Rebecca Parsons

Rebecca Parsons' fascination with computer science began at the age of 13 and has influenced her professional career ever since. She joined Thoughtworks in 1999 before ascending to the role of Chief Technology Officer in 2007, a position she held until becoming the Chief Technology Officer Emerita in June 2023. During her tenure as CTO, Parsons was at the helm, steering Thoughtworks’ technological prowess and ensuring the company remained at the forefront of innovation. Her leadership has been instrumental in shaping the technological landscape of Thoughtworks, while her past work experience spans a variety of sectors including heavy equipment manufacturing, government research, semiconductors, and computer manufacturing, as well as academia.

Parsons is not only a technological leader but also a staunch advocate for diversity and inclusion within the industry. She has dedicated herself to bolstering the representation of women in coding and STEM fields, underscoring her belief in balanced representation in the industry. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion extends beyond her work with Thoughtworks. Parsons has served on the boards of CodeChix, AnitaB.org, and the Agile Alliance, and has been an advisor to Women Who Code.

Parsons has co-authored a number of books, contributing significantly to the field of technology. Her literary works include "Domain-Specific Languages," "The Thoughtworks Anthology," and "Building Evolutionary Architectures," now in its second edition. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field and her impact on business and society through product, process, or innovation, she was awarded the prestigious Technical Leadership Abie Award by AnitaB.org in 2018.