Rhea Sam – Senior AI Adoption Specialist
Rhea Sam is a Senior AI Adoption Specialist in Valtech’s Global AI Transformation team, where she helps shape how teams work with AI today. Having lived in five countries, Rhea brings a global and adaptable mindset to her role. The UK is where she’s settled the longest, and it’s also where she continues another lifelong passion: football, which she’s played since she was 11 and still plays today for a London-based team.
Turning AI into Something Human
As a Senior AI Adoption Specialist, Rhea’s work sits at the intersection of technology, people and culture. Her focus goes far beyond tools or platforms.
“AI adoption isn’t just about frameworks or technology. It’s about helping people feel supported, connected and confident using AI in their everyday work.”
From building accessible AI resources to strengthening internal support networks, Rhea is helping embed AI into how Valtech delivers today, and how it will deliver in the future. Her vision is centred on community and shared learning, ensuring people feel less isolated as they navigate emerging technologies.
Creating Focus in a Fast-Moving World
Intentionality plays a big role in how Rhea structures both her workday and her downtime. Her mornings start deliberately, usually with breakfast and at least 30 minutes of reading. She always reads two books in parallel — one fiction and one non-fiction — using that time to both learn and mentally step away from the noise of everyday life.
“Reading is my favourite way to decompress. It allows me to disconnect from the real world, and I always feel more refreshed and inspired afterwards.”
Once work begins, her focus shifts to getting organised. She starts with administration tasks, catches up on AI insights and newsletters, and then plans the day ahead. Creating a clear to-do list and blocking her calendar helps her stay focused and accountable, ensuring dedicated time is protected.
“Blocking time on my calendar forces me to actually spend focused time on the things I want to get done. It’s how I hold myself accountable.”
That same sense of intention extends to how Rhea logs off. Disconnecting is a conscious choice. She avoids checking emails or messages and creates clear boundaries between work and personal time. Reading physical books helps her step away from screens, while music on her commute allows her to unwind and move away from the fatigue of longer days. When stress builds, she turns to baking — a creative and grounding activity she enjoys doing for others.
The Power of Networking and Community
Networking has been one of the most transformative forces in Rhea’s career.
“Networking changed my life. Every role I’ve had came from relationships I built over time.”
She’s quick to dispel the myth that networking has to start with big conferences. For Rhea, it begins locally: in offices, at events or through online communities. Her involvement spans professional networks like Women in Data, She Does Data and One Tech World, as well as personal communities such as the London Girls Book Club and her football team, Clapton Cobras.
“Community doesn’t just shape your career — it shapes your confidence.”
Networking also played a key role in her transition into a global AI role, helping her build visibility, share knowledge openly and advocate for herself.
“Your personal brand doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s just about sharing what you know — you never know who might find it valuable.”
Culture, Growth and Creating Impact
Reflecting on Valtech’s culture, Rhea highlights innovation, openness and a strong commitment to knowledge-sharing as defining characteristics of the organisation. She sees this most clearly in communities like the AI Craft Circle, which bring employees together across different countries, disciplines and levels of experience. These spaces foster open dialogue and collaboration, creating an environment where people feel supported to share ideas and learn from one another.
“There’s a real culture of sharing at Valtech. People genuinely want to help each other grow.”
This culture has played an important role in Rhea’s own professional journey, giving her the confidence to build visibility, develop new skills and form meaningful relationships across the business. When asked what advice she would give to someone aspiring to work in a similar role, her response is empowering — focused on action, self-belief and connection.
“Believe in your skillset. Show by doing, not telling. And invest in relationships as much as your AI knowledge.”
For Rhea, creating impact is not about having all the answers, but about staying curious, asking thoughtful questions and showing up authentically. By combining confidence with openness, she helps turn innovation into everyday practice and ensures that progress is shared, inclusive and human centred.
Join Valtech
Inspired by Rhea’s story? If you’re looking for a workplace that values authenticity, collaboration and personal growth, Valtech might be the perfect place for you. Check out our open roles and be part of the journey.
