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Top Most Influential Women in AI, Curated by Dinis Guarda Citiesabc Businessabc
Editor
12 Mar 2026
Today, women represent only around 22% of the global AI workforce, and less than 14% of senior leadership roles in AI organisations. And yet, some of the most influential breakthroughs in artificial intelligence have been shaped by visionary women.
The numbers show both progress and urgency. Women make up less than one-third of the global STEM workforce and still face barriers in technology leadership and funding ecosystems. Yet at the same time, adoption of emerging tools like generative AI among women leaders is rising rapidly.
This edition highlights a curated selection of influential women shaping the future of artificial intelligence across research, industry, policy, and entrepreneurship. This research, conducted by my teams at Citiesabc and Businessabc, draws on extensive analysis of global AI ecosystems, leadership networks, and technological innovation.
The selection is based on five guiding principles: Real Impact on AI Development, Leadership & Decision-Making Power, Innovation & Original Contribution, Real-World Adoption & Scale, Thought Leadership & Industry Voice.
The research celebrates the pioneers who are not only advancing artificial intelligence but also redefining its values, making it more human-centred, ethical, and inclusive.
And perhaps the real question for all of us today is this: If AI is becoming the operating system of society, how different could that future look when more women are building it?
Top 50 most influential Women in AI:
Alexandra Farrell
Alexandra Farrell is a capital markets and real estate executive who leads investment and fundraising strategies while drawing on prior experience in marketing and media to build strong investor relationships.
- Company/Designation: Director, Capital Markets at Hines
- Achievements: Grew sales to $1.7M as an account executive; now leads capital markets initiatives for Hines in London.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-farrell-2227143/
Allie K. Miller
Allie K. Miller is an AI pioneer and CEO of Open Machine, Allie bridges cutting-edge tech and business. She advises top companies, shapes AI strategy, and is a leading voice in ethical, scalable AI adoption.
- Company/Designation: CEO of Open Machine
- Achievements: Launched IBM Watson’s first multimodal AI team; ex-AWS Global Head of ML; TIME’s 100 Most Influential in AI 2025; advisor to Fortune 500s.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alliekmiller/
Amy Webb
Amy Webb is a quantitative futurist and founder of the Future Today Institute, advising global leaders on emerging technologies and long-term strategy using data-driven foresight methods.
- Company/Designation: CEO of FTSG
- Achievements: Founded Future Today Institute; pioneered data‑driven foresight; advises CEOs, governments, and central banks.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amywebb/
Dr. Annette Doms
Dr. Annette Doms is an art historian and curator specialising in technology-based art and Web3, connecting blockchain, NFTs, and immersive media with contemporary artistic practice.
- Company/Designation: Founding Partner, MindMash
- Achievements: Co-founded Germany’s first digital art fair UNPAINTED; builds blockchain-based art marketplaces and curates AR/VR/XR exhibitions.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annettedoms/
Ayesha Khanna
Ayesha Khanna is an AI entrepreneur and strategic advisor who helps companies and cities design and deploy AI-driven solutions for digital transformation, smart services, and inclusive economic growth.
- Company/Designation: Co-Founder & CEO of Addo AI
- Achievements: Co-founded Addo AI; Forbes named Addo among leading AI firms in Asia and recognised her as a groundbreaking female entrepreneur.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ayeshakhanna/
Baroness Manzila Uddin
Baroness Manzila Uddin is a British parliamentarian and community leader known for championing equality, social justice, and increased participation of ethnic minority women in public life.
- Company/Designation: Member of the House of Lords, UK Parliament
- Achievements: Chaired UK government committees on BME women’s participation and forced marriage; long-standing advocate for community cohesion.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/baroness-manzila-uddin-4ba3253/
Beena Ammanath
Beena Ammanath is an AI and digital transformation leader who advises global organisations on building trustworthy, ethical, and business-aligned AI systems across industries, from finance to industrial and technology sectors.
- Company/Designation: Executive Director, Deloitte Global AI Institute
- Achievements: Leads Deloitte’s Global AI Institute and Trustworthy Tech Ethics; author of “Trustworthy AI”; founder of non-profit Humans For AI.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bammanath/
Cassie Kosyrkov
Cassie Kozyrkov is a data science leader and decision strategist who founded the field of decision intelligence at Google and now helps organisations make better high-stakes choices with AI.
- Company/Designation: CEO of Kozyr
- Achievements: Former Google Chief Decision Scientist; founded decision intelligence discipline; now runs Kozyr and a stealth AI startup.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kozyrkov/
Clara Chappaz
Clara Chappaz leads France’s AI and digital strategy, promoting innovation, ethical tech, and Paris as a global AI hub.
