Session: Positively Impacting Communities AND Succeeding as a Woman in Tech: How You Can Aim for Both
For too long, doing well in business and doing good in life have seemed like opposing goals — especially with the breakneck pace of technological developments in industries like AI. But having a double or even triple bottom line isn’t just possible: it’s happening right now.
Wendy Gonzalez is Sama’s CEO and oversees the company’s ongoing mission to give dignified, meaningful work, not aid, to women, youth, and others with a lack of formal employment opportunities in East Africa. Just last fall, Sama hired 2,100 more Kenyans to give them a path to the digital economy and have a say in one of the most critical parts of AI development: the data annotations that help models make decisions.
She’ll share how her journey led her to realize that she could both empower communities and grow a business; why social business or impact business is not just viable, but in everyone’s purview; and ways to make it a reality in your business.
Bio
Wendy Gonzalez is one of the few female CEOs within the male-dominated AI industry - with over two decades of managerial and technology leadership experience. She is the CEO of Sama (a global AI company data annotation solutions organization employed by 25% of Fortune 50 conglomerates such as Google, Microsoft, Walmart), and has led the company to some impressive successes, including being placed on the Inc. 5000 list as one of America's fastest-growing private companies for the past four years.
Before taking on her current role, Wendy served as Sama’s COO and has continued to be an active Board Member of the Leila Janah Foundation. A thought leader in the AI and tech industry, Wendy has undertaken several speaking opportunities, including The WomenTech Network, UpTech Report, Lean Startup Week, Digital Trends Live, Forbes Books Radio, and Tech First. She has also been recognized by the Globee Awards for Women in Business, the TITAN Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Women in Business due to her leadership and Sama’s growth.
Wendy is an engaging speaker and is happy to share the challenges and accomplishments she’s achieved during her tenure as a technology leader. She can also speak to many AI/ML topics as well as the importance of creating dignified work to end poverty (as steering Sama on its mission to expand opportunities for underserved individuals through the digital economy is one of her key passions).