2023 Women Leaders in Technology: Kimberly Williams-Czopek

The majority of Kim's career has been focused in digital strategy with 20+ years on the consulting side, five years on the technology product design side, and a stint as VP of Digital Commerce on the brand side. Having experienced all three sides of delivery – agency, product and brand – she brings a unique perspective to her consulting work that is both innovative and pragmatic.

Past client work includes digital transformations and innovation for world class brands like Ford, Ulta Beauty, HMS Host and SAP. While at SAP, Kim was instrumental in the development of the first headless commerce offering and led the creation of a fully abstracted, mobile-first UI library for developers using the services. With deep expertise in commerce and content technologies, customer experience, end-to-end platform implementations, mobile-first technologies and design, as well as overall consumer digital behavior, Kim's leadership is sought after by organizations wanting input on how to drive business value in digital transformation looking through multiple lenses of delivery.

Kim was named a "Top 10 Woman in Technology" in 2019 by Chain Store Age and a "Retail Innovator in Mobile" in 2018. She speaks at global technology events and co-hosts the ""What If? So What?"" podcast.

What has been the biggest factor in your success so far?

The biggest factor in my success so far is the support and growth of my network in the technology space. We're a large yet tight-knit group, and I find that people are always willing to share insights and contagious excitement around the next new framework, process, pattern and people leadership approach.

What do you enjoy most about your career in the consulting industry?

It's never the same day! There is always something to learn, share, research or experiment with. Every business has unique challenges and goals, and I get to work with practitioners and leaders around the world and get them where they want to go. I'm able to bring experiences from one engagement to the next, making my clients and my overall practice stronger because of it. I also pride myself in building diverse teams that consistently outperform targets because we can openly share our unique perspectives and experiences to deliver real innovation to the market.

What is your proudest achievement to date?

It's wonderful to be recognized as a leader in this space. Not as a woman leader, but as a leader. I'm most proud when I learn that I've inspired women in their careers and growth within the industry. We're challenging the status quo and changing the diversity landscape.

Something else I take pride in is the Perficient podcast I host with my colleague, Jim Hertzfeld. The "What If? So What?" podcast seeks to discover what's possible with digital technology and how businesses can make those possibilities a reality. Jim and I interview experts and veterans of the digital transformation space to put the hype and big ideas into perspective. I always find these conversations insightful and innovative. We've even had Mark Cuban on an episode to discuss why business leaders should be catering their digital experiences to customers across generations, the growing importance of AI, among other topics.

What's the best advice you've ever been given?

Listen. Before you respond, ask yourself, "Is it true?" "Is it kind?" "Is it necessary?" I don't always follow my own advice, but when I do, there is always a good outcome.

What does this recognition mean to you?

Being recognized is an honor, and it provides more organic opportunities to work with and inspire other women who share my excitement and enthusiasm for solving technology problems, breaking down barriers and making things happen.