Celebrating the diverse journeys of women in AI: A conversation with Abbey Cooper

Abbey Cooper, one of our Customer Directors in the Public Services business unit, talks about her experience as a woman in the industry. She also offers advice to other women in the field.

1.Journeys into AI are unique. What inspired you to enter the field of AI?

I spent a big part of my career in homeland security and law enforcement, where I had the chance to work on a range of operational and triaging activities – something that really inspired me. Back then, around six years ago, Faculty were one of our suppliers at the Home Office. I was always impressed by both the people and the emerging technologies they were exploring. That’s what first got me thinking about a career in AI.

2. AI is still a male-dominated industry. Have you faced any gender-related obstacles, and how have you overcome them?

Absolutely. Quite frequently actually. When I used to work in policing, I would sit in male-dominated boardrooms. I would either be the only female or one of two in the room. 

To tackle this challenge, I had to push past the imposter syndrome I was feeling at the time. I needed to back myself, speak up in meetings, and make sure my contributions weren’t just heard but actually acted on. In the end, it all came down to confidence and bravery.

3. For young women looking to enter AI, what advice would you give them to thrive in this industry?

My advice would be: ‘Don’t feel like you have to know everything’. Yes the world of AI has been around for a while, but it's an industry that is changing all the time. Don't expect to know everything about everything – focus on what you need to know and stay open to continuous learning. 

4. What steps can we take to ensure more women see AI as a viable and exciting career path?

I think we just need to see more women in tech leadership roles, front and centre. When women step up and show they’re thriving, it sends a powerful message – it proves that others can do the same. The more visible they are, the more it inspires others to follow that path.

5. If you could send one message to all women working in AI today, what would it be?

I love the quote from Maya Angelou, “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Harness emotional intelligence in everything you do. It will go a long way.

6. What is one of your favourite projects you've worked on during your time at Faculty?

During my time at Faculty I’ve worked on a number of exciting projects. But my favourite has to be when we deployed a model to help the Police tackle ‘county lines’ drug crime. 

We implemented an AI model on a national scale that boosted police intelligence on drug crime. It was fantastic because we could clearly see the tangible operational outcomes our work helped to deliver. I would frequently get messages saying “we have seized more drugs” or “we have found more money”. 

It’s always amazing to see how AI can be used to help solve real-world problems, and it gives us the drive to continue working on these kinds of use cases.

7. What are you most excited to see in the future of AI? 

There’s so much to be excited about right now. There are so many GenAI capabilities out there, and it’s amazing to see them constantly evolving – getting smarter, faster, and more complex. But if I had to pick one thing it would be the rise of AI agents and what that could potentially mean for government and law enforcement in the future. The possibilities are huge. 

Keep an eye out for more stories about the women at Faculty who help shape what we do.