- Company/Designation: Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs, France
- Achievements: First French Minister of AI; former CEO of La French Tech; advocates for ethical, sovereign AI; named to TIME’s AI leaders list.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarachappaz/
Clara Shih
Clara Shih is a technology founder and AI executive who has led major enterprise AI businesses and now heads Business AI at Meta, making advanced AI tools accessible to companies of all sizes worldwide.
- Company/Designation: Advisor and Founder of Business AI at Meta and Co-founder of Hearsay Social
- Achievements: Founder and former CEO of Hearsay Social; former CEO of Salesforce AI; now VP/Head of Business AI at Meta.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarashih/
Daniela Amodei
Daniela Amodei is President and co-founder of Anthropic, an AI safety and research company. She previously led safety and policy at OpenAI and is a prominent advocate for ethical AI development.
- Company/Designation: President of Anthropic
- Achievements: TIME100 AI, Forbes Most Powerful Women.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniela-amodei-790bb22a/
Debbie Weinstein
Debbie Weinstein is President of Google EMEA, overseeing business operations and partnerships across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. She is a veteran in tech leadership, driving innovation and digital transformation.
- Company/Designation: President EMEA at Google
- Achievements: Led Google’s expansion in EMEA, advocate for digital skills and inclusion.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/debbie-w-62b2a44/
Dena Al Mansoori
Dena Al Mansoori is Group Chief AI and Data Officer at e& (Etisalat Group), driving AI strategy across 38 countries. She is a transformational leader in AI, data, and organizational culture.
- Company/Designation: Group Chief AI and Data Officer at e& (Etisalat Group)
- Achievements: Founder of WhiteBox HR, Harvard Business School case study.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/denaalmansoori/
Dr. Efi Pylarinou
Dr. Efi Pylarinou is a fintech expert, Wall Street veteran, and global thought leader in financial technology, digital transformation, and emerging financial systems.
- Company/Designation: Founder, Pylarinou Advisory; Fintech & Technology Thought Leader.
- Achievements: PhD in Finance and former Wall Street professional; globally recognized fintech influencer and advisor to financial institutions and technology companies. Named one of the top global women influencers in finance and data by Refinitiv and included in multiple fintech influencer rankings.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/efipylarinou/
Elitsa Krumova
Elitsa Krumova is a B2B tech influencer and marketing strategist who helps global tech brands communicate emerging technologies and empowers women and girls in tech through thought leadership and content.
- Company/Designation: Global Thought Leader and B2B Tech Influencer at elitsakrumova.com
- Achievements: Recognised in top IoT and thought leadership rankings; partners with major tech companies on influencer and content strategies.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elitsa-krumova/
Elise Quevedo
Elise Quevedo is a tech thought leader, analyst, and storyteller who helps executives and brands build authentic digital presences and navigate disruptive technologies with a human-centred approach.
- Company/Designation: Author, Analyst, Global Tech Thought Leader
- Achievements: Created SMEQ (Social Media Emotional Quotient); Top 100 Women of E‑Commerce honouree; advises Fortune 500 companies on digital and influencer strategy.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisequevedo/
Fei-Fei Li
Fei-Fei Li is a pioneer in AI and computer vision, known for ImageNet and advocating for human-centered AI. As Stanford HAI co-director and World Labs CEO, she shapes global AI policy and innovation.
- Company/Designation: Co-director of Stanford HAI and CEO of World Labs
- Achievements: Created ImageNet; co-founded AI4ALL; TIME100 AI 2025; Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering 2025; former Chief Scientist of AI/ML at Google Cloud; raised $1B for World Labs.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fei-fei-li-4541247/
Fidji Simo
Fidji Simo is a visionary tech leader who has driven growth at Meta, Instacart, and now OpenAI. As CEO of Applications, she bridges AI research with real-world impact, shaping how millions interact with transformative technologies like ChatGPT.
- Company/Designation: CEO of Applications at OpenAI
- Achievements: Transformed Facebook’s monetization; led Instacart’s IPO; TIME100 AI 2025; scales ChatGPT to 500M+ weekly users; bridges AI research with real-world applications.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fidjisimo/
Hanan Salam
Hanan Salam is an AI researcher and educator focused on human–AI interaction who co-founded Women in AI to increase women’s participation and leadership in artificial intelligence worldwide.
