In an industry shaped by constant evolution, leadership during transitions requires unique skills and perspectives, and few voices resonate as clearly and powerfully as Allison Mataya's. As the leader of the newly unified Digital Experience team at Encora, Allison is not only navigating transformation —she's guiding it with empathy, strategy, and an unwavering belief in the people around her. Her insights on mentorship, navigating change, and empowering women in tech offer valuable lessons for leaders at all levels.
"I'm here to listen, to learn, and to help uncover what makes this team exceptional," she begins. About her leadership approach, Allison highlighted mentorship as a cornerstone of her philosophy.With a leadership style deeply rooted in mentorship, Allison fosters a space where talent thrives, ideas are heard, and people feel empowered to show their best work. Her approach is simple yet profound: listen actively, champion others, and create opportunities where people can shine. "At the end of the day, I want to build a culture of learning. That's what I've done throughout my entire career."
Having recently served as a judge for Encora's internal design hackathon, Allison witnessed first-hand the creativity and skill present across her teams. "There's incredible talent here. I want to give people the space to show it," she shared with genuine enthusiasm.
Staying Focused in the Face of Change
Allison knows that change is inevitable — whether through acquisitions, restructures, or shifts in market demands. "I've gone through many of these," she reflects and believes that women bring distinct strengths to times of transformation: resilience, adaptability, and communication.
"Women are natural collaborators. We know how to break down silos, build bridges, and innovate as a team." She highlights how critical it is to not only work cross-functionally, but also to empathize with team members, communicate clearly, and keep a strategic eye on what's ahead.
In her experience, communication becomes even more crucial during transitions. The more we communicate and empathize with the people we work with, the more we adjust through that transition.
Rather than seeing change as something to fear, Allison views it as "the only path to growth." This positive outlook has guided her approach to Encora's current transformation under Anand's leadership.
Her leadership philosophy rests on five pillars, which she believes are vital for navigating change while staying focused and grounded.
- Resilience: Expect setbacks and things not going as planned, but keep pushing forward anyway.
- Empathy: Make sure your team members are being heard and understood, and take action to address their concerns.
- Strategic Thinking: Work with team members to "see beyond the challenges" and shape your future.
- Courage: Take bold steps instead of sitting silent or waiting for others to take the initiative. Women possess tremendous courage that they may be unaware of.
- Agility: Develop the "ability to dodge and weave and find a way to stay focused" amid changing circumstances.
Mentorship for Empowerment
When asked about uplifting emerging talent, Allison speaks with conviction. "We have to champion others. Make them visible. Give them the space to build confidence. Once they see their ideas received and respected, they'll grow stronger."
Mentorship, sponsorship, and visibility are the tools women leaders can use to elevate the next generation. Allison believes in structured mentorship programs, growth opportunities, and open forums for sharing lessons learned. Her goal? "Prop them up. Make space for them. That's what we have to do."
As for Encora, she believes, there are some amazing minds and as design hackathon judge, she was "blown away by some of the work." Her goal is clear—creating the space to showcase this talent and opportunities to elevate them. This approach feeds into what Allison calls a "culture of learning"—something she's cultivated throughout her career.
Creating Space for Inclusion
In a world where equity and inclusion are no longer optional, Allison calls for:
- Transparent hiring and promotion policies
- Flexible work arrangements that support work-life balance
- Including diverse voices in decision-making
- Providing training to address unconscious bias
"We need to normalize diverse leadership styles and break away from outdated models. That means flexible work arrangements, clear promotion policies, and training to address unconscious bias."
She reminds us that representation matters. When women are seen, heard, and empowered to lead, innovation follows. "We need to actively recruit and promote women into leadership. That's how we ensure lasting impact."
Driven by Belief, Strengthened by Lessons Learned
Allison's personal journey is a testament to grit. Her challenges shaped her leadership style. From a challenging start in New York City — where she was laid off six months into her first job — to now leading global teams, her story is a reflection of resilience and self-belief.
"I'll never forget it," she recalls. "As I was leaving, the chairman handed me a dozen roses and said, 'Don't give up.' This experience taught her to believe in her ideas, judgments, convictions, and, most importantly, herself.
Later, a startup venture that didn't succeed further shaped her approach: "You're not always going to succeed... You know those that sometimes you have to go for it, and sometimes it's just not going to work out. But that shouldn't stop you from picking yourself up, dusting yourself off."
Her advice to young women in tech is rooted in the same truth: "Believe in yourself — because if you don't, no one else will."
Advice for Emerging Leaders
For young women aspiring to get into leadership roles in tech, Allison offers straightforward advice:
- "Own your expertise. You don't need permission... You deserve to be at that table."
- "Seek out mentors and sponsors... People want to help each other."
- "Stay curious. Technology is evolving rapidly... wake up every day with a mindset of 'I'm going to learn something new today.'"
- "Be fearless about failure. Mistakes are going to be made. Setbacks are going to occur."
- "Use your voice."
Drawing on her background in team sports, Allison believes in the power of collective achievement: "There is nothing sweeter than winning as a team. And I think that's what my leadership style is all about."
As the tech industry continues to transform, leaders like Allison Mataya offer a blueprint for navigating change with resilience, empathy, and courage—while creating space for diverse voices to thrive.
