Celebrating the diverse journeys of women in AI: A conversation with Dinan Alasad

Dinan Alasad, one of our Associates in the Public Services business unit, shares what inspired her to step into the world of AI. Dinan also provides insights to support and guide women in the industry.

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

My journey into STEM started with civil engineering at university – partly because my dad’s an engineer, so I already had some insight into the industry. Once I got into my degree, I loved calculus and probability theory, but I quickly realised I didn’t have as much passion for the other areas.

So, I made a change. I knew I wanted something more maths-focused, and my interest in statistics kept growing. I was fascinated by the statistical and economic modelling used to understand global development and a population’s needs. When I first came across econometrics, it immediately clicked. It combined all my favourite areas, so switching to it felt like the right move.

After graduating, a friend who worked at Faculty heard me talking about my dissertation and said I’d be a great fit. That conversation opened the door for me. I started my career at Faculty and eventually shifted from consumer and services to government and public services. I followed my passion, and it’s led me exactly where I want to be.

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

Yes I have. I’ve always loved working with teams, fostering a positive environment, and bringing people together – but that doesn’t mean I’m not technical. I’ve faced this weird perception that if a woman is outgoing and personable, she can’t also be highly competent and skilled in technical fields. 

It’s frustrating when perception is one-dimensional in that way. I value creating an enjoyable experience in the teams I’m in, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that I know what I’m doing and deserve to be taken seriously. 

I try not to let perceptions like that lead me to tone down my personality or doubt my skills. It helps to have mentors and supportive colleagues who always remind you of who you are! 

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

The best piece of advice I can give is to really believe in yourself and know your strengths. Not everyone will be cheering you on to succeed so you need a strong sense of self-belief. Make sure it can’t be swayed on how you’re treated or perceived by others. 

And remember, when it comes to interviewing, you’re interviewing the company and the team as much as they are interviewing you. It’s hugely detrimental to be part of the wrong team early on in your career. Be discerning on where you choose to start your journey into the field.

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

Women need to be more vocal about the work that we do. As a woman, working with female machine learning engineers has helped machine learning feel more accessible and approachable. This goes to show that representation is really important. When you see someone who looks like you, it’s much easier to envision yourself in that role. 

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

Do not be afraid to speak your mind and draw from your experience. A lot of the time, women are afraid to challenge certain ideas. But the differences in a team are what make that team powerful. That’s what gives us the ability to build solutions to problems that are useful for a larger majority. So even though you might not look like other people in the room, your insights and opinions are invaluable. 

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

For stats nerds like me, working with statistics to inform needs in public services is the best part of the job. There is so much that can be derived from data and there are more ways than ever before to use the data.  

Being at the forefront of the new ways we’ll be thinking about the statistics in the future is pretty cool. Sometimes I’ll stop and think, “Wow! We’re at the frontlines of technology and we’re making history”. 

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

I’m very excited to see how AI will be used in public services and healthcare. There are so many commercial use cases for AI and lots of conversations about that. Which is great. But where AI can speed up life-saving work and create life changing outcomes is incredible. I’m excited to see what AI can make possible for people taking care of the population, for people who are working in healthcare. From speeding up diagnosis to helping doctors and nurses take care of their patients – there’s a lot to look forward to.  

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