Queens of Tech Podcast | 100 Voices of Impact | Representation Matters!

In the realm of disruptive technological advancements, artificial intelligence (AI) stands out as a ubiquitous force, shaping various aspects of human existence. From facial recognition on smartphones to supply chain optimization, food production to medical research, and online shopping to human-like text and image generators, AI has permeated diverse facets of our lives.

For leaders, understanding AI is imperative, as it is poised to fundamentally transform businesses, significantly impact daily lives, and play a crucial role in shaping sustainable future societies. In the landscape of emerging technologies, such as the Internet of Things, blockchain, and virtual reality, AI interacts synergistically to create immersive, complex, and disruptive products and services. According to Elin Hauge, in 2023, having a grasp of AI basics is as essential for leaders as possessing a computer.

With over two decades of experience, Elin Hauge has been a bridge-builder between business and data-fueled technologies, specializing in AI. Her work with business leaders and tech entrepreneurs has endowed her with a unique ability to connect business strategy with AI applications. Elin brings fresh perspectives to known challenges, demystifying jargon and buzzwords, and consistently staying ahead in her analyses of sustainability, responsibility, regulation, and disruption.

Elin adopts a humoristic, down-to-earth, and pragmatic approach, focusing on the tangible possibilities of AI in the present, within the contexts of both individual companies and society at large. As a decision-maker, she underscores the responsibility inherent in navigating the AI landscape. Simultaneously, she adopts a futurist perspective, envisioning potential scenarios and future outcomes, challenging established beliefs.

Elin Hauge integrates the human perspective, emphasizing that "the future of artificial intelligence is not human-less; it’s human more." Her talks provide practical and well-grounded recommendations on reaping real benefits with AI, ensuring regulatory compliance, and embracing AI as an integral and sustainable part of businesses and organizations.

Holder of a MEng in Biophysics and Medical Technology and an MSc in Management Science and Operational Research, Elin Hauge has recently embarked on law studies. Her robust academic background in mathematics and physics, coupled with extensive business experience, forms the foundation for her insightful perspectives on the revolutionary opportunities and intricate challenges associated with artificial intelligence.

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Dr. Ma holds a Ph.D. in physics and has a background as a researcher in nanotechnology, specializing in the development of optical detection for medical diagnostic processes.

Before her role as a vital member of the founding team at Faculty AI, Ma founded Data Science Lab, a community that burgeoned into one of Europe's largest with over 2,000 active data scientist members.

The inception of Faculty AI stemmed from Ma's collaboration with co-founders Marc Warner, CEO, and Andrew Brookes, CTO. Recognizing the necessity for a more effective transition for Ph.D. students from academia to real-world applications of data and artificial intelligence (AI), they envisioned providing the training and guidance needed. This vision laid the foundation for their startup, which not only focuses on empowering Ph.D. students but also applies AI to address business challenges, delivering innovative solutions.

Driven by the desire to forefront disruptive AI for the public, Ma and her team have successfully executed over 150 projects. Faculty AI's team of expert data scientists and engineers offers personalized business solutions, data science consulting, and an intensive eight-week training course catering to Ph.D. students aspiring to become data scientists or data engineers.

In addition to their services, Ma and her co-founders have introduced Sherlock ML, an innovative and secure data science platform designed to eliminate the need for organizations to create a new technical stack.

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Dr. Jane Lovas is a visionary, thought leader, author, and speaker, serving as the Principal and Owner of Lovas Consulting—a leading coaching and consulting provider for Women Leaders in Technology. Renowned for her commitment to fostering powerful leaders who drive high-performing organizations, Jane is sought after by organizations aiming to champion women leaders and ensure their success.

With over 30 years of extensive experience as a software developer, Technology Leader, Consultant, and Coach, Jane brings a unique perspective to her work, having been the sole technical woman at the decision-making table. Her vision is to witness a million women leaders in technology taking prominent roles in boards, companies, organizations, and teams.

Holding a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and a Master’s in Information Systems, Jane has left an indelible mark as a consultant for companies such as Booz Allen Hamilton Inc., Washington Mutual Inc., Fannie Mae, Nextel Communications, and XO Communications. She has a proven track record of successfully turning around failing projects while enhancing morale, communication, and team cohesiveness.

As the host of "Leadership Re-Imagined," Jane engages in conversations with leaders focused on shaping a new vision for leadership. She is also an accomplished author, with her upcoming book, "Leading With Love," set to be released in the fall. Her other works include "Put Your Big Girl Panties On and Kick Your Fears in the Ass" and the co-authored "Seen and Sustained: Best Practices in Communication that Increase the Visibility of Small and Diverse Businesses."

