Event Overview: Women in AI: Innovate & Inspire
Host: Microsoft Reactor
Location: Paddington, London
Date: 19 September, 2024
Attendance: Approximately 40 participants
Theme: AI Innovation, Product Management, and Empowering Women in AI
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Event Schedule and Highlights:
6:00 PM – 6:30 PM – Arrivals
Attendees gathered for registration and early networking at the Microsoft Reactor.
Conversations revolved around excitement for the evening’s agenda and anticipation of hearing insights from AI professionals.
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6:30 PM – 6:40 PM – Introduction by Rav Khokhar & Anna Moss
Rav Khokhar and Anna Moss welcomed participants and introduced the goals of the event: to inspire women in AI, share actionable career insights, and explore innovation in AI product management.
Their introduction set a collaborative and empowering tone for the evening.
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6:40 PM – 6:55 PM – “What is an AI Product Manager at Microsoft & How You Can Develop Cool AI Products” by Aqsa Awan
Aqsa Awan, Senior Product Manager at Microsoft, shared her journey from studying law to becoming an AI Product Manager.
She explained the role of an AI Product Manager, focusing on how AI PMs at Microsoft work to create innovative products by collaborating with cross-functional teams.
Key Responsibilities discussed included defining AI product strategy, aligning with business goals, and working closely with data scientists and engineers.
Aqsa offered advice for those interested in pursuing AI product management, emphasizing the need for versatility, communication, and problem-solving skills in large organizations like Microsoft.
Audience Insights:
Aishwarya Ashvinikumar shared how Aqsa’s journey highlighted the value of hard work and adaptability. Many were inspired by her shift from law to AI, demonstrating how it’s possible to reinvent your career.
Attendees appreciated Aqsa’s practical tips on navigating large organizations to find roles that fit one’s interests and strengths.
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6:50 PM – 7:05 PM – “Tapping into Growth Mindset to Build AI: Innovate, Iterate, Elevate” by Aleksandra Osipova
Aleksandra Osipova, AI Product Lead at Mindora, gave an insightful talk on how adopting a growth mindset helped her succeed in AI product development.
She shared her personal experiences, moving from startup ventures to leading AI products, emphasizing the importance of embracing challenges, learning from failure, and persisting through difficulties.
Aleksandra’s framework for AI development included practical strategies for iterative design, team collaboration, and overcoming setbacks in the AI product lifecycle.
Audience Insights:
Pujitha Pravallika found Aleksandra’s focus on personal growth particularly impactful, resonating with her message about constantly improving oneself through reflection and feedback.
The idea of using a growth mindset as a tool to elevate both personal and team performance in AI was a key takeaway for many attendees.
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7:05 PM – 7:20 PM – Lightning Talk by Marlene Mhangami
Marlene Mhangami, Senior Developer Advocate at Microsoft, gave a lightning talk on the future of AI, focusing on how GenAI tools are transforming industries like marketing, content creation, and advocacy.
Marlene discussed how AI products, especially those related to generative AI, can automate repetitive tasks, allowing professionals more time to focus on creative work.
She provided real-world examples of Microsoft’s upcoming AI projects and how they aim to empower users across different industries.
Audience Insights:
Pujitha Pravallika shared that Marlene’s talk made her rethink how AI could help her in marketing by saving time and energy, but also recognized that AI cannot replace creativity.
Sehrish Shahid appreciated Marlene’s insights into AI’s evolution, which helped her reflect on how AI might intersect with her own career in finance and technology.
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7:20 PM – 8:30 PM – Panel Talk: “Navigating Innovation, Impact, and Ethical Frontiers in AI”
The panel, moderated by Anna Moss, featured Tushara Reddy, Amy Boyd, Jodie Rodgers, and Mara Pometti.
Key topics included navigating innovation in AI, the ethical challenges AI professionals face, and how to ensure that AI developments are socially responsible and beneficial.
The panelists shared their diverse experiences in AI, from product management to AI ethics, giving attendees valuable insights into the complex ethical landscape of AI.
They discussed balancing progress with ethical responsibility and how AI can be leveraged to solve real-world problems without creating harmful unintended consequences.
Audience Insights:
Sehrish Shahid reflected on the thought-provoking discussions in the panel, particularly on how AI intersects with ethical issues and innovation. She appreciated the panelists’ insights on ensuring AI is developed responsibly.
Many attendees left the panel inspired to think critically about the ethical implications of their work in AI and how they can drive positive change in the industry.
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Key Takeaways from the Event:
Growth Mindset as a Tool for Success: Aleksandra Osipova’s talk emphasized how a growth mindset can help AI professionals persist through challenges, learn from failure, and build successful AI products.
AI as a Creative Tool: Marlene Mhangami highlighted how AI tools can enhance productivity, but human creativity remains central in industries like marketing and content creation.
Ethical AI Development: The panel discussion shed light on how AI professionals must balance innovation with ethical responsibility, ensuring AI solutions are created with care for their broader impact on society.
Audience Feedback:
Attendees praised the event for providing authentic, actionable insights into AI product management and ethical innovation.
Aqsa Awan’s, Aleksandra Osipova’s, and Marlene Mhangami’s talks resonated strongly, with many feeling motivated to pursue careers in AI product management and contribute to the ethical development of AI technologies.
The event also created an inclusive, supportive space for women in AI to share their experiences and networking
