Relationships WithAI™

AI is reshaping industries, but what about relationships, the ones that drive business, investment, and governance?

In this episode of Relationships WithAI, host Iyabo Oba is joined by entrepreneur, angel investor, and investment director Nzube Ufodike to explore the power of relationships in leadership, investment, and AI adoption. With over £50M in capital raised, Nzube has helped startups and growth-stage businesses secure funding and develop strategies that turn ideas into thriving companies. He advises founders, accelerator portfolios, and business owners on how to build the right connections, whether for investment, scaling, or navigating the AI revolution.

As a board member, advisor, and community leader, Nzube understands the role of trust, networks, and governance in business success. He shares insights on:

• How AI is changing professional relationships, from startup funding to boardroom decision-making
• Why governance and leadership must evolve to reflect AI’s growing influence
• What investors look for beyond just AI hype and how founders can build trust with them
• The role of diverse, inclusive ecosystems in shaping sustainable businesses
• How relationships, human and machine, are redefining success in business and investment

Beyond his work in investment and governance, Nzube is passionate about community-building and representation. He serves as a board trustee for The Africa Centre, Founding Chair of EMBRACE at the British Computer Society, and Chair of the Young Executives Group at the Institute of Directors.

If you’re a founder, investor, policymaker, or leader navigating the intersection of AI, relationships, and governance, this conversation is a must-listen.

This special episode of Women WithAI marks a double celebration: International Women's Day 2025 and the one-year anniversary of the Women WithAI podcast. Host Joanna Shilton is joined by two powerhouse female voices from the WithAI FM Podcast Network, Iyabo Oba  host of Relationships WithAI and Lena Robinson host of Creatives WithAI, for a deep and candid discussion on this year’s International Women’s Day theme: Accelerate Action.

Together, they share personal stories of moments where they had to take bold, decisive steps to drive change in their careers. From challenging pay inequities to turning around struggling organisations, these conversations highlight the power of action in creating real, lasting impact. They also explore the role of AI in shaping the future, both as a tool for empowerment and as a space where women must claim their seat at the decision-making table.

But action isn’t just about grand gestures. It’s also about advocating for others, making space for women’s voices in meetings, and ensuring AI development reflects diverse perspectives. The conversation wraps up with a lighthearted but important question: What’s one thing AI could automate to give us more time for action? The answers may surprise you.

Join us for a dynamic, inspiring, and thought-provoking discussion on why now, more than ever, is the time to accelerate action for women in AI and beyond.

Joanna Shilton | Host of Women WithAI

Links to people and companies mentioned in the show:

• Joanna Shilton - Host of Women WithAI (LinkedIn)
• Iyabo Oba - Host of Relationships WithAI (LinkedIn)
• Lena Robinson - Host of Creatives WithAI (LinkedIn)

Supporters of the WithAI FM Podcast Network 

• Nadio Granata - Host of Education WithAI and IWD2025 article mentioned - https://glomacs.com/ai-as-the-great-leveller-a-call-to-action-for-international-womens-day
• David Brown Founder/Producer/Editor of WithAI FM Podcast Network - https://www.linkedin.com/in/4dmbrown/
• The 'other Dave' aka David Atkinson - Host of Places WithAI https://www.linkedin.com/in/dave-atkinson-01445a40/
• Will Charlesworth - Host of The Law WithAI - https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-charlesworth-54439b11/

Other companies mentioned

• International Women's Day - https://www.internationalwomensday.com/
• WithAI FM Podcast Network – https://www.withai.fm/episodes/1#showEpisodes
• Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) – (Website)
• Instagram - (Website)

WithAI FM is evolving! When Creatives WithAI first launched, no one could have predicted how quickly the network would grow. Over the past year, WithAI FM shows have reached listeners worldwide, become finalists for two independent podcast awards, and ranked in the Top 10 Technology podcasts globally—even breaking into the Top 50 in the UK. This is a huge achievement for an independent podcast, and it’s all thanks to the listeners.

To make it easier to access every show in one place, all individual podcast feeds are merging into a single feed—WithAI FM. Listeners can now find all past and future episodes from every show in one convenient location.

📌 What’s Changing?

✅ All WithAI FM podcasts are now in one feed – no need to search across multiple shows

✅ All past episodes remain available on the new feed

✅ Each show still has its expert host, covering AI’s impact on creativity, startups, education, marketing, and more

✅ Same great content, now easier to follow

🎧 How to Keep Listening:

Links across social media will be updated gradually, but if an old link doesn’t work, simply search for the episode title in WithAI FM, and it should appear.

🔗 Subscribe to WithAI FM:

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/withai-fm/id1791759084

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• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHXJER162682cbd6teq4l1ldGHa2DYTWR

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WithAI FM is looking forward to another exciting year—featuring new guests, fresh insights, and even more conversations about how AI is shaping the world.

