Fostering diversity in the workplace isn’t just a moral cause—it’s critical for business survival.

Diverse teams not only outperform but also out-innovate the competition. But how do we hire, empower, and retain diverse talent, especially in AI leadership? What are the success stories and best practices of AI leaders from diverse backgrounds?

These were the burning questions at the recent Domino RevX Conference in London, where Panelle led a Diversity in AI panel discussion featuring three trailblazing women leaders: Lisa Carter, Sabrina Palme, and Roxana Mohammadian-Molina.

Meet the Powerhouses

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Lisa Carter, Founder and CEO of Panelle, is dedicated to amplifying the voices of women in leadership. Lisa has built a powerhouse community sharing best practices, uncovering solutions to challenges, and ensuring women climb to the top and stay there.

Sabrina Palme, Co-founder and CEO of Palqee, runs a data governance company laser-focused on data protection, compliance, and information security. Recently, Palqee has been shaking things up with methods to monitor hidden biases in generative AI systems, pushing for more trustworthy AI.

Roxana Mohammadian-Molina, a former investment banker turned tech investor, transitioned from corporate finance to investing in tech startups, particularly fintech and proptech. Her perspective blends Wall Street savvy with a deep understanding of technology and diversity.

Moderator: Sarah Tijou, VP of Communications at Panelle, steered the conversation, diving into the trials and triumphs these women have faced in their stellar careers.

Breaking Down Barriers in AI Leadership

So, let’s dive in. It was a fascinating discussion kick started by Sabrina, highlighting the challenges she faced as a female founder in the AI space. "No one here in this room gives a fig about whether they're receiving a great insight from a man or a woman," she declared.

But she called out the prevalent affinity bias—where people gravitate towards those who look like them—which creates barriers for women in leadership. She underscored the importance of panels that spotlight these issues and called for inviting women to talk about their technical chops, not just their gender.

"Seeing is believing"

Roxana chimed in, underscoring the importance of meritocracy. "Seeing is believing," she said, stressing the need for more female role models in AI. She pointed out the glaring image problem in data science, which needs to be tackled early, starting with school-level initiatives.

Lisa emphasized representation and clear career progression paths for women in AI. "Women entering AI need and want to see that opportunity for their career to grow," she asserted. Carter also highlighted the need to address biases in recruitment and tackle the gender pay gap head-on.

Empowering Diverse Talent

The discussion then shifted to hiring and retaining diverse talent. Sabrina shared her experiences at Palqee, noting the significant draw of a diverse founding team for applicants.

"Every time we are hiring, it's actually great to see one of the three reasons applicants give is because we have a very diverse founding team," she revealed. However, she lamented the challenge of finding female applicants for tech roles, emphasizing the need for more women to pursue AI careers from a young age.

Roxana brought the investor’s angle, highlighting how diverse teams lead to more innovative and successful businesses. "Some of the best business ideas I’ve seen come from founders addressing problems they’ve personally experienced," she said. She pushed for more initiatives to attract girls and young women to STEM fields, creating a more balanced talent pool.

Lisa discussed nurturing young girls’ interest in STEM and providing role models and mentors. "We need to start with younger women, promoting STEM, and supporting them in university or entering the workplace," she said. She also stressed the need for companies to tackle systemic biases and create inclusive environments where women can thrive.

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Innovating for the Future

The panellists also touched on AI's future and the critical need for ethical considerations in development. Sabrina discussed Palqee’s work monitoring AI systems for hidden biases in real-world settings.

"Simply adding more diverse data isn’t enough to make AI fairer."

"It’s important to take a socio-technical approach, considering both systemic and human biases," she said. She emphasized that simply adding more diverse data isn’t enough to make AI fairer.

Roxana highlighted the need for forward-thinking AI regulation. "Regulation has to balance ensuring ethical practices with fostering innovation," she noted, warning against overly stringent rules that could stifle growth. "I’m very excited about how AI can advance our civilization, but we have to make sure it’s inclusive,"

"I’m very excited about how AI can advance our civilization, but we have to make sure it’s inclusive."

Lisa concluded with a hopeful vision for more women in AI leadership. "I’m very excited about how AI can advance our civilization, but we have to make sure it’s inclusive," she said. Lisa believes that as more companies adopt DEI initiatives and more women enter the field, we’ll see a significant shift towards more inclusive and innovative AI development.

The Bottom Line

This panel was a powerful reminder of the crucial role diversity plays in AI leadership. By sharing their experiences and strategies, Lisa Carter, Sabrina Palme, and Roxana Mohammadian-Molina provided invaluable insights into creating a more inclusive and innovative AI industry. The key takeaway? Diversity isn’t just a moral imperative—it’s a business necessity.

These executives showed that diverse leadership fosters innovation and addresses biases in AI. They underscored the importance of early engagement, clear career paths, and systemic change to create a more inclusive AI industry.

With leaders like these, the future of AI is in good hands.

Watch the full panel discussion below!

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