Jane thrives on challenges, exemplified by her response to her daughters' dare to learn snowboarding despite being an avid skier. Her adventurous spirit shines through as she exclaims after her first run down the beginner’s hill, “I’ve never felt so out of control in my life!”—promptly followed by, “Let’s do that again!”

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Maral serves as the Co-founder of the consultancy firm Mirado and holds the position of Chief Product Officer (CPO) at Werlabs. Her professional journey is characterized by a fervent dedication to product development, where she channels her passion into driving innovation and crafting impactful solutions that cater to both user and business needs.

In her role, Maral collaborates seamlessly with talented teams hailing from diverse fields, including technology and medicine. She takes pride in transforming ideas into tangible realities, leveraging her expertise to ensure successful outcomes. Maral firmly advocates for the belief that stepping out of one's comfort zone is the crucible where great achievements materialize.

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Mari is a Principal at Icebreaker.vc with a portfolio boasting 100+ startups. As an ex-growth operator of a 15% profitable MoM startup, she brings a wealth of experience to the table. Additionally, she is the founder of Herizon.io, a non-profit dedicated to creating tech jobs for immigrant women. Notably, she was recognized as the Investor of the Year in NWITA.

A self-taught human-centric growth tech enthusiast, she embarked on her journey at the age of 12, earning her first affiliate marketing commission from her Fallout 2 game fan page.

Over her extensive 20+ year career, she has played a pivotal role in the growth of numerous clients and projects. With a decade in affiliate marketing and another decade as a consultant or in-house contributor at startups and a VC firm, her expertise spans various domains. Her specialization lies in early-stage ventures, ranging from zero to seed/series A.

Her professional journey has led her to thrive in the dynamic world of global tech startups, contributing to the success of companies like Freska, Paxful, Yousician, and her current role at Icebreaker.vc — a 140M€ early-stage VC firm with 100+ companies in Nordics and Baltics. Concurrently, she operates as a growth advisor at her growth hacking agency, Truly, and extends her expertise to immigrant women through growth hacking training at Herizon.

An early adopter of growth hacking, she considers it more than just a trendy term — it has been her pleasant hobby since the late ’90s and continues to be so.

Her mission is rooted in using her skills to assist startups genuinely dedicated to making a positive impact and becoming socially responsible entities. She staunchly believes in Nordic values, emphasizing work-life balance and equality in the workplace.

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Ilona, the visionary founder and CEO of Slate Digital, is on a mission to empower purpose-led businesses and their teams to unlock growth and realize their full potential.

Her unwavering dedication to leadership in the digital age is evident in her podcast, "Still Loading," where she engages with experts on crucial topics such as the gender pay gap, co-working dynamics, remote leadership, and the landscape of SAAS and tech leadership.

Ilona's team at Slate Digital specializes in partnering with scale-ups at the critical juncture where growth hinges on aligning people, processes, and systems. They firmly believe that cultivating well-equipped leaders for the future leads to enhanced workplaces, increased employee satisfaction, and a better world overall.

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Hege identifies herself as a curious and passionate individual who, despite her introverted nature, holds a profound concern for people. Both in her professional and personal spheres, she is captivated by the human experience—delving into what it truly means to be human, to think, feel, and engage with our surroundings.

Her inquisitiveness is reflected in her diverse professional journey, spanning journalism and graphic design to video game production and game theory, as well as behavioral and cognitive psychology, programming, and systems engineering. Hege has collaborated with a spectrum of entities, from local startups to renowned international brands like Disney, Atari, and Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

Hege's philosophy centers around embracing actions rather than regretting inaction. Her foremost life mission revolves around conquering all fears, prompting her to engage in a multitude of activities. Whether it's jumping out of planes, training for the Olympics in rowing, participating in skiing, biking, painting, dancing, or fulfilling the role of a mother to Erik—Hege is constantly exploring new horizons when she's not absorbed in reading or acquiring a new skill.

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Masoomeh stands as a visionary leader and the Founder/CEO of Mx3P, driven by an unwavering passion for unraveling unique and complex problems. Her commitment lies in crafting and executing innovative solutions that tackle global-scale public and business challenges. Boasting extensive experience in research, innovation, and leadership, Masoomeh has made substantial contributions to the development sector and has played a pivotal role in shaping the future landscape of the labor market and businesses in the United States.

In her role at the World Bank, Masoomeh actively collaborates with the Moroccan and DC governments, contributing significantly to the growth of entrepreneurship, small businesses, and employment. Beyond her entrepreneurial pursuits, she has demonstrated strong leadership in training and mentorship programs, showcasing her dedication to fostering leadership skills in others.

