Women of Silicon Roundabout is a special event for us at Daemon every year. We were thrilled to attend and meet other women working in tech. This year's WOSR made AI a theme but in a more subtle way. We explored how AI can be used strategically to support women and enhance access to business funding.
We talked to Daemonites Naomi Pearse and Aparna Kulkarni about what they saw and heard at this year’s conference and to find out what’s in store for 2025.
Women as role models
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This year, Daemon Analyst Consultant Naomi Pearse gave a talk. She wanted to share her love for inspiring more women to get into coding and to help girls aim high through education. Naomi’s talk on female role models was a highlight of our WOSR, discussing both historical and present leaders who shaped modern computing:
“My talk looked at women’s key contributions to computing. For me, these women are a shining example of what’s possible, and how women have always had a key role in the industry.” Naomi Pearse
Naomi mentioned Dr Fei Fei Lee, Professor at Stanford, and former Chief Scientist of AI & ML at Google Cloud. Dr Lee is a founder in AI, creating World Labs, which uses artificial intelligence to create real world models in the digital space. Daemon’s own chatbot also was used to bring historical figures to life. Tools like this inspire natural curiosity, encouraging more girls and young women to explore careers in technology.
Read more about our AI chatbot
It’s all about AI
Wherever you went at this year’s WOSR, there was a definite buzz around the theme of AI. There was a lot of encouragement for women in tech to strategically implement AI. Daemon Consultant Aparna attended a talk from Cait O’Riordan, Vice President of Product at Google,
“Google now widely use AI in searches to give suggested information. 15% of daily Google searches are completely unique, showing that people are constantly searching for new information. This indicates a need for ongoing innovation.” Aparna Kulkarni
The practical use of AI in building business cases and securing funding was discussed, as well as how AI can be used to empower women in their careers. Women represent only 22% of the tech sector in Europe. Yet, in this sector, women are taking up AI opportunities less readily than men. Women at the forefront of AI are now also discussing its environmental impact.
“The training of ChatGPT 3 took the same energy as it would to power 100 homes for a year. These considerations are important as we think about how to use AI tactically.” Naomi Pearse
Better careers, higher hopes
Naomi and Aparna are both optimistic about the growing role women play in technology. But 2024 has been a tough year, with diversity and inclusion initiatives facing global funding cuts. Women Who Code had 360,000 members worldwide across 145 countries. It closed in 2024 due to budget constraints.
“Initiatives that support women are really important. They help women in technology connect and gain confidence, building networks and friendships that support career growth.” Naomi Pearse
At Daemon, this is why we support technology and innovation talks in schools, which offer important opportunities for young girls. We saw plenty of school trips being shown around Women of Silicon 2024, which was amazing to see.
Thanks for having us, WOSR! We loved the networking opportunities and the insights given. It was great to share experiences and make new connections. We came away feeling inspired and ready to continue learning and improving how we empower women in the workplace.