The video features an inspiring conversation with Adola Olo, CEO of Different Marketing Technology, who shares her journey from Nigeria to Ireland and her career evolution from law to marketing technology and AI. Adola emphasizes the importance of curiosity, resilience, and continuous learning in navigating career transitions and embracing emerging technologies like AI. She recounts her initial exposure to technology during an internship, her challenges in restarting her career in Ireland, and her proactive approach to building expertise through education and networking.
Adola’s passion for AI grew from curiosity to advocacy, leading her to become a prominent voice in AI and gender balance, especially supporting women’s integration into STEM and AI fields. She now leads initiatives helping organizations globally to adopt technology effectively, focusing on practical AI applications such as automation and personalization. Her approach underlines empathy and inclusivity in technology adoption, recognizing that individuals learn and adapt at different paces.
The discussion also addresses the gender gap in AI and STEM, highlighting the need for more women to engage confidently despite not having all the answers upfront. Adola praises the efforts of the Irish education system in promoting female participation but calls for greater inclusion that empowers and recognizes women’s contributions. She advocates for mentorship, community involvement, and targeted learning to nurture skills relevant to AI and related disciplines, stressing the value of soft skills like storytelling and human empathy in a tech-driven world.
Finally, Adola encourages young women to seize opportunities in AI fearlessly, reminding them that confidence grows through action and support. She believes that women’s active participation today will shape a more inclusive and innovative future in technology, leaving a legacy for the next generations.
Highlights
- 🌟 Adola’s career transition from law to marketing technology sparked by curiosity and passion.
- 🚀 Overcoming career challenges after relocating to Ireland by persistence and education.
- 🤖 Discovery of AI’s transformative power in marketing and technology adoption.
- 🎤 Advocacy for gender balance and inclusion in AI and STEM fields.
- 🤝 Emphasis on empathy and tailored learning in organizational AI adoption.
- 🌍 Global impact through helping diverse industries implement AI strategies.
- 💡 Mentorship and community support as critical tools for empowering women in AI.
Key Insights
- 🌱 Curiosity as a Catalyst for Career Growth: Adola’s story illustrates how curiosity can open unexpected career paths. Despite starting in law, her willingness to explore marketing technology led her to leadership roles and eventually AI. This underscores the importance of embracing uncertainty and learning continuously in a rapidly evolving job market.
- 💪 Resilience and Adaptability in Career Reinvention: Moving to a new country with a strong professional background does not guarantee immediate success. Adola’s experience shows that resilience—persisting despite setbacks and starting from scratch—combined with strategic education (a master’s degree in marketing) can rebuild and advance a career in a new environment.
- 🤖 AI’s Impact Beyond Technology, Into Soft Skills and Personalization: AI is not just about coding or automation; it enhances personalization and human connection, such as tailoring marketing campaigns to individual cultures and preferences or enabling doctors to focus more on patient empathy by offloading routine tasks. This shift places a premium on soft skills like storytelling and emotional intelligence to complement AI’s capabilities.
- 👩💻 Bridging the Gender Gap Requires More Than Numbers: While increasing female enrollment in STEM is vital, Adola stresses the need for true inclusion—creating environments where women are heard, recognized, and supported to thrive. Inclusion means providing platforms, mentorship, and acknowledgment that empower women to lead and innovate, thereby encouraging sustained female participation.
- 🤝 Empathy and Tailored Learning in Tech Adoption: Organizations often face challenges adopting AI due to varying employee readiness levels. Adola highlights the necessity of empathetic leadership that recognizes diverse learning paces and fosters peer mentoring. This approach prevents fear and resistance, enabling smoother and more effective technology integration.
- 🌍 Diverse Industry Exposure Enhances AI Strategy Development: Working across sectors like oil and gas, retail, and real estate, Adola’s role involves auditing existing processes and identifying AI opportunities that fit each unique context. This cross-industry perspective enriches her understanding of AI’s practical applications and demonstrates that AI adoption must be customized to specific business needs.
- 🎓 Mentorship and Community as Accelerators for Women in AI: Access to mentorship programs and active participation in communities like Women in AI are crucial for nurturing confidence, knowledge, and networks among women. Adola’s advocacy for engaging with such resources reflects a broader strategy to democratize AI knowledge and build a supportive ecosystem where women uplift one another.