The latest candidate in our series of Q&As with influential women in the technology business is Lydia Hall, Co-Head of Aqua, Adobe’s first creativity app for kids, a platform to draw, design in 3D, and build games.
Name: Lydia Hall
Job Title & Company: Co-Head of Aqua, Adobe
Years in the Industry: 14 Years
The Quote That Most Inspires You: “Only the best is good enough.” (- Ole Kirk Christiansen (founder of LEGO); it was his guiding principle when building for kids, and it’s how we think about building Aqua by Adobe.
What drew you to a career in the consumer and/or business technology industry?
I am a natural problem solver, and a career in tech felt like the fastest way to turn ideas into something real. What pulled me in was the ability to identify a gap, build a solution, and see people use it almost immediately.
Have you encountered any roadblocks along the way that were related to your gender?
There have been moments where I was underestimated. Over time, I learned to focus less on what people think, and more on the work itself. Consistently delivering strong outcomes tends to shift the dynamic.
What unique characteristics or perspective do you feel you bring to your organization as a woman?
I think women are often more empathetic and attuned to what people need. This is especially important with a product like Aqua by Adobe. I spend a lot of time talking to our users to understand how they think about their art, what they want to create, and what inspires them.
Technology is historically a male-dominated industry, yet the use of tech is fully embraced by women, and many studies even suggest that females are the primary buyers of tech in the home. What do you feel the technology industry needs to attract more women, particularly into high-level positions?
Early in my career, someone told me to find both a mentor and a sponsor. A mentor gives you advice. A sponsor advocates for you when you are not in the room. We need to do a better job helping women identify and build those relationships. That includes teaching what to look for, how to build rapport, and what questions to ask. Access to those advocates is often what unlocks the next level.
If you had to sum up what it is like being a woman in this male-dominated technology industry in just a few words, what would you say?
A constant balance. You are expected to be precise, measured, and effective without overstepping.
Are there women in the tech industry who inspire you?
Mary Barra and Aicha Evans, the CEOs of General Motors and Zoox, respectively, really stand out to me. I’m inspired by how they lead at scale and make tough decisions in emerging areas like autonomous vehicles, where there’s no clear playbook.
What are some of the misconceptions/myths about women working in the technology space that you’d like to dispel?
One misconception is that women in tech are still not present in meaningful leadership roles. That has not been my experience at Adobe. We have strong female leaders like Lara Balazs, Gloria Chen, and Louise Pentland who are shaping strategy, culture, and how the business operates at scale. Seeing that level of leadership up close changes your perspective. Women are not just participating in tech, they are leading it.
What’s one thing you wish was done differently in the industry, and why?
I wish more large tech companies embraced innovation and speed the way startups do. It is understandably harder at scale, where the risks are bigger and decisions carry more weight.
One thing I appreciate about Adobe is that it actively creates space for that kind of thinking. Through its internal incubator, employees can pitch ideas and build them with the support of the company. It gives people the ability to operate with a startup mindset. I would love to see more companies adopt similar approaches.
How do you feel the latest shift to AI will impact the way you do your job and opportunities for women in the industry?
AI helps people get more done and prioritize what matters. In my role, I use it to build hypotheses and think through impact before launching new initiatives, which allows us to move faster and focus on where we can have the most impact.
I am also hopeful that AI can help measure impact more clearly within organizations. If we get that right, it creates more transparency around contributions and outcomes, helping ensure the best ideas and leaders rise to the top.
Are you optimistic for the future in general and for the industry?
Yes, I am incredibly optimistic. The pace of innovation right now is unprecedented, and Adobe is at the forefront. For the first time, we are truly expanding who gets to create and how.
What excites me most is seeing these kids choose Aqua as their first creative platform. They are not waiting to become creators, they are starting now, with access to the same powerful tools used by professionals. My daughter is four, so I feel the weight and the opportunity of that every day. She is growing up in a world that values imagination and tenacity, and I believe that will define the next generation.