Didem Un Ates is the Head of Applied Strategy, Data & AI at the CDO Office in Microsoft Customer and Partner Solutions, a fellow for the Royal Society for the Arts, a member of the Forbes Technology and EDM Councils, a Tech Women Champion, and a Trailblazer 50.
She is a passionate AI practitioner who directly supported the birth and incubation of Microsoft Business AI Solutions at Microsoft Research and led the Alice Envisions the Future/ Girls in AI Hackathons which have since been developed into several "Diversity in AI" programs across Microsoft, Accenture, and Avanade.
Especially for the WomenTech Network, Didem agreed to give an interview and share her story.
🎤 In her #WTGC2022 session, Didem Un Ates will talk about accepting responsible AI as an essential business function, enabling the broader acceptance and cultural change across your organization, and adopting RAI tools, toolkits, checklists, and frameworks.
Join the Women in Tech Global Conference 2022 to hear Didem's talk "Operationalizing Responsible AI", and other inspiring sessions.
Microsoft
Are you excited to be among the speakers at the Women in Tech Global Conference 2022 and what motivated you to join our community of 100 000 women in tech, minorities, and allies?
I'm delighted to participate in the conference as well as any great D&I in technology conference. I always loved disruptive technology. And the more I saw its power and positive impact on the world and our society, the more I loved it.
Share with us about your background, your journey in tech, and what inspired you to develop your career in this direction?
I come from a middle-income Turkish family of engineers, mathematicians, and entrepreneurs, so my passion for technology is probably genetic. However, there were other personal factors for developing my career in this direction. From a very young age, I knew that I had to find a way to be independent, both personally and financially. I also knew (or sensed?) that technology and engineering would be high-growth sectors where it would be easier for me to find jobs and stand on my own feet – regardless of which country I decided to live in.
To be clear, as much as I have loved every bit of it, my career in tech has not been a walk in the park. However, it's worth it.
Who would you advise to attend the Women in Tech Global Conference and why?
I would advise every diverse talent in technology or interested in technology to join this conference. I know you have a fantastic agenda, so I'm sure there will be something of interest and useful for everyone at every stage in their career.