- Company/Designation: Co-founder & Head of Education & Research, Women in AI; Assistant Professor at New York University Abu Dhabi
- Achievements: Co-founded global non-profit Women in AI; leads education and research programmes on inclusive AI
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hanan-salam/
Heidy Khlaaf
Heidy Khlaaf is Chief AI Scientist at the AI Now Institute, specializing in AI safety and security for autonomous systems. She is a leading expert in assessing and mitigating risks in AI-based technologies.
- Company/Designation: Chief AI Scientist at AI Now Institute
- Achievements: NSF GRFP Award, Best Paper Award at CAV 2015.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heidy-khlaaf/
Helen Yu
Helen Yu is a growth strategist and board advisor who helps tech companies scale by aligning customer experience, AI, cybersecurity, and go‑to‑market strategy across complex ecosystems.
- Company/Designation: Founder & CEO, Tigon Advisory Corp; Board Director; Host of CXO Spic
- Achievements: Top 50 Women in Tech; advises global enterprises on digital transformation and AI‑driven growth.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuhelenyu/
Henna Virkkunen
Henna Virkkunen drives Europe’s tech sovereignty and digital transformation, ensuring secure, democratic AI and innovation across the EU.
- Company/Designation: Executive Vice-President for Technological Sovereignty, Security, and Democracy, European Commission
- Achievements: Leads EU’s digital and AI strategy; former Finnish Minister of Education, Transport, and Local Government; Optica’s 2025 Advocate of Optics; focuses on tech sovereignty and cybersecurity.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henna-virkkunen/
Dr. Ingrid Vasiliu-Feltes
Dr. Ingrid Vasiliu-Feltes is a physician executive, digital strategist, and global thought leader specializing in digital health, AI governance, blockchain, and deep-tech innovation, with over two decades of leadership across healthcare, academia, and technology sectors.
- Company/Designation: CEO, Softhread Inc.; Founder & CEO, The Science, Entrepreneurship and Investments Institute.
- Achievements: Former Chief Quality and Safety Officer and Chief Innovation Officer at Mednax, and Chief of Compliance at the University of Miami UHealth System; member of Forbes Business Council; advisor to the EU Blockchain Observatory Forum; recipient of the WBAF World Excellence Award for Social Entrepreneurship (2021) and multiple global leadership recognitions in health tech and digital innovation.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingrid-vasiliu-feltes-mdmba/
Joanne Jang
Joanne Jang defines how AI models interact with humans, ensuring OpenAI’s technologies are safe, useful, and aligned with user needs.
- Company/Designation: Head of Model Behaviour at OpenAI
- Achievements: Led development of OpenAI’s Model Spec; shaped GPT-4’s behavior and safety; pioneered AI personalization and voice interaction; Stanford alum.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jangjoanne/
Joelle Pineau
Joelle Pineau is a leading AI researcher and Chief AI Officer at Cohere, specializing in reinforcement learning and natural language processing. She is also a professor at McGill University and co-directs the Facebook AI Research lab in Montreal.
- Company/Designation: Chief AI Officer at Cohere
- Achievements: Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, CIFAR AI Chair, NeurIPS Board Member
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joelle-pineau-371574141/
Kamales Lardi
Kamales Lardi is a digital transformation strategist who combines deep cross‑industry experience with emerging technologies to help organisations build human‑centred, future‑ready business models.
- Company/Designation: CEO of Lardi & Partner Consulting ; Founder, BloomBloc Sdn. Bhd.
- Achievements: Named a Top 10 global digital transformation thought leader; author of “The Human Side of Digital Business Transformation”; TEDx speaker.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamaleslardi/
Karen Hao
Karen Hao is an award-winning journalist and NYT bestselling author of "Empire of AI," focusing on AI’s societal impacts. She co-hosts the BBC podcast "The Interface" and trains journalists globally on AI coverage through the Pulitzer Center’s AI Spotlight Series.
- Company/Designation: Author
- Achievements: TIME100 AI, American Humanist Media Award, National Magazine Award.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karendhao/
Karin Volo
Karin Volo is an employee engagement and culture expert who helps organisations create purpose-driven, joyful workplaces through speaking, consulting, and leadership development programmes.
- Company/Designation: CEO and Chief Joy Bringer at Evoloshen
- Achievements: Co-authored bestseller “Engage!”; international keynote speaker on engagement and purpose-led culture.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karinvolo/
Kate Kallot
Kate Kallot is an AI entrepreneur and advocate for the Global South who founded Amini to use data and AI for climate resilience, agriculture, and economic inclusion across underrepresented regions.
