Young Women in Tech: Seeing Themselves as AI Professionals
Rakhi Sachdeva, Microsoft's UK AI Workforce Strategy Lead, Central Government, recently spoke at Next Tech Fest, an event aimed at connecting young women with technology careers. During her talk, she conducted an exercise where attendees were asked to imagine the people who build AI tools they use every day.
The results of this exercise revealed that many in attendance struggled to see themselves represented in the field of AI development. Sachdeva explained that this is a problem that needs to be challenged: 'If people don't see themselves represented, they can struggle to imagine a future for themselves in the industry.'
Sachdeva's own career path is a testament to her message. She started working in a call centre before discovering opportunities in technology and eventually built a career as a leader in AI development.
The talk also highlighted that careers in AI are not limited to software developers. Sachdeva emphasized the importance of designers, storytellers, researchers, and project leads who contribute to the development of AI tools.