Women in Data & AI (WiDA) at Waterloo is a student-led initiative launched in Spring 2025 by Master of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (MDSAI) students at the University of Waterloo. Building on the legacy of Waterloo Women in Mathematics (WiM), WiDA is dedicated to uplifting women and gender-diverse individuals in STEM - with a strong focus on bridging the gap between academia and industry. Through speaker events, workshops, and career-focused discussions, WiDA @ Waterloo empowers students to explore real-world applications of data science while fostering an inclusive community. We aim to spotlight diverse voices, build industry connections, and support the next generation of data-driven leaders. WiDA is proud to be affiliated with the Canadian Mathematical Society (CMS), extending its commitment to advancing equity, representation, and collaboration across Canada’s data science and mathematics communities.
Canadian Women Shaping AI podcast by WiDA at UWaterloo
Episode 1 — Canadian Women Shaping AI | Noreen Syed, IBM Consulting Canada
Kicking off Canadian Women Shaping AI with Noureen Syed, Partner at IBM Consulting Canada and proud UWaterloo alum. We dive into her journey from engineering at UWaterloo to leading AI transformations across Canada - and how empathy, curiosity, and strategy define impactful leadership in tech.
🎧 Streaming now on Spotify | Women in Data & AI (WiDA) at Waterloo Tune in now:
Episode 2 — AI Future Leaders: Alina Rivilis on Data, Ethics & the Next Generation of AI
In this episode of Canadian Women Shaping AI, we sit down with Alina Rivilis — CEO & Co-Founder of AI Future Leaders and Director of Data Science & AI at Home Trust Company — to explore how data, ethics, and innovation come together to shape the future of AI.
With over 25 years of experience in Enterprise Technology, AI strategy, and Data Science Leadership, Alina has built a career at the intersection of innovation and integrity. Through AI Future Leaders, she is helping schools, organizations, and individuals adopt AI responsibly while fostering critical thinking and creativity.
In our conversation, we discuss what it means to build trust in data-driven systems, how ethical education can fuel innovation, and why preparing people — not just technology — is at the heart of a sustainable AI future.
Episode 3 — Shaina Raza on designing AI with integrity and responsibility
The third episode of Canadian Women Shaping AI features Shaina Raza, PhD, Applied Machine Learning Scientist in Responsible AI. We explore what it means to design innovation with integrity - how responsibility and creativity can coexist, and why trust must be built into every layer of AI. With over a decade of experience bridging academia and industry, Shaina brings a deeply thoughtful perspective on building technology that moves forward with purpose.
🎧 Streaming now on Spotify | Women in Data & AI (WiDA) at Waterloo
Tune in now: https://lnkd.in/dPiJHVjR 🎙️
Hosted by Khushee Kapoor
Episode 4 — DR. CINDY GORDON ICD.D on the entrepreneurial side of AI
DR. CINDY GORDON ICD.D. — CEO and Founder of SalesChoice, angel investor, award-winning author, and one of Canada’s most influential voices in AI entrepreneurship and governance. We explore the entrepreneurial side of AI - what it means to build responsibly, scale sustainably, and lead with vision in a fast-changing landscape. Dr. Gordon shares her journey as a founder, investor, and thought leader, offering a candid look at the mindset behind building companies that last.
🎧 Streaming now on Spotify | Women in Data & AI (WiDA) at Waterloo
Tune in here: https://lnkd.in/d3ucBAZi
🎙️ Hosted by Khushee Kapoor
Episode 5 — Jennifer Charters, Director of Cloud and AI Platforms at Microsoft
The final episode of Canadian Women Shaping AI features Jennifer Charters, Director of Cloud and AI Platforms at Microsoft. We talk about what it means to lead with balance, empathy, and purpose - how adaptability and creativity shape leadership that lasts, and why people will always be at the heart of innovation. Jennifer’s story is a reminder that progress in technology begins with human connection — and that leadership isn’t just about change, but about lifting others along the way.
🎧 Streaming now on Spotify | Women in Data & AI (WiDA) at Waterloo
Tune in now: https://lnkd.in/db4zX49S
🎙️ Hosted by Khushee Kapoor