This International Women’s Day, we’re sparking conversations that matter. We asked eight questions to our allies and industry leaders — Bo Havinga (Microsoft), Corinne Lowenstein (Opening Bell Ventures), Daria Bieliaieva (ABBYY) and Phiwi Ntsada, MBA (Women in Process Mining (WIPM) — about the future of AI, inclusion in tech, and the often-overlooked contributions of women in the field. Their insights reimagine what’s next.
Technology evolves at lightning speed, yet inclusion still lags behind. We turned to industry leaders to rethink the status quo. How do we build a more inclusive industry? What myths need dismantling? And what's next for AI and the women driving it forward? 8 questions - 8 fresh perspectives. And maybe, a whole new way of thinking at the future.
💡If you could rewrite the ‘code’ of the tech industry to make it more inclusive, what would be your first command?
BO HAVINGA, Low-Code Specialist, Microsoft:
“Broaden your scope, reinvent, and stay updated with changes. Don’t cling to the past, but be ahead of the future.”
CORINNE LOWENSTEIN, Chief Operating Officer, Digital Solutions, Opening Bell Ventures
if (curiosity && motivation) { encourage(girls, "Go for it!"); }
"The foundation of an inclusive tech industry starts in early education. If a girl is curious and driven, she should be encouraged — not doubted, dismissed, or left to figure it out alone. We need to foster an environment where girls are empowered to explore, create, and lead in technology. That means hands-on opportunities, strong mentorship, and a culture that tells them: “Yes, you belong here. Go get it!”
💡 What’s one thing AI still doesn’t understand about human intelligence?
BO HAVINGA, Low-Code Specialist, Microsoft:
“AI doesn’t yet include the nuances of non-verbal communication and how different humans present information beyond text. To me, this plays a big role in human intelligence that AI hasn’t mastered yet.”
DARIA BIELIAIEVA, Business Development Manager, ABBYY:
“AI lacks self-awareness and consciousness. While it can recognize patterns, it doesn’t have subjective experiences, emotions and cannot replicate creativity or abstract thinking.”
CORINNE LOWENSTEIN, Chief Operating Officer, Digital Solutions, Opening Bell Ventures:
“Woman’s intuition. Human intelligence isn’t just about processing information; it’s about context, lived experiences, and emotions shaping our decisions in ways that AI struggles to replicate. Humans have those gut feelings, creative sparks and moments of insight that don’t always follow a logical path.
💡What is the most overlooked contribution women have made to AI and tech?
BO HAVINGA, Low-Code Specialist, Microsoft:
“Hedy Lamarr’s invention behind Wi-Fi and Bluetooth was largely unacknowledged during her lifetime. Women’s overall impact in AI and tech has been under-recognized compared to their male counterparts.”
CORINNE LOWENSTEIN, Chief Operating Officer, Digital Solutions, Opening Bell Ventures:
“Marian Croak pioneered Voice over IP (VoIP) - the technology that led to Zoom, Skype, FaceTime or WhatsApp. She developed the protocols that convert voice signals into digital data, enabling calls over the internet”.
💡The biggest myth about women in AI that must be debunked?
DARIA BIELIAIEVA, Business Development Manager, ABBYY:
“The biggest myth is that there are not many women making contributions in AI. In reality, women have been instrumental in IT and AI development, from pioneering computer science to leading research in machine learning.”
BO HAVINGA, Low-Code Specialist, Microsoft:
“The myth that AI is too complicated to understand for anyone. It’s actually so simple that you can even ask AI to help you understand it!”
PHIWI NTSADA, Chapter Lead, Women in Process Mining:
“One of the most persistent misconceptions is that women in tech (and in general as well) don’t support each other. However, my experience has been the opposite. Throughout my career, I have been privileged to have incredible women as sponsors, mentors, and advocates — women who opened doors for me, invited me to seats at tables I otherwise wouldn’t have had access to, and championed me in rooms where I wasn’t present.”
💡A moment you realized your work is making an impact?
BO HAVINGA, Low-Code Specialist, Microsoft:
“It’s in the small things. This morning, a female colleague thanked me for the energizing community we created for International Women’s Month events. It put a smile on her face during a hectic and stressful working week.”
💡 A most pivotal moment where mentorship or sponsorship changed your trajectory?
PHIWI NTSADA, Chapter Lead, Women in Process Mining:
“When I look at key points in my career where I made really big moves, there has always been a woman supporting me, guiding me, and walking the journey with me. This has shaped my core belief: we must always look around and ask, Who can I lift as I climb? Being intentional about sponsorship and mentorship is not just a responsibility; it’s a powerful way to pay it forward. It is this very belief that fuels my passion for leading the Women in Process Mining Berlin Chapter — a space where I hope women will continue to cancel this stereotype as we lift each other up.
💡Which women in tech & AI inspire you?
DARIA BIELIAIEVA, Business Development Manager, ABBYY:
“I personally admire Katerina Spanger, a biomedical engineer and CEO of Oxford Heartbeat. She leads the company that uses AI to enhance the safety and accuracy of brain implant surgeries. And she is originally from Ukraine”.
BO HAVINGA, Low-Code Specialist, Microsoft:
“Elizabeth Holmes, as a cautionary tale that acting like a man for success can lead to trouble. So just don’t do it”.
💡 If you could describe the future of AI in one word, what would it be - and why?
BO HAVINGA, Low-Code Specialist, Microsoft:
“Opportune — because AI will open many new doors for people to enrich both their professional and personal lives.”
CORINNE LOWENSTEIN, Chief Operating Officer, Digital Solutions, Opening Bell Ventures:
“Metamorphosis. AI will drive a complete metamorphosis of society, reshaping life beyond recognition. Just as a caterpillar becomes a butterfly — emerging as something entirely new — AI will revolutionize how we work, communicate, and innovate in ways we can’t yet fully grasp. The world before AI will feel as distant as the pre-digital age, marking a profound shift in human history”.
