader at Kyndryl, shares her inspiring journey through the tech industry and her personal experiences as a transgender woman. She discusses how she navigates her identity in the workplace, the importance of community, and her vision for women and the transgender community in tech.
Could you tell me a bit about your background and career journey leading up to your current position at Kyndryl?
I’ve worked in tech for over two decades, starting in Cape Town, South Africa, before moving to New Zealand where I’ve lived for many years. My career has spanned everything from systems engineering to network delivery and automation. Today, I lead Kyndryl’s Asia Pacific Network Service Delivery team, specializing in intelligent network automation. I’ve always loved solving problems, building resilient systems, and empowering others. I bring that same energy into leadership — less about hierarchy, more about human connection.
Can you share your personal journey with the LGBTQIA+ community?
I’m a transgender woman, and I’ve known I was a girl since just before I was four years old – even as the world insisted that I was someone else. I grew up in a very conservative, hyper-masculine (and often violent environment), where safety meant silence. I was sneakily wearing makeup from the age of 11 and idolizing women like Dolly Parton, who to me embodied both softness and strength. My real transition came later, but I’ve always been her. When I was 46, I finally found the courage to tell the people I love who I have always known myself to be, and I started hormone replacement therapy, which has been life changing. Being visible now, especially as a leader in tech, is both vulnerable and powerful. It’s also been beautiful to find community – especially among queer women who’ve embraced me without question.
Can you tell me about your childhood – where did you grow up; did you have any hobbies?
I was born in Oranjemund, Namibia and raised in South Africa. Ice skating was one of my early loves – I won lessons at the age of four. I played soccer for over three decades and used it, at times, as a mask for dysphoria. My kids (21 and 17) playfully call me “Ice Dancer” and it always makes me laugh. Looking back, I see how those tiny sparks (makeup, movement, connection) were the quiet threads of the woman I was always becoming.
What has been a standout moment in your career so far?
Honestly, leading this incredible team in network engineering, that is currently made up of all women, has been the highlight. There’s also something beautiful about bringing a trans lens to traditionally male-dominated spaces. It helps me see where the gaps are – whether in data, design, or dialogue. Books like Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez really resonate with me because they validate what I’ve witnessed firsthand – tech, workplaces, even healthcare systems are not built for women like me. I want to help change that.
How does Kyndryl strive for belonging and inclusivity and provide an open space for employees?
Kyndryl is actively building a culture of belonging, and while no company is perfect, I’ve felt encouraged to bring my full self to work here. We have employee resource groups and I have been involved with LGBTQIA+ inclusion networks, even helping start up a social group where trans, non-binary and intersex Kyndryls can virtually meet and have discussions. As a trans person I cannot even begin to express how much seeing and speaking with other trans people gives me a sense of belonging. We’ve created internal resources on trans inclusion and women’s health, particularly menopause, which is so often ignored. It’s heartening to be part of that conversation globally. It’s not about ticking boxes, it’s about intentional culture building.
Have you had any mentors who have made a difference in your career journey? If so, what was the most helpful thing they did to support you?
I’ve had more allies than formal mentors. The ones who made the biggest impact were those who took me seriously and who valued my ideas, not just my output, even before I saw my own worth. That validation early on helped me believe that I could lead.
What’s the best career advice you’ve received that you would like to share with others?
Check your ego at the door and you can learn from everyone in the room, provided you give them the space to share their ideas.
Is there anything we haven’t discussed already that you would like to include?
I’d love to see more trans women in leadership roles in tech. We bring perspective that’s urgently needed – not just around gender, but about resilience, innovation, and care. Visibility matters. Something else that is close to my heart is women’s health advocacy. Supporting my wife and friends through menopause opened my eyes to how overlooked and under-resourced this space is. I now speak up often about the benefits of Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT) and how much misinformation surrounds it. I’m passionate about empowering women – cis and trans alike – with the data and tools to advocate for their own health. That visibility matters just as much in our personal lives as it does in the workplace.
Kyndryl is a proud partner of myGwork, the LGBTQ+ business community. Find out more about job opportunities at Kyndryl.
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