Women And AI (WAAI) recently hosted a groundbreaking AI Leadership Workshop in Mountain View, California with the goal of empowering female leaders in artificial intelligence. This event marked a small step towards closing the gender gap in AI by showcasing female AI leaders and fostering a community of women in artificial intelligence. This event had an emphasis of handing women the literal and metaphorical microphone as we tested a new workshop format.
Panel Discussion Highlights
The workshop featured an impressive lineup of female AI role models and influencers who shared their experiences and insights:
Anna Podolskaya, Senior Product Leader, expertly moderated the event and emphasized that "AI is an equalizer," highlighting tools like Grammarly for assertive communication.
Hava Maloku, DBA, Senior Digital Marketing Manager at LinkedIn, shared "You gain confidence by doing, step in and you'll learn by doing so."
Saritha Prasad Vrittamani, Director at Microsoft, said "Know your strengths and knowledge and people will listen. Call yourself an expert and people will see you that way."
Brinda Gurusamy, Software Engineer at Cisco, explained "Share your work. Build your network of women. Leverage your existing strengths and project it."
Swagata Ashwani, Principal Data Scientist at Boomi, stated "Previously, I rated myself low, but I had a manager pull me aside and tell me what I should be rating myself as. Imposter syndrome is real. You are likely not giving yourself enough credit."
Key Learnings
The workshop underscored several crucial themes for women in artificial intelligence:
Empowerment Through Knowledge Sharing: Participants were encouraged to extend their learnings beyond the workshop.
Building Networks: The importance of connecting with other women in AI was emphasized as a way to leverage collective strengths.
Confidence Building: Practical advice on gaining confidence through active participation and self-recognition was a recurring theme.
Featured AI Tools
The event showcased innovative AI tools designed to enhance productivity and creativity. Check out the top 4 tools mentioned:
Image created with NapkinAI
Ideogram: Transforms ideas into stunning graphic designs quickly.
Canva's Magic Studio: Automates design processes with AI-powered features.
NapkinAI: Empowers visual communication of ideas.
Google Learning Experiments: Offers structured learning resources.
Check out the full AI tool list from this workshop. It is available in a a view only Google Sheet.
Small Group Discussion Topics
The event's format included focused small group discussions led by our expert panelists:
Career Growth and Development in AI: Led by Swagata Ashwani
Balancing Technical Skills with Strategic Leadership: Led by Saritha Prasad Vrittamani
Building Confidence in the AI Space: Led by Brinda Gurusamy
Personal Branding in AI: Led by Hava Maloku, DBA
Community Engagement
Post small group discussion one person from each group was invited on stage to gram the mic and share a summary of the group's discussion. We were impressed by the contributions from the recap speakers who stepped onto the stage to share their learnings: Anushikha Singh, Aditi Dani, Tany Rios Castro, and Rajeswari Vinayagam. Their insights enriched the large group recap session, fostering a collaborative learning environment.
Looking Forward
Women and AI remains committed to advancing the role of women in artificial intelligence. Join us for our upcoming #AISocialSaturday events on 11/30/24, where we will continue sharing learnings and experiences testing out the tools shared at the event. Stay connected with our community through our podcast and future events to be part of this transformative movement in AI. The best way to do that is to make your membership official and select a membership tier that best fits where you are now. Our membership program is designed to help you navigate your journey with Women And AI and beyond. By empowering women in technology, Women And AI is not only shaping individual careers but also driving innovation across the AI industry. Don't miss your chance to be part of closing the gender gap in AI and become a future female AI leader!