2023 Honorees

Hannah Udina

Head of Partnerships, ANZ

“I am fiercely passionate about women in technology.”

Rising Star2023

Tell us about your company and role.

I am Head of Partnerships, ANZ for Shopify. Shopify is the leading global eCommerce platform provider and is on a mission to make commerce better for everyone. I love my role because I get to work with a wide range of partners and brands that are aligned with our mission. 

How would you describe yourself?

I would hope that if you were to ask someone I knew this question, they would respond describing me as confident, hardworking, loves people, and knows how to not take herself too seriously

What qualities make someone successful in the eCommerce industry?

eCommerce is fast paced. Hence I think for anyone to succeed, you have that deep entrepreneurial spirit and hustle mentality!

What has been your biggest professional success so far?

I’m a person who will always want more, hence this is always a hard question to answer. I have had an unconventional career in that I started as a lawyer… yet here I am in partnerships! Seven years ago I was unhappy with my job so I took a bet on myself and decided to pivot career paths. It was a big move and most people thought I was crazy. It takes courage to change careers, hence I am proud of my mindset and deep drive to trust my instinct and make a decision.

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What causes are you most passionate about?

I have a few. 

Firstly, we need a greener world — it’s no longer a nice to have, it’s a must-have. We need more people advocating for sustainable practices, hence I am very proud to be working for an organization like Shopify that is leading the charge in advocating for a greener world. 

Secondly, I am fiercely passionate about women in technology. I hope I will be able to look back one day in the future and say that i did all I could to lift up others and help young women in technology build their career

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing eCommerce brands?

There is a lot of noise in the space at the moment in terms of technology stack. Remember, keep it simple and focus your resources on creating the best experience possible for your customer. 

What's your favorite loyalty program or subscription offering from an eCommerce brand?

I love Bangn Body’s loyalty program. They have captured the personality of their customer so well.

Also Bed Threads Dream Club. I love their products, hence this just keeps me buying more!

What do you geek out over?

I love technology and thinking about what is possible. A lot of the tech that will be mainstream in five years already exists, so I am constantly seeking to learn what the latest and greatest technology is and its application to the day-to-day.