Masoomeh's academic journey is marked by triple graduate degrees from esteemed institutions, including Harvard Kennedy School, Georgetown University, and the University of Tehran. Holding an Electrical Engineering degree from the Sharif University of Technology, she has also served in key roles such as Project Manager and Fellow at the Harvard Center for International Development, as well as a Consultant at the Center for Global Development.

Beyond her professional achievements, Masoomeh is a well-rounded individual with a passion for sports. Having played professionally in various sports like Volleyball, Handball, Badminton, Fencing, Swimming, Synchronizing, Rock and Mountain Climbing, she has also taken on coaching roles for holistic health programs and different sports teams. This underscores her commitment to promoting a balanced and healthy lifestyle.

Masoomeh's exceptional skills and diverse experiences make her a true inspiration, encouraging others to unlock their full potential. As the Founder and CEO of Mx3P, she leads the charge in developing and implementing innovative solutions to address some of the most pressing challenges facing society's economic landscape today.

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Katherine is a seasoned executive with a rich background spanning over 20 years, dedicated to spearheading innovation and transformation initiatives. Recognized for her expertise in bridging the communication divide between technologists and C-suite executives, she has a proven track record of leading small teams to achieve remarkable outcomes. Currently serving as the Chief Operations Officer at House of Blueberry, a pioneering fashion house in the metaverse, Katherine is at the forefront of navigating the intersection of technology and style.

In addition to her role at House of Blueberry, Katherine serves as an operating partner at IDEA Fund Partners, a prominent venture capital firm situated in North Carolina's Tech Triangle. Her influence extends to academia, where she contributes as a guest lecturer at Duke University, focusing on topics related to innovation and strategy.

Katherine's professional journey includes a significant tenure at Thomson Reuters, where she played a pivotal role in reshaping the company's growth trajectory from acquisition-centric to organic-oriented. Her accomplishments encompassed defining a compelling vision, assembling high-performing teams, and instituting international programs that engaged employees, customers, and partners. Notably, the innovation fund she spearheaded invested in over 100 ideas, yielding an exceptional ROI of over 300% within three years of its launch.

A recognized thought leader, Katherine has been featured on Cheddar TV, participated in the Financial Times roundtable series, and garnered attention from Forbes Woman and Innovation Leader. She has also shared her insights through presentations at esteemed events such as the Dallas Business Journal's Tech Awards and the DFW Alliance of Technology & Women.

Katherine holds an MBA from Duke University, underlining her commitment to academic excellence, and a bachelor's degree from Davidson College. Her multifaceted career is a testament to her unwavering dedication to driving innovation and fostering strategic growth in diverse environments.

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Nadia serves as Google's Head of Industry in the US, where she plays a pivotal role in steering sales strategy and business development for data and tech services with WPP agencies. Since joining Google in 2009, Nadia has been at the forefront of transformative multicultural global programs, orchestrating the design and launch of new products and sales strategies across the US and EMEA.

In her current capacity, Nadia led the charge on Google's Digital Transformation program, a groundbreaking initiative focused on reshaping WPP's go-to-market strategy for data and tech services. This effort culminated in the recent relaunch of Acceleration, a new global central operating company and dedicated Google consulting center of excellence. Acceleration now services major clients such as Uber, Dell, Office Depot, and the entire WPP client portfolio. Nadia also serves as a trusted advisor to WPP's GroupM ExCo, offering insights on data and tech-related decisions, including M&As, talent acquisition, and organizational strategy.

Nadia holds a Master's Degree in Marketing, Brand Strategy, and Management from IULM in Milan. She is a certified member of the International Coaching Federation, having earned a diploma from Erickson Coaching. Active in various professional networks, Nadia is a member of the Professional Women Network and co-chairs Google's Head of Industry Council for the Americas. Additionally, she is a member and mentor for She Runs IT.

Beyond her corporate achievements, Nadia is a highly regarded executive coach, TedX speaker, and motivational event speaker. She dedicates her time to mentoring and sponsoring underrepresented groups and young talents. Her passion for leadership is evident in the creation of 99 Humans, a multimedia platform focused on humanizing leadership across industries, developed in collaboration with Jeff Lakusta.

Driven by a desire to inspire a shift in attitudes and invigorate spirits, Nadia founded Spark Your Zeal, a movement aimed at encouraging individuals to rediscover passion and transform obstacles into fuel for a richer internal and external bottom line.

Nadia is not only a dynamic professional but also a loving mother to two daughters, Lavinia and Olimpia. She resides in Manhattan, New York, with her life partner, Fabio. In Nadia, you'll find an inspiring companion radiating bright spirit and zeal, dedicated to energizing those around her.

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