- Company/Designation: CEO and Founder of Amini
- Achievements: Founder of Amini, a Nairobi-based climate and agriculture AI company; led rapid revenue growth while enabling fairer insurance and resilience for African farmers.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katekallot/
Katheline Jean-Pierre MSc
Katheline Jean-Pierre MSc is a tech career strategist and sales leader who helps technology workers future‑proof their careers while leading high‑performing commercial teams in global digital platforms.
- Company/Designation: Tech Career Strategist and former Senior Director, LinkedIn Advertising Sales
- Achievements: Led LinkedIn financial services sales to $114M in new deals; previously drove $1.2B portfolio growth at Google.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathelinejeanpierre/
Dr. Khulood Almani
Dr. Khulood Almani is a Saudi technology leader driving AI innovation and sustainable digital transformation through national‑level initiatives aligned with Vision 2030.
- Company/Designation: CEO of HKB Tech
- Achievements: Leads Saudi AI Centre of Excellence; forges partnerships with Google and NVIDIA; champions ethical AI, privacy, and transparent governance.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-khulood-almani--595513162/
Lila Ibrahim
Lila Ibrahim is the Chief Operating Officer at Google DeepMind, where she leads operations and strategy for the AI research lab. She has a background in engineering and business, with a focus on scaling AI technologies.
- Company/Designation: Chief Operating Officer at Google DeepMind
- Achievements: Former COO of Coursera, leadership roles at Kleiner Perkins and Intel.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/librah
Dr. Lisa Su
Dr. Lisa Su is the President and CEO of AMD, credited with transforming the company into a leader in high-performance computing and semiconductor technology. She is a prominent figure in the tech industry and a champion for STEM education.
- Company/Designation: President and CEO of AMD
- Achievements: IEEE Fellow, Fortune’s Most Powerful Women, Semiconductor Industry Association Board Member.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisasu-amd/
Prof. Lisa Wilson
Prof. Lisa Wilson is a digital technology strategist and systems thinker who designs innovation ecosystems using emerging tech to tackle complex socio‑economic challenges globally.
- Company/Designation: Founder, nGRND Inc ; Professor and STEM Ambassador
- Achievements: Advises bodies such as the European Commission, UN, and LawTechUK on blockchain, AI, and digital transformation.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professorlisawilson/ im/
Louize Clark
Louize Clarke is a specialist in AI procurement, governance, and accountability, focusing on helping organizations maintain defensible human judgment when deploying AI systems.
- Company/Designation: Founder, DHI (Defensible Human Intelligence) & Decision Ledger™
- Achievements: Advocates for responsible AI procurement and decision accountability frameworks; works on solutions that support defensible human judgment in the AI era, addressing AI liability, governance, and responsible deployment.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louize-clark-5605a7b8/
Dr Martha Boekenfeld
Dr. Martha Boeckenfeld is a digital transformation leader, fintech expert, and technology advisor known for her work in AI, Web3, and the metaverse, helping organizations navigate emerging technologies and ethical innovation.
- Company/Designation: CEO & Founder, MarthaVerse; Dean & Partner, Metaverse Academy
- Achievements: Former senior executive in financial services with leadership experience at UBS and AXA; advisory and board roles across fintech and technology organizations including Generali Switzerland and GenTwo; recognized as one of the Top 100 Women of the Future and a LinkedIn Top Voice in technology and innovation.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmarthaboeckenfeld/
Mfikeyi Makayi
Mfikeyi leads Kobold Metals Africa, using AI to discover critical minerals, powering the global energy transition and setting new industry standards.
- Company/Designation: CEO of KoBold Metals Africa
- Achievements: First Zambian woman to lead a major mining company; developing a $2B copper mine with AI; TIME AI100 2025.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mfikeyi-makayi-807779106/
Mira Murati
Mira Murati is the founder of Thinking Machines Lab and former CTO of OpenAI. She led the development of ChatGPT, DALL-E, and GPT-4, and is recognized for her leadership in AI innovation.
- Company/Designation: Founder of Thinking Machines Lab
- Achievements: Led OpenAI’s flagship AI products, TIME100 AI.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mira-murati-4b39a066/
Nancy Xu
Nancy Xu is an AI founder and investor who leads Moonhub, building AI-powered recruiting tools, after a career spanning engineering, healthcare AI, and venture investing.
- Company/Designation: CEO and Founder of Moonhub
- Achievements: Founder and CEO of Moonhub ; founder of Xu Ventures; former Facebook engineer and USA International Math Olympiad team member.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xnancy/
Navrina Singh
Navrina’s Credo AI helps enterprises deploy AI responsibly, ensuring compliance and ethical use across industries.
