Paulette’s Biography

I’m Paulette Watson MBE—a global award-winning tech leader, digital disruptor, and author of the best-selling book She Disrupts: A Black Woman’s Journey in STEM and AI Industries. My mission is simple: to empower one million Black women and girls through STEM, AI, and emerging technologies—so they not only participate in the digital world but own it.

In 2024, I was honoured with the Member of the British Empire (MBE) for my services to STEM and AI Education across the UK and internationally. I was also awarded the Freedom of the Borough for pioneering work in Artificial Intelligence and community digital leadership. But these recognitions are not about me alone—they represent a movement. They stand for every girl who has ever felt unseen in tech spaces. My journey is theirs, too.

As the Founder and Managing Director of Academy Achievers, I lead the #BeMeDigitalInclusion movement, which has grown into a global EdTech force with chapters across Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Kenya, and the UK. At the core of this movement is the #BeMe AI EdTech platform, a dynamic, scalable and culturally responsive digital ecosystem that builds tech skills, confidence, and leadership in Black girls and women aged 13–25.

Why is this platform a game-changer? It goes beyond teaching AI or coding—it changes mindsets, access, and futures. It’s where a girl in Lagos can collaborate with a peer in Lewisham; where girls build apps, launch digital businesses, and become leaders in ethical AI. We’re not just training for jobs—we’re building pipelines of Black women creators, founders, and decision-makers.

Our impact speaks for itself. The # Beme initiative has reached thousands through tailored mentoring programs, technical boot camps, virtual work experience, and leadership summits. And we’re not just meeting expectations—we’re over-delivering.

We’ve aligned our programming to the ESG frameworks of corporate partners like Ciena, LSEG (London Stock Exchange Group), KPMG, Covington, Springer Nature, and Colt Technology Services. These aren’t box-ticking exercises—they’re deep, transformative collaborations where equity, innovation, and social impact meet. Together, we’ve created access points for young women into corporate tech careers, fostered inclusive talent pathways, and reshaped what good looks like in ESG delivery.

Why does this matter? Because representation in tech isn’t optional—it’s essential. You can’t build inclusive AI without inclusive voices. That’s what I fight for. That’s why I speak at global conferences, advise on responsible AI frameworks, and consult on inclusive digital transformation for governments, companies, and institutions.

My advocacy and leadership have been recognised globally:

• Women Changing Lives Global Entrepreneur of the Year
• Global Caribbean Awards – Best Technology and Innovation Leader
• Shepreneur Ghana Entrepreneur Award
• Nigeria Magazine Award for Information Technology Advancement
• KPMG Black Entrepreneur Awards and £25,000 cash prize winner

Now Judge for:

• Women in Electronic Leadership Award
• 100 Professional IT Leaders UK
• Elektra Awards Judge – Women Leaders in Electronics & Innovation

And yes—I’m also the proud author of She Disrupts, now a best-seller. The book reflects the absolute, raw truth about being a Black woman in tech: the silence, the resilience, the breakthroughs, and the breakthroughs we make possible for others.

This is not a moment. It’s a movement.

We are not asking to be included. We’re building our tables. And through every chapter we open, every platform we scale, and every girl we empower, we’re saying clearly: the future is Black, bold, and tech-savvy.

We’re leading. We’re winning. And we’re not slowing down.