Who is Who
Carmen Lincolne is the Co-founder of Ivy Tech and Founder of Saudiworks, known for building high-performing, borderless tech teams and supporting companies through rapid growth. With a career spanning startups, operations, and global talent development, she helps organizations scale through strategic leadership and ethical, people-centered practices. Carmen is recognized for her clarity, compassion, and ability to turn emerging opportunities into meaningful impact across regions and industries.
A Journey Shaped by Purpose, People, and Possibility
When Carmen Lincolne first stepped into a small coworking space in Sydney years ago, she wasn’t yet leading two international ventures or supporting founders across continents. But she already understood something that would shape every chapter of her leadership journey: meaningful work is built on trust, human connection, and a willingness to see opportunity where others see limits. That belief would later guide her into the world of technology, entrepreneurship, and cross-border talent development, eventually leading to the creation of Ivy Tech and Saudiworks.
Today, Carmen is known for her ability to bring clarity, compassion, and strategy to complex environments. Her path reflects a blend of operational excellence, cultural adaptability, and an instinct for building ecosystems that uplift both businesses and people. Yet her story is as human as it is professional, rooted in curiosity, resilience, and the desire to create pathways where none previously existed.
Building Ivy Tech: Connecting Talent With Opportunity
Carmen co-founded Ivy Tech with the conviction that exceptional engineering talent exists everywhere, even in places often overlooked by the global tech industry. What began as a mission to connect startups with skilled developers grew into a borderless model that transformed teams from London to Eastern Europe to emerging hubs across the world.
Her leadership approach has always centered around integrity and trust. One client captured this clearly when they said:
“Carmen is a woman who makes things happen with heart. She cuts through the noise and leads with compassion.” — Sandy Halpin, Client
At Ivy Tech, Carmen helped shape a culture built on people-first values, deep client relationships, and a commitment to quality. This ethos allowed Ivy Tech to grow from an idea into a trusted partner for startups scaling toward Series C. It also became a place where distributed teams felt connected, supported, and motivated a reflection of Carmen’s leadership philosophy.
Her time working closely with engineers in Ukraine remains particularly meaningful, not only for the technical excellence they delivered but for the personal bonds and shared mission to create economic and social impact amid challenging circumstances.
Expanding Horizons: The Move to Saudi Arabia
Relocating from London to Riyadh marked more than a geographical shift; it opened Carmen to an entirely new chapter of growth. She describes Saudi Arabia as a place filled with possibility, transformation, and energy a living demonstration of what can happen when a nation decides to reinvent itself.
Her posts from Riyadh often reveal her sense of awe and appreciation for the pace of change. Whether she’s reflecting on new creative hubs, discussing Vision2030, or noticing opportunities in everyday life, Carmen captures the reality of a country rapidly rewriting its future. She often reminds others that much of Saudi’s progress is still recent, making it fertile ground for innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.
This environment became the catalyst for her newest venture.
Founding Saudiworks: Supporting a Nation in Transformation
Recognizing the Kingdom’s urgent need for digital talent, Carmen founded Saudiworks, a company focused on connecting Saudi corporates with world-class IT and cybersecurity professionals. Her goal is simple but ambitious: help organizations recruit the expertise they need while giving global talent the chance to contribute to one of the world’s most transformative markets.
Saudiworks is also the bridge between her years of experience at Ivy Tech and her new life in the Gulf. It leverages everything she has learned about talent, operational excellence, and business growth, while aligning with the Kingdom’s broader vision for technological advancement.
Her commitment to this mission reflects the same values that shaped Ivy Tech empathy, quality, and long-term partnership but now through the lens of a fast-evolving ecosystem eager for innovation.
Leadership Rooted in Integrity and Insight
Carmen’s leadership philosophy is reinforced not only through her work but through the way others describe her. Clients consistently highlight her ability to integrate seamlessly into teams, anticipate needs, and elevate outcomes.
“Carmen is sharp, professional, and reliable. She understands people and culture, and she brings her whole self to the job.” — Jaime Schell, Client
Whether guiding founders through operational challenges, building systems for early-stage companies, or coaching entrepreneurs on investor readiness, her superpower lies in seeing the big picture while never losing sight of the people who make that picture possible.
She often shares candid reflections on leadership, reminding others to stay grounded and intentional. From her podcast conversation on Women Talk Tech, three lessons stand out:
“Know your numbers because clarity creates confidence.”
“Run your own race; comparison steals joy.”
“Trust, but verify — always reference check.”
These insights show a founder who has learned through experience, missteps, growth, and humility and who is committed to helping others rise with her.
A Career Built Across Borders and Industries
Before entering the tech world, Carmen spent years in events management and marketing in Germany, developing the organizational rigor and people skills that later allowed her to thrive in operations and leadership roles. Her transition to the startup ecosystem in Australia expanded her strategic capabilities and ignited her passion for entrepreneurship.
Serving as an Operations Manager, COO, and eventually CEO across different organizations, she became known for her ability to build structure, improve processes, and create cultures defined by warmth and high performance. Her freelance consulting and mentorship work continues to support founders in areas such as capital raising, operational excellence, and business growth.
These experiences formed the foundation that ultimately enabled her to launch Ivy Tech and Saudiworks two companies shaped by global perspective and human-centered leadership.
Looking Ahead: A Leader Shaping Tomorrow’s Talent Landscape
Whether she’s guiding founders, building new ventures, or raising her family in a rapidly evolving region, Carmen remains driven by impact. She sees technology not just as a sector but as a means of empowering individuals, strengthening economies, and expanding access to opportunity.
Her story continues to evolve across continents, cultures, and communities yet her purpose remains constant: to build meaningful work environments that support people, unlock potential, and create lasting change.
Editorial Note
Carmen Lincolne’s journey demonstrates how leadership becomes transformative when grounded in empathy, clarity, and purpose. Her cross-border career offers lessons in courage, adaptability, and the power of forging pathways where none exist. As Saudi Arabia accelerates into a new digital era and global teams become the norm, Carmen stands at the intersection of innovation and humanity, reminding others that real leadership is about creating futures in which people can thrive.
