Influential Women profiles Suzanne Ward’s leadership in tech and medical devices

Influential Women has published a profile of Suzanne Ward, a Tampa-based technology leader with more than 25 years of experience in medical devices, high tech and enterprise IT. The profile highlights her work at Intel and the University of South Florida, plus her advice for women entering engineering and technology. Why it matters: - Suzanne Ward’s career spans industries where technical decisions can affect patient care, product delivery and enterprise security. - The profile spotlights a senior woman leader whose path could resonate with women considering engineering, project management and technology leadership. - Her experience links medical devices, chip software and university IT, showing how skills in agile leadership and systems thinking translate across sectors. What happened: - Influential Women published a profile of Suzanne Ward, a Tampa, Florida-based technology leader with more than 25 years of experience. - Ward’s background includes medical devices, high tech and enterprise IT. - She now leads Identity and Access Management at the University of South Florida. - The profile says Ward’s career has focused on innovation, global team leadership and large-scale programs in regulated and fast-changing industries. The details: - Ward began in healthcare product management, working on blood pressure cuffs and vital signs monitoring systems. - She helped drive the shift to latex-free product lines in the late 1990s. - She also helped launch multiple patient monitoring systems across several brands, which generated millions in annual revenue. - Ward worked with engineering and business teams across Asia and Europe on healthcare and technology products. - Her work contributed to multiple patents recognized in the United States, Korea and international markets. - After the 2008 economic downturn, Ward moved into high tech and joined Intel. - At Intel, she led an IoT agile leadership role and managed the multi-year, $2 billion Alder Lake chip IoT-software program. - The profile says she led cross-functional global teams and kept product delivery on time and within budget. - At the University of South Florida, Ward oversees secure, scalable and efficient access solutions for the institution. - Ward has pursued multiple degrees and professional certifications. - She also follows USF football and other university sports. - More information is available in Suzanne Ward’s profile . Between the lines: - The profile frames Ward as a leader who combines technical execution with team development and communication. - It also emphasizes an agile mindset, describing her approach as plan-do-check-act rather than perfection on first pass. - Her advice reflects a broader industry concern: early pipeline loss for girls interested in technology, especially around fourth grade. - The profile suggests confidence and direct communication remain barriers for some women even after they enter technical degree programs and leadership roles. What’s next: - Ward’s current role at USF suggests continued focus on cybersecurity, access management and digital infrastructure. - The profile positions her as a voice encouraging younger women to pursue project management, technical specialization and leadership roles. - Her message points to continued attention on mentorship, inclusion and retaining girls and women in the tech pipeline. The bottom line: - Ward’s profile presents a long-running career built on technical breadth, global leadership and a push for more women to claim space in engineering and technology.