Martha Lane Fox and Edwina Dunn: every woman needs to see themselves as working in AI
The pair said that STEM education, representation and data were key to getting women a seat at the table
Women are still shut out of tech and AI in the roles that really matter, in a situation that makes no economic sense, leading entrepreneurs Edwina Dunn and Martha Lane Fox have argued.
Dunn, the founder of The Female Lead and a data science pioneer behind the Tesco Clubcard; and Lane Fox, a philanthropist and the co-founder of Lastminute.com; discussed bias in AI systems and called for every women to see herself as part of the AI industry, at the event hosted by UKAI and Chamber UK on 12 March.
“We certainly have better representation on boards now,” said Dunn of the technology industry, “but look at where the power lies.” She shared that only around 2% of venture capital funding goes to women-led businesses.
At the event chaired by Baroness Liz Barker, both speakers agreed that early education in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) was crucial to get women into AI.
Despite being capable in science, women choose not to study and work in it because they see the atmosphere as toxic, Dunn said: “It's really hard to recruit women into technology. Girls tend not to choose maths after GCSEs, even though they tend to get better results than boys in their GCSEs.” Dunn chaired the Your Life campaign, from 2014-2017, calling for more girls in the UK to take maths and science beyond GCSE.
She said that access to role models, and policies that reflect the diversity of women is key. “It's kind of obvious, but no one really talks about it. Women are not all the same. They don't want or need the same things, and sadly we're not easily classified into our age and whether we're married or not. It's more complicated, right?”
Dunn’s third book, When She’s In The Room, which has this month become available in the US in paperback, explores the findings from The Female Lead’s Fulfilment Finder survey of over 150,000 women, which uncovers what drives them and satisfies them at different stages of life.
Dunn also called for inclusive workplace cultures, noting the ‘Power of Two’ concept from When She’s in the Room, which calls for partnerships of opposites in leadership.
She stressed that data confirms that women are an economic powerhouse: 70 to 80% of all purchasing decisions are made by women. “We're decision makers, we're not shopaholics.”
This logic applies to AI leadership as well, Dunn reasoned: “We have to move beyond token representation and create real pathways for women in AI leadership.”
Lane Fox called for all women to see themselves as part of the AI industry and to try out tools in their work and personal life. “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. We need women involved at every stage of AI development, from coding to governance,” she said. “Frankly I don't think there's any excuse right now.”
Dunn stressed that while there are concerns about women’s place in AI; she is “hugely excited” about “massive wealth and investment coming towards women” as industry starts to recognise their economic value. She highlighted the growing area of Femtech as an example of this. “We are actually going to be able to have personalised, better solutions for things like hormone balancing. I think that's fantastic and I think there's going to be a lot of money coming.”
When She’s In The Room: How Empowering Women Empowers the World is available in the UK in hardback, ebook and audiobook, and now available in the US in paperback