- Company/Designation: Founder and CEO of Credo AI
- Achievements: Founded Credo AI ; UN and US AI advisor; TIME AI100 2025; Inc.’s Female Founders 250.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/navrina/
Peggy Johnson
Peggy drives innovation in robotics and tech. As Agility’s CEO, she scales humanoid robots for real-world applications, building the future of automation.
- Company/Designation: CEO of Agility Robotics
- Achievements: Led Microsoft’s $26B LinkedIn acquisition; ex-CEO of Magic Leap; now CEO of Agility Robotics.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peggyljohnson
Rana el Kaliouby
Rana el Kaliouby is an AI entrepreneur and investor who pioneered Emotion AI and now backs human-centric, ethical AI startups through her venture firm Blue Tulip Ventures.
- Company/Designation: Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Blue Tulip Ventures ; Podcast Host
- Achievements: Co-founded Affectiva ; former deputy CEO at Smart Eye; now leads Blue Tulip Ventures investing in diverse, human‑centric AI founders.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaliouby/
Regina Barzilay
Regina Barzilay is a MacArthur Fellow and MIT professor, known for her work in AI for healthcare, including breast cancer detection and drug discovery. She leads the Jameel Clinic and is a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
- Company/Designation: Professor at MIT
- Achievements: MacArthur Fellowship, AAAI Squirrel AI Award, NSF Career Award.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reginabarzilay/
Dr. Sarah Zheng
Dr. Sarah Zheng is a scientist and data specialist whose research explores how data-driven technologies can understand human behaviour, prevent crime, and improve online security and wellbeing.
- Company/Designation: Data scientist and researcher in applied AI/ML and human–computer interaction
- Achievements: Developed AI applications for public and financial sectors; PhD on why people fall for online scams and how to prevent them.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahyzheng/
Sol Rashidi
Sol Rashidi is the Chief Analytics Officer at The Estée Lauder Companies, driving data and analytics strategy to enhance customer experiences and business growth. She is known for her expertise in data science and digital transformation.
- Company/Designation: Chief Analytics Officer at The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.
- Achievements: 10 AI patents; helped launch IBM Watson; LinkedIn Top Voice 2026.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sol-rashidi-mba-a672291/
Tiffany Janzen
Tiffany Janzen is a software developer, tech educator, and creator who founded TiffinTech to demystify coding and technology careers through social content, courses, and her “Talk Tech with Tiff” podcast.
- Company/Designation: Founder TiffinTech
- Achievements: Built a 1.3M+ follower tech education platform; collaborates with major tech companies; hosts “Talk Tech with Tiff.”
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffany-janzen/
Timnit Gebru
Timnit Gebru is a computer scientist and AI ethics leader whose work exposes algorithmic bias and advocates for more equitable AI development and research communities.
- Company/Designation: Founder & Executive Director of The Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR)
- Achievements: Founded DAIR; co-founded Black in AI; co-authored landmark “Gender Shades” study on bias in facial recognition.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timnit-gebru-7b3b407/
Victoria Blinova
Victoria Blinova is a partnerships and marketing professional who manages strategic deals for YouTube at Google, helping creators and businesses grow through effective digital and content partnerships.
- Company/Designation: Strategic Partner Manager, Google (YouTube)
- Achievements: Leads strategic partnerships that drive growth for YouTube and startups; recognised for mentoring and amplifying diverse voices in tech.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoriablinova/
Dr. Vivienne Ming
Dr. Vivienne Ming is a theoretical neuroscientist, inventor, and entrepreneur who co-founded Socos Labs to explore how AI and emerging technologies can augment human potential and inform better policy, education, and workforce decisions.
- Company/Designation: Professional Mad Scientist, Co-Founder & CEO, Socos Labs
- Achievements: Co-founder of Socos Labs; widely cited for work on AI, education, and future of work.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vivienneming/
Dr. Yevgeniya (Jane) Pinelis
Dr. Yevgeniya (Jane) Pinelis is a statistician and AI testing expert who led AI assurance and responsible AI practices for the U.S. Department of Defense, building rigorous evaluation frameworks for high‑stakes, mission-critical AI systems.
- Company/Designation: Chief, AI Assurance at DoD Joint Artificial Intelligence Center
- Achievements: Led AI test and evaluation and Responsible AI for DoD; previously directed testing for Project Maven’s AI models.
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-pinelis/
