The latest episode of LEAD Network’s podcast, The LEADing Edge, explores exactly this. Hosts Allyson Zimmermann and Sarah McGowan investigate questions including: 

• How can we use AI in our industry to advance our people?  

• How can we channel its power and make it a precious ally?  

• And if there are some blind spots, how can we address them? 

We are pleased to welcome guests Arta Statovci, AI strategy expert and LEAD Network NextGen Chapter Board member, Teuta Sahatqija, Founder and CEO of Appoint Group, and James Winters, AI Management Consultant and AI governance officer at Deeper Insights. 

How AI can support the Consumer Goods and Retail industry 

AI is relatively new on the scene, but it has already made its mark in the Consumer Goods and Retail industry, as companies start to leverage the technology to increase their competitive advantage. “AI algorithms can forecast inventory needs and identify patterns around order fulfilment,” explains Allyson Zimmermann. “They can also optimise logistics and reduce fuel consumption, ultimately allowing for lower carbon emissions and a more efficient use of resources.”

It’s also important to recognise that while one of the major concerns about AI is that it will replace the need for humans to carry out jobs, the reality is a little different. “The power of AI, albeit immense and industry changing, is still complementary to our essential human skills as of today,” says Sarah McGowan. There’s no way of knowing for sure how AI will develop in the future, and it’s important that we take appropriate measures today to be ready for a variety of different outcomes – especially as, according to the Institute for Public Policy Research, female workers are 40 percent more likely to have their tasks replaced by AI.

Bias in Artificial Intelligence 

To fully understand possible bias within AI, it’s important to remember how the technology works. “AI us just the mirror of who we are as people, as humanity, as a society,” says Arta Statovici. “If the technology is learning from humans and mimicking humans, the output will be the same.” Teuta Sahatqija echoes this thought: “In AI, it’s garbage in, garbage out.”

Essentially, AI can’t do better if we don’t do better first. As James Winters explains: “If data is biased and if the correct controls and mitigation strategies aren’t put in place, then any negative effects that have happened historically will continue to happen at a larger rate as well because it’s utilising that historic data, and then making so many more decisions than any individual person could.”

He provides an example to illustrate how this bias might work in reality: “A bank may lend to particular groups at a higher rate, and that’ll be based on individual bias, but then that transforms into the data. If an AI system is trained on that data and then is used to make decisions, it may then lend to a thousand, two thousand, a hundred thousand more people. And if you’re not monitoring the impact of that, then if adoption keeps increasing, then it will be huge.” 

What’s next?

The first step in mitigating bias in AI is realising that we can all play a part – especially those of us who work in the DEI space. From spending time upskilling on AI tools we might soon be using on a daily basis, to understanding how the technology impacts different teams within our company, there are lots of ways to get started. “We must focus on creating systems that are transparent, ethical, and inclusive,” says Sarah McGowan. “By using diverse and representative data, we can train AI to provide fairer and more personalised customer experiences. We should invest in education to ensure that AI solutions evolve responsibly. We should encourage open source development and foster a culture of innovation that will benefit businesses, consumers, and employees.”

Begin by learning a little more about AI in the Consumer Goods and Retail Industry by listening to the full episode on Apple or Spotify. To stay up to date with our latest podcast episodes, please subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you’re not yet a member of LEAD Network, you can join for free here.   

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Newer research points to an additional benefit: organisations that amplify purpose can see collective progress and organisational success. In other words, we all win. The latest episode of the LEAD Network podcast, The LEADing Edge, explores this topic in detail with the help of our inspiring guests. 

In this episode, our hosts Allyson Zimmermann and Sarah McGowan welcome Sam Latif, Proctor & Gamble’s first company accessibility leader, to illustrate the transformative power of purpose. This episode also features insights from leadership coach and LEAD Network Member Lisa Murdoch, and motivational theorist Daniel Pink. The discussions provide strategies for leaders to foster purpose within their teams, ultimately enhancing performance and employee retention.  

We’re grateful to our podcast guests and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation for letting us use an extract of their interview with Daniel Pink, and our podcast producer Julien Manuguerra-Patten. 

Listen to the full episode here to discover how we can bridge generational gaps and create a more inclusive and innovative workplace. To stay up to date with our latest podcast episodes, please subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you’re not yet a Member of LEAD Network, you can join for free here.

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In each episode, our hosts are joined by leaders from the Consumer Goods and Retail Industry who are making a tangible impact on creating a more inclusive world. Our first season features guests from companies like Unilever, Asahi and Diageo, amongst many others.  

The LEADing Edge podcast explores everything from advancing next-gen talents and making workplaces future-fit, to how finding our purpose leads to personal fulfillment and collective progress. We bring together content from all corners of the Network and share it out in a fun, inspiring, short-format way, bringing visibility and recognition to the voices of our network, including our Members, Volunteers, senior leaders, Chapter leaders, Partner companies, and our central team, many of whom are experts in their own right. 

Meet our hosts 

The Leading Edge podcast is hosted by Allyson Zimmermann and Sarah McGowan. Allyson Zimmermann is CEO of LEAD Network, and has dedicated almost two decades in the DEI space, working with a group of companies in CPG, Retail, and other industries. Sarah McGowan is a Strategic Advisor and HR Consultant, with over 25 years of talent & DEI experience in the retail and CPG industry.  

“Welcome to our new podcast – we’re thrilled to have you here. Our podcast was born out of the passion to give voice to the changemakers in the world who are doing their part in creating a more equitable and inclusive workplace.” – Allyson Zimmermann 

 

“The LEAD Network is a vibrant community with many people who can provide deep insights on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work that is critical to companies in our industry. I’m thrilled to co-host our new podcast, along with Allyson, where we can highlight and bring visibility to many of these voices!” – Sarah McGowan   

 You can listen to The LEADing Edge here.

We’d like to thank everyone who was involved in bringing our podcast to life, including our podcast producer Julien Manuguerra-Patten, and the LEAD Network central team. 

About LEAD Network 

LEAD Network is a non-profit organisation with a mission to attract, retain and advance women in the Consumer Goods & Retail industry creating sustainable business value.  With over 23,000 Members and 65+ corporate Partners, we are committed to building a diverse and equitable workforce where everyone can contribute and grow, and organisations thrive. It’s free to become a Member, and you can sign up by visiting our website.  

The post Introducing our new podcast: The LEADing Edge appeared first on LEAD Network.