Boomi highlights business thought leaders, trends they see, and cool things their organizations are doing. We also find out how they believe automation could improve their everyday lives.

Ann Maya jokes that her fascination with automation is rooted in one thing: She’s naturally lazy. “When I didn’t like to do something tedious, I would always try to figure out how to automate that,” said Maya, Boomi’s Chief Technology Officer for EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa). “How do I make that easier to do next time? How can I make this better for other people?”

Her career choices have reflected that search for efficiency. She was a programmer for a small company in the Netherlands that compressed backend data powering early GPS navigation systems. Her team at Compaq also created some of the first application installation scripts for automating software deployment. But it was her frustration with the limitations of migration software that eventually led her to Boomi, the pioneer of low-code integration and automation.

“I was so smitten by what you can build very quickly, replacing complex coding with shapes that you just drag onto a canvas,” she added. “We’re always on the cutting edge and moving to the cool space. Right now, that’s AI agents. It’s a brilliant place to work because everything’s changing fast, and we have a good perspective. Our CEO, Steve Lucas, talks about keeping humans at the center of everything, and I don’t think many IT companies think that way. It’s an ethos that I’m really proud of.”

Maya spoke from her London home office about the direction of AI, the importance of responsible technology, and how serious she takes playing non-contact rugby. The conversation was lightly edited for length and clarity.

How do you describe your role to acquaintances?

Ann Maya: I used to say I worked in IT. Usually, nobody cared what I said after that. But now people realize it’s blending into our lives like never before. So, I’ll say I work for a company that connects everything so you can automate anything. That’s kind of our tagline at Boomi, and I love it because connections are things everyone can understand. It takes out the mystery of what we do and humanizes it. If people are interested in hearing more, it can start a pretty fascinating conversation.

We’re interested — tell us more!

Ann Maya: It’s all about data. Organizations have all of this information stored in apps like Salesforce, NetSuite, Workday, and Shopify to understand and manage their businesses. Boomi connects all of those sources. Once that data is connected, we harmonize it so it’s meaningful. You can use it for analytics to figure out how your business is going, discover new markets, or iron out blips in your supply chain. Boomi also manages application programming interfaces, which are super powerful because they help connect to pretty much anything. The challenge is that those APIs are also a popular attack vector for cyber criminals. You have to create them appropriately, leverage them, make them available, and protect them. When everything is connected, you can automate anything to make your business perform better. Boomi brings the human side and the technology side of the business closer together to build better processes. We’ve extended that into the AI world to improve the whole experience and make your data even more valuable.

Are there common misconceptions about AI and agents?

Ann Maya: One is that AI is here to take away people’s jobs. Yes, there’s optimization. But there’s always a human in the loop somewhere in the process. AI enhances the ability for humans to do more by giving them a deeper level of knowledge at their fingertips. Another is that there’s only one kind of agent. There can be a variety. You could have simple agents handling tasks and very complex agents doing stuff you might never have thought of before. Something else that I’m not sure people realize yet is that AI can be valuable in every part of the business. It’s not just for tech folks to create agents. Boomi bridges that gap. Think of a grower in a greenhouse. That person relies on data about hydrogen and oxygen levels and the amount of water per crop. If you can create an agent that optimizes that data, you can be far more effective at growing plants.

Is there anything that concerns you about AI?

Ann Maya: Very big vendors are in this race toward what they’re calling either superintelligence or AGI (artificial general intelligence). I don’t think we’re spending enough time thinking about how to protect our personal brand and data. When you install an app, you just say “yes” to the terms. Nobody reads the fine print. We don’t know how much we already give away about ourselves. I love tech. But how do you live in this AI world and still protect yourself? How will AI represent you? I think people need to be aware and know where it’s going so they can exercise democratic control. What I like about Boomi and why I love this company is that we’ve always addressed values, ethics, and morals. We’re bringing that responsibility to AI.

What makes the EMEA region unique in terms of how people view technology?

Ann Maya: EMEA has multiple languages, and there are different nuances in how you communicate with people. There are also different regulations, laws, and flavors of sovereignty. For example, in Germany, people are very protective of their data. You need very strict adherence to the regulations in that region. It’s important to understand where people are coming from, their concerns, and motivations, so you can figure out how we can help them live and thrive in this digital world.

How did you come to live and work in the UK?

Ann Maya: I’m an Air Force brat and lived in many places. I was born in Virginia, but my dad was a radar technician, and we moved every three years or so. We were in Michigan and Texas. I lived in Germany, which was my absolute favorite. The last place we landed was Washington state. After university, I went to teach English in Osaka, Japan, where I met my husband, who’s Irish. We moved to Ireland, and I went back to school to study IT. I’ve lived in this part of the world now for about 14 years.

Have your childhood experiences of moving frequently influenced your business career?

Ann Maya: It forces you out of your comfort zone, which is a good skill to harness. Growing up, I was extremely shy. I found it really hard to go to new places, start a new school, and make new friends. It also gave me a lot of quiet frustration because I never raised my hand to answer questions, even though I might have known the answers. It drove me internally because I wasn’t very extroverted. In my career, I’ve spent a lot of time public speaking. I get nervous, but I’ve learned to thrive off a little fear.

Tell us something interesting about you that’s not on your LinkedIn profile?

Ann Maya: I’ve played non-contact rugby for maybe 10 years. It’s like flag football. Rather than tackle, you have to pull off a Velcro tag. It’s all the cool bits about rugby, like the passing, the running, and all of that stuff. You just don’t have the tackling, hopefully. You shouldn’t be running into each other, though my nose has been broken twice. Apparently, I’m in a blind spot because I’m only 5-foot-2. Sometimes an elbow gets to my nose.

What do you wish could be automated in your everyday life?

Ann Maya: Steve Lucas talks about his dislike of approving expenses. If we could have a system that handled my personal expenses, like doing and reviewing my taxes, it would be perfect. I have to file U.S. and UK taxes, and it’s an absolute nightmare. Also, logistics planning. Something that will tell me exactly what time to leave, how to get there, and even find the best ticket, hotel, etc. Just book it and expense it. I have been lost and late more times than I can count.

Up Close With Ann Maya

Role: Boomi CTO for the EMEA region

Home: Borough of Greenwich in Southeast London.

Family: Husband John

Education: Bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Washington; National Certificate, Computing & IT Support from the Technological University of the Shannon, Athlone Campus (Ireland)

Career: Nearly seven years at Boomi, including head of product marketing. Leadership roles at Dell Technology and Quest Software are part of her extensive tech experience.

Life in London: “I have a terrible sense of direction. But I get away with asking the dumbest questions, and nobody will blink an eye because they just think I’m a tourist. People always direct me very kindly.”

If you found this profile interesting, check out more of our thought leader profiles!