Wisdom From The Women Leading The AI Industry, With Dalith Steiger-Gablinger of SwissCognitive

In an illuminating interview with Authority Magazine’s Vanessa Morcom, our co-founder Dalith Steiger-Gablinger, a leading figure in the AI industry, delves into the essential role of understanding technology’s power for women in AI.

Understanding the Power of Technology: It’s crucial for women in AI to grasp the potential of technology and articulate its implications for their businesses. This understanding enables effective communication and decision-making in this tech-driven world.

As part of our series about the women leading the Artificial Intelligence industry, we had the pleasure of interviewing Dalith Steiger-Gablinger.

Dalith Steiger-Gablinger is an AI investor, serial entrepreneur, and co-founder of SwissCognitive. As an AI strategist, innovator, and investor, she advises various companies and actively participates in boards, AI accelerator programs, and mentors young girls in tech. Dalith delivers insightful keynotes worldwide, drawing from her extensive experience and knowledge. Beyond her professional endeavors, she finds joy in mountain biking and spending time with family and friends.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you share with us the ‘backstory” of how you decided to pursue this career path in AI?

Thank you for having me! I studied mathematics and information technology, although I faced many challenges with math during my schooling, leading me to drop out temporarily due to a lack of understanding. Upon returning and taking a mathematics course with a different teacher, I was able to grasp the subject. This experience taught me the importance that clear communication is key to understanding, and if someone doesn’t understand something, it’s the mistake of the messenger, not the receiver. This became an important backbone to my future career pursuits in AI.

I then started a career in the banking industry as a software developer 28 years ago. I was just one of the two women in this male-dominated field in the Zurich area, where I quickly became valued for my ability to bridge communication gaps between the IT and business teams.

About 10 years ago, I then attended a Gartner event in Barcelona where I was introduced to the concept of the “Digital Employee”. The Digital Employee is a conversational system powered by AI that can interact with users in order to accomplish a wide range of business tasks. Recognizing its immense potential, I was inspired to start my journey into the complex, and growing AI space.

And it turns out I wasn’t the only Swiss professional becoming drawn into the field of AI. The unique talents and attributes of Switzerland’s business community meant that we had the brain and technology power to quickly become globally competitive. This realization prompted the founding of SwissCognitive, where I currently work as a Global AI Strategist, facilitating knowledge exchange among companies and advise them on AI strategies and investments.

What lessons can others learn from your story?

The pivotal lesson from my experience is to challenge assumptions about oneself and the information received. Many women may doubt their understanding, but it’s essential to challenge this mindset and advocate for clearer communication, especially in the world of emerging technologies. Remember, if something isn’t clear, it’s not solely the individual’s fault; instead, it’s crucial to prompt the communicator to explain in simpler terms.

One instance where I shifted from self-doubt to challenging the communicator was when I joined a select group of AI fund investors as an expert to help explain the AI landscape. Despite having ongoing meetings with older male investors and initially refraining from expressing my opinions, I eventually felt compelled to speak up in a particular situation. Although I felt insecure at that moment, when I did speak up, the investors acknowledged the value of my insights and responded by saying “Wow, you’re so right.” And then the dialogue flowed much more effectively and productively from there!

It’s important to keep in mind that encouraging dialogue with phrases like “Am I right?” fosters an environment where everyone can contribute and question the message. The transformation in Switzerland’s history of women’s voting is very recent compared to other counties, so the female voice is still growing here! In my role, now supporting women and entrepreneurship in this critical AI space, I am always encouraging women of the need to challenge assumptions and promote equality.

Can you tell our readers about the most interesting projects you are working on now?

Currently, one of the most engaging projects I’m involved in is my ongoing effort to empower women entrepreneurs and the younger generation by raising awareness about the exciting potential of AI. Another one would be supporting AI startups in their strategy, growth and market entry. These activities include participating in keynote panels, engaging with students at universities, and connecting with the vibrant community we lead of over half a million AI enthusiasts on platforms like LinkedIn.

It’s crucial to invest in the younger generation and recognize the responsibility of the older generation in shaping their future. The intersection of that idea with cutting-edge technologies like AI is what I find most interesting today. I do this work through educating, giving lectures, and creating forums for collaboration and ideation.

Another dear project to me, is unleashing investments for AI startups. We mix and match these startups with investors, VC funds and corporate ventures to boost their success. Especially in Switzerland, we are proud to see that more and more Swiss investors are willing to invest into this particular growing tech scene. We see Switzerland turning more and more from a heritage culture to an investment culture, believing in its startup scene and enabling our innovation nation to become a startup nation.[…]