Thank you for your continued support! 🚀

This podcast episode features a compelling discussion on the significant impact of AI on family relationships, emphasising the alarming trend of family atomisation in the digital age.

Host Iyabo Oba and guest Stephanie Antonian, founder and CEO of Aestora, delve into the emotional consequences of technology on children and the disconnect it creates within families.

They explore the necessity for parents to regain control over their children's online experiences and the urgent call for a Digital Health Score, a tool designed to help families navigate the emotional landscape of online content.

Antonian shares her extensive research on the relationship between AI and family dynamics, highlighting the importance of community, compassion, and forgiveness in fostering human connections.

The conversation ultimately challenges listeners to rethink the role of technology in their lives and to prioritise nurturing relationships over the allure of digital distractions.

Takeaways:

• The impact of AI on family dynamics is a critical area that requires more research.
• We need to empower parents to protect their children from online harms using AI tools.
• The Digital Health Score aims to provide insights into the psychological effects of online content.
• Social media shapes youth identities, often exposing them to harmful content without parental awareness.
• Emotional well-being and community support are essential for families to thrive in today's digital age.
• AI can be harnessed for positive outcomes by promoting creativity and healthy relationships.

Links referenced in this episode:

• www.aestora.com
• digitalhealthscore.io

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Aestora
• DeepMind
• Google X
• Google
• NASA
• Accenture
• Meta

Podchaser verification - c7u6AmD8uVwTAgknzFXr

This conversation digs into the transformative impact of AI on human relationships - particularly within the workplace - featuring insights from Sonia Nash, a Principal Solutions Consultant at SAP Concur.

Sonia discusses how AI is not only reshaping job roles but also enhancing productivity by automating mundane tasks, allowing employees to focus on more meaningful work.

With a recent Gartner study highlighting that 80% of technology products will be developed by non-technical individuals by 2024, the conversation explores the rise of business technologists and the democratisation of tech innovation.

Sonia shares her personal journey from finance to AI and emphasises the importance of fostering curiosity and inclusivity in tech, particularly for underrepresented groups.

The chat culminates in a discussion on the future of AI in improving workplace relationships and the necessity of addressing concerns surrounding data privacy and trust in AI technologies.

Takeaways:

• Gartner's study indicates that by the end of 2024, 80% of technology products will be created by non-technical people.
• The emergence of roles like Chief AI Officer signifies the increasing importance of AI strategy in businesses.
• Sonia emphasises the importance of having meaningful human connections outside the digital realm.
• The integration of AI in various sectors, including healthcare, is revolutionising how we approach diagnostics.

Resource links:

The rise of the business technologists https://www.gartner.com/en/articles/the-rise-of-business-technologists 

Stemettes https://stemettes.org/

This conversation digs into the transformative impact of AI on human relationships - particularly within the workplace - featuring insights from Sonia Nash, a Principal Solutions Consultant at SAP Concur.

Sonia discusses how AI is not only reshaping job roles but also enhancing productivity by automating mundane tasks, allowing employees to focus on more meaningful work.

With a recent Gartner study highlighting that 80% of technology products will be developed by non-technical individuals by 2024, the conversation explores the rise of business technologists and the democratisation of tech innovation.

Sonia shares her personal journey from finance to AI and emphasises the importance of fostering curiosity and inclusivity in tech, particularly for underrepresented groups.

The chat culminates in a discussion on the future of AI in improving workplace relationships and the necessity of addressing concerns surrounding data privacy and trust in AI technologies.

Takeaways:

• Gartner's study indicates that by the end of 2024, 80% of technology products will be created by non-technical people.
• The emergence of roles like Chief AI Officer signifies the increasing importance of AI strategy in businesses.
• Sonia emphasises the importance of having meaningful human connections outside the digital realm.
• The integration of AI in various sectors, including healthcare, is revolutionising how we approach diagnostics.

Resource links:

The rise of the business technologists https://www.gartner.com/en/articles/the-rise-of-business-technologists 

Stemettes https://stemettes.org/

Meet Joyann Boyce, the dynamic founder and CEO of Inclued AI, who takes us on an insightful journey through the world of artificial intelligence and inclusive marketing.

From her beginnings as a self-taught marketer to becoming a champion for diverse representation, Joanne's story is fuelled by a pivotal moment involving a controversial H&M campaign that ignited her passion to challenge biases in marketing content.

Partnering with tech luminaries like Charlene Hunter MBE, she developed a cutting-edge tool that fights against racial and gender biases, setting her on a path to establish Include AI.

Joyann's tale is not just about career milestones but also the profound impact of understanding societal perceptions to create powerful, inclusive messages.

