Next week, London will see thousands of people from across Europe and the rest of the world coming together for a festival of emerging technology, showcasing the best and most current trends and progressions in London Tech Week. Whilst women in tech are becoming more represented in a variety of roles, technology as a whole is still vastly male dominated. With this in mind, we are hosting the Women in AI Dinner this London Tech Week to provide a platform for experts of all genders to spend an evening learning from some of the leading women working in artificial intelligence. Sharing their knowledge will be speakers from Royal Mail, Facebook, QuantumBlack and the Alan Turing Institute.
At the most recent edition of the dinner in Boston last month, I was lucky enough to sit down with Alison O’Connor, also from QuantumBlack, who spoke with us about her work, and gave us an insight into a ‘day in the life’ of a female expert in the field. In the run-up to the London dinner next Wednesday 12th June, we’d like to share the chat we had with Alison to give you an insight into the types of conversations had at the dinners.
If you’d like to join us next week and support diversity in technology this London Tech Week, register here.
Yaz:
It’s wonderful to chat to you today, thank you so much for being here. I’m intrigued, as I’m sure everyone else is, to hear about a typical day for you (if there even is such a thing!), so can I start by asking for a brief overview of your role?
Alison:
Sure! As a data scientist, I leverage my statistics and machine learning expertise to derive key insights across various industries for leading global organizations. I work on multi-disciplinary teams comprised of data scientists, data engineers, project managers, and subject matter experts, to analyze complex datasets and deliver impact to our clients.
Yaz:
It’s clearly a very complex role with a lot of responsibility, so how do you get in the zone; what’s your morning work routine?
Alison:
My consistent morning work routine includes: a shower, a review of my work emails, and always, (regardless of the season!) an iced coffee from Dunkin’ before arriving at our 8:30am team “check-in” at our client location.
Yaz:
What’s your favorite part of the day?
Alison:
Going to dinner with my teammates! Whether it’s our regular spot or a new one, some of the best discussions we have as a team are over a good meal.
Yaz:
With such a busy schedule, what’s something you can’t forget to do each day?
Alison:
Definitely drink water.
Yaz:
What’s the last thing you do before you finish your day?
Alison:
I wind down with a podcast or documentary unrelated to work, either something associated with Boston sports (go Patriots!) or by National Geographic.
Yaz:
What’s something you wish you had more time for at work?
Alison:
Taking part in events and giving talks like these! While attending conferences is very common, I’m honoured by the opportunity to share details about the work that we do.
Yaz:
In such a rapidly expanding field, how do you make sure you’re constantly learning?
Alison:
I am constantly learning and growing by being exposed to a wide range of industries, working with diverse datasets, and solving unique client problems. I am also fortunate to be a part of a work culture that provides consistent feedback to promote professional growth. I learn something new every day from my teammates!
Yaz:
Absolutely - it sounds very full on, so what do you like to do outside of work?
Alison:
It can be! I spend most weekends during the winter and summer months at my family’s vacation home in Maine. I love to ski, swim, golf, and hike. Also, a larger travel goal of mine is to visit all 50 states (I’m 2/3 of the way there).
Yaz:
What’s your favourite thing about working in AI?
Alison:
The community’s commitment to open-source tools.
Yaz:
Of course, the series of dinners are all about supporting and showcasing women working in AI, but more generally, do you think it’s important to have a more diverse workforce? How can we encourage a wider range of backgrounds into the field?
Alison:
I believe the more diverse the team (in terms of skillsets, demographics), the better the solution. Different people bring different perspectives, and often the greatest path forward is a combination of everyone’s ideas. This highlights the importance of collaboration and giving every team member a voice. As women in AI, we should be mentors to other women to support their interests and make sure they’re given that voice.