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For the fourth year in a row, TomTom is partnering with Equals on their annual Role Model Campaign, shining a light on women in tech, leadership and engineering. This March, one of those role models is Lela Gagua, Program Manager Software Engineering at TomTom. In this article, we take a closer look at Lela’s story, the challenges along her path and how she is supporting women’s career growth year-round.
Looking back, Lela traces her path into tech to a certain curiosity in how things work. “As a child, I loved solving puzzles and taking things apart, from clocks to old tape recorders, just to understand how they worked,” she says. “I was drawn to problem-solving early on.” That early instinct led her to study mathematics and computer science. “Over time,” she says, “that curiosity evolved into a career in technology.” When she joined TomTom as a software tester over a decade ago, she couldn’t have predicted the scope of her journey ahead. What began with testing and validating systems expanded into becoming a leader. “At TomTom,” she reflects, “my interests grew further into a passion for connecting engineering, customer needs and real-world impact through the products we build together.” Today, she oversees a broad portfolio of software projects, manages collaboration across Product, Engineering and Sales, and represents TomTom’s impressive Automotive domain in company-wide initiatives. Her role requires technical depth and strategic vision, and, importantly, continues to provide room to grow and support causes she cares about.Leading a meaningful journey
Lela has now been with TomTom 15 years. That’s relatively uncommon. While many tech companies have shown strong efforts to bring more women in, which is great, women tend to leave the field at a higher rate than men. In Deloitte’s Women @ Work 2025 report, only 5% of women in the global survey said they plan to stay with their current employer for more than five years. The report notes career development opportunities as a top factor in staying. What else contributes to maintaining a happy work life for women in tech?
“Over the past 15 years, what has kept my journey at TomTom exciting is the constant sense of evolution,” Lela says. “I’ve been given new challenges, new responsibilities and new perspectives.” This environment “played a huge role in my professional growth,” she says. Yet there’s more to it. “I’ve worked with diverse teams, different customers and across cultures, each bringing unique expectations and ways of thinking,” she says. “Most importantly, the people make the difference. The colleagues I’ve worked with along the way created an environment that is both ambitious and supportive. Those experiences shaped how I lead today.”Building community, creating confidence
Knowing how much of a difference the right people and environment can make, Lela took her commitment to growth one step further. In 2019, she founded a local women’s network at her office in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. “There is something powerful about community. I wanted to create a space where we could exchange experiences, support each other and grow together,” she says. “The most meaningful outcomes were the honest conversations and the confidence that followed.” The network fostered mutual support and knowledge sharing, strengthening the community through individual connections. For Lela, the results were especially rewarding. “Seeing colleagues take on new challenges and support one another reinforced how valuable a strong internal network can be,” she says.Challenges along the way
Lela’s experience also highlights a broader reality. “While progress continues, women in tech can still face challenges around visibility and self-confidence,” she shares. “In fast-moving technical environments, it’s easy to underestimate your own expertise or wait until you feel fully ready.” The network she created gave women a space to share and help each other fast-track their way through these potential challenges. “The biggest opportunity for change,” she notes, “lies in encouraging people to step forward, share their perspectives and grow into their potential.”Role models make a real difference
Being nominated as a role model for the Equals campaign allows Lela to play an even bigger role in helping others step forward and grow. “It means a lot to me, especially because the topic of representation in tech is close to my heart,” she says. “I see it not just as personal recognition, but as a reminder of the importance of visibility and shared progress.”
Throughout her journey, Lela’s own role models have contributed to shaping who she is today.
“Lela Gagua
Program Manager Software Engineering, TomTom
Now, as Lela’s story travels through the streets and across social media during Women’s Month, she hopes the campaign sparks recognition and possibility in others.
The future of tech starts now
Looking ahead, Lela sees the industry evolving rapidly. “The next few years will be transformative for tech, especially with AI accelerating change across every field,” she says. “It’s important that women actively engage with this shift. Learning how AI works, experimenting with it, and integrating it into daily work will be essential.” Lela isn’t just observing these changes, she’s built her own AI-driven platform to help project and program managers integrate AI into their daily work. If you’re a young professional aspiring to grow into technical or leadership roles, Lela has a message for you:“Lela Gagua
Program Manager Software Engineering, TomTom
And perhaps most importantly, “As you grow, support other women around you — progress multiplies when we lift each other.”
This is more than a Women’s Month message for Lela, and for TomTom. It’s an underlying belief and commitment to ensuring that visibility, opportunity and inspiration continue year-round.
Here’s a perfect chance for you to put Lela’s advice into action — apply to join her at TomTom.
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