Find Joyann on the links below:

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyannboyce/

Joyann Boyce's TedX:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zuy6sOENAqg&t=1s

Company website  https://www.inclued.ai/

Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/inclued-ai/

Further resources mentioned

Charlene Hunter MBE - CEO & Founder of Coding Black Females https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlenephunter/

"Unmasking AI: My Mission to Protect What Is Human in a World of Machines" by Joy Buolamwin: https://www.unmasking.ai/

"Algorithms of Oppression" by Safiya Umoja Noble: https://safiyaunoble.com/research-writing/

"Coded Bias" by Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/81328723

"Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men" by Caroline Criado-Perez : https://carolinecriadoperez.com/book/invisible-women/

"The age of surveillance and capitalism" by Shoshana Zuboff : https://shoshanazuboff.com/book/about/

The engaging dialogue with Robin Osborne reveals the profound ways artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping human relationships and interactions.

Osborne, a veteran in the tech field, shares his early passion for computers and programming, leading to his influential roles at companies like ASOS and Just Eat.

He recounts how the rise of machine learning has revolutionised customer service, particularly through the development of chatbots that manage repetitive inquiries, allowing human agents to focus on more complex issues.

This narrative sets the stage for a broader exploration of AI's impact on society, emphasising the need for technology to enhance human connectivity rather than diminish it.

Takeaways:

• The impact of AI on enhancing human connectivity is a crucial discussion today.
• AI technologies can efficiently handle mundane tasks, freeing humans for more complex interactions.
• Generative AI can inspire creativity by offering ideas beyond the usual constraints.
• Ethical concerns arise when AI imitates personalities without explicit consent from the individuals.
• AI's role in customer service can significantly improve user satisfaction by deflecting repetitive inquiries.
• The future of AI should focus on improving quality of life rather than just cost-cutting.

Links referenced in this episode:

• robinosborne.co.uk
• hachyderm.io/@rposbo

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• asos
• Microsoft
• Amazon
• Google
• Just Eat

In this episode of Relationships WithAI, host Iyabo Oba sits down with Emem Rita Usanga, a powerhouse in the tech advocacy world and the driving force behind Tech Nigeria Advocates, part of a global network championing tech ecosystems worldwide.

Emem brings a wealth of experience from her background in advertising, tech startups, and as a passionate advocate for connecting Nigeria’s tech landscape with the rest of the world.

Listeners can expect a thought-provoking discussion on AI’s influence on human relationships, the societal implications of AI advancements, and the balance between technology’s potential to help or hinder genuine human connection.

Don’t miss Emem’s unique insights into the challenges and opportunities AI presents in both the Global North and South.

Takeaways:

1. AI’s Double-Edged Impact on Human Connection: While AI can streamline mundane tasks and boost productivity, its growing presence in personal and professional relationships risks furthering isolation, especially in the Global North, where reliance on technology may erode face-to-face interactions.
2. Challenges in AI Adoption Across Regions: Emem highlights the differing needs of the Global North and South. In regions like Nigeria, where basic infrastructure can be a challenge, AI must address practical issues—such as fraud prevention—before tackling more advanced applications.
3. Future of Work and Social Dynamics: As AI takes on more roles traditionally held by humans, Emem foresees both job displacement and the creation of new roles. This shift requires societies and individuals to adapt, underscoring the importance of human adaptability and ongoing learning in an AI-driven world.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

Here are the official websites for the companies mentioned in this episode:

• Tech Nigeria Advocates: https://technigeriaadvocates.com/
• Tech Ghana Advocates: https://techghanaadvocates.com/
• Google: https://www.google.com/
• Microsoft: https://www.microsoft.com/
• IBM: https://www.ibm.com/
• WhatsApp: https://www.whatsapp.com/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/
• OpenAI: https://openai.com/
• Gemini: https://www.gemini.com/
• Smile ID: https://usesmileid.com/

Iyabo Oba embarks on an exciting journey as the new host of "Relationships with AI," where she will explore the intricate connections between artificial intelligence and human relationships across various contexts.

With a passion for community building and a keen interest in how technology can enhance societal interactions, Iyabo aims to unpack diverse perspectives on human connectivity, from romantic relationships to workplace dynamics.

This episode features a lively introduction where Iyabo shares her enthusiasm for podcasting and the importance of engaging in meaningful conversations about AI's role in our lives.

David, the Executive Producer, highlights Iyabo's unique insights and experiences, setting the stage for future discussions with an array of expert guests.

Together, they reflect on the complexities of relationships in the digital age, signalling a thought-provoking series ahead that promises to delve into both the benefits and challenges posed by AI technology.

Takeaways:

• The podcast explores the intersection of relationships and AI, emphasising human connectivity.
• Iyabo Oba expresses her passion for discussing various societal aspects affected by AI.
• The show aims to unpack complex ideas surrounding AI's impact on personal relationships.
• Guests will provide insights on how technology can enhance or hinder human connections.
• Iyabo stresses the importance of community building and addressing loneliness through technology.
• The discussions will delve into ethical considerations of using AI in our daily lives.

Cover art photo of Iyabo Oba ©️ Julie Fargues Photography