Data Scientists At The Adecco Group Reflect On Challenges And Successes

Women and girls around the globe will celebrate ‘International Day of Women and Girls in Science’ on 11 February to mark the vast achievements women have made in science to date – and offer perspective on the work still ahead for women to be more equally represented in the fields of math and science.

According to data from the UN Scientific Education and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), fewer than 30% of researchers worldwide are women and approximately 30% of all female students select STEM-related fields in higher education. Globally, female students’ enrollment is particularly low in ICT (3%), natural science, mathematics and statistics (5%), and engineering, manufacturing and construction (8%).

Kaixi Lu, a data scientist at the Adecco Group, based in New York, shares her experience on the strides that have been made when it comes to diversity in science.

“I’m fortunate to have been in an environment that’s inclusive and supportive along the way. For this I thank all those who have made efforts to shape this environment into an unbiased one for women,” Lu said.

International Day of Women and Girls in Science acknowledges that having greater representation of women in fields of science is vital to achieve the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals, which includes gender equality.

Despite global efforts to inspire and support more women in science, the field of data science still reflects a lack of diversity: only 15% of data scientists are women. Diversity is critical to data science, according to a study by BCG. In order to build effective AI, it is vital to have a broad range of views and approaches at the table.

At the Adecco Group, we’re fortunate to have attracted a talented and diverse team of data scientists who play an integral role in our digital transformation journey. Data scientists in our Digital team work to ensure we remain competitive by leveraging data and artificial intelligence to enhance the work of our colleagues and continue to innovate for our clients.

“The many inspiring women at the forefront of Data Science and AI are a shining demonstration of talent and reflect what a more inclusive AI community can and should look like,” said Alberto- Giovanni Busetto, Group Head of Data & AI at The Adecco Group. “Their energy and competence also serve society at large, as role models for the next generation. In fact, those building and managing these technologies need to fully represent the society they are poised to positively transform.”

Today we celebrate the talented female data scientists that work in our Digital function. Below, hear from just a few of the many women that comprise our Data & AI team in Zurich, Berlin and New York. They share what motivated them to work in Data Science and the advice they would give to girls and women who want to pursue careers in science.