Get To Know Our Finalists for the 25th Annual WIT Awards – Large/Enterprise Category
Kateau James
Kateau James is the Global Chief Information Officer (CIO) at McKinsey & Company, where she leads the Technology & Digital organization – the technology arm that designs, develops and manages cutting- edge technologies that empower all firm colleagues worldwide and shapes the future of work. She leads teams to advance operational excellence, enhance collaboration, and deliver exceptional outcomes for both colleagues and clients.
From overseeing global device management, office technology, improving colleague productivity, and championing new digital experiences to driving global CRM, finance and payroll transformations, her work is redefining how McKinsey operates, collaborates, and delivers value. Kateau oversees a mission-critical tech organization, scaling its capabilities to match firm growth ambitions. She leads strategic “buy vs. build” decisions, builds high-performing diverse teams, manages vendor partnerships, and ensures the seamless integration of robust data infrastructures. Kateau is responsible for ensuring that digital solutions are not only implemented but embraced and maintained across the organization.
At the heart of her leadership is a vision for creating a seamless and productive digital workplace that drives impact at scale. Before joining McKinsey in 2023, Kateau was the Global Chief Operations Officer (COO) for Deloitte Technology, where she led global IT operations and governance, IT transformation, enterprise architecture, enterprise data and innovation strategies. With over 20 years in informational technology, she has consistently delivered transformative results via from full life cycle software development to organizational change and tech strategy. Kateau is a PhD candidate at Hampton University, holds an MBA in Finance from Auburn University, a BS in Business Information Systems from Albany State University, a CIO certification from the Technology Association of Georgia, and a master’s Certification in IT Project Management from George Washington University.
Kateau is an active board member of the Boys and Girls Club of America and NPower, working to advance economic and educational opportunities for underserved communities. She is also an active board member of Georgia Future Business Leaders of America and a member of the Georgia Department of Education Information Technology Advisory Committee, Georgia CIO, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Originally from Huntsville, Alabama, Kateau currently resides in Atlanta, GA.
Tina Nguyen
Tina Nguyen is the Senior Director of Product Management for GE Vernova’s Gas Power – Services Operations business, a $15B global enterprise focused on turbine maintenance and operations. In this role, Tina leads a $100M+ portfolio of enterprise and custom digital solutions that empower customers to transform their operations— driving gains in productivity, reliability, safety, and sustainability.
Tina oversees a global team responsible for delivering integrated digital platforms across commercial sales and quoting, operational planning, demand placement, field execution, and financial and analytical insights. Her leadership has been instrumental in advancing GE Vernova’s digital transformation, enabling utilities and energy providers to deliver more affordable, reliable, and sustainable power.
Since beginning her career at GE in 1995, Tina has held leadership roles across multiple divisions—including power, transportation, financial services, and information systems—successfully launching and scaling a wide range of product lines. She brings a depth of experience in technology strategy, product innovation, and operational excellence.
Tina is a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion in STEM. She has served on advisory boards for the U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce – Southeast and Good Shepherd Services of Atlanta. She also actively mentors and supports emerging talent through her engagement with the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers at the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland, a Master of Science in Computer Science from Hood College, and an Executive MBA from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Ashlea Parrish (Mitchell)
Ashlea is a seasoned Global Technology leader with more than 20 years of experience driving enterprise solutions, large-scale transformations, and global integrations. During her tenure as Global Technology VP of Engineering at Equifax, she led the company’s $1.5B Cloud Transformation, helping the organization reach 90% Cloud Native in 2025. Her strategic thought leadership and strong partnerships contributed to increased revenue growth and accelerated speed-to-market for new products and services.
She also played a pivotal role in advancing diversity and inclusion at Equifax, serving as a leader of the Global Women’s Employee Network, WATT Global (Women Advancing Technology Together). Under her leadership, the network expanded across the U.S., Latin America, Europe, ANZ, and India, fostering connections, mentorship, professional growth, and wellness initiatives for women in technology and their allies.
Throughout her career, Ashlea has led global teams spanning architecture, engineering, cloud, network, security, risk, compliance, governance, mergers and acquisitions, global expansion, and enterprise delivery. She is recognized for building world-class “security first” reliability through automation, innovation, and data-driven decision-making. Ashlea is a servant leader who empowers people, enables teams, and drives change. She is also a frequent speaker and a passionate advocate for women and girls in S.T.E.A.M.
Ashlea’s Philosophies:
– Work as One Team
– How We Operate is the Key to Success
– Transformation is a MINDSET – a way of looking, thinking, and processing something different
