Polly reflects on the gatekeeping she observed in AI leadership roles. “In a room of 20 or 30 leaders, I would frequently be the only woman; it was shocking to feel the sense of aloneness and being an outsider,” she recounts. Her experiences inspired her to establish AI Career Boost, a platform aimed at nurturing business leaders from diverse backgrounds by helping them leverage AI effectively. “I didn’t want to adapt or change my personality to fit in. I could see that there was gatekeeping, intentional or not, around business roles in AI and the technical background needed to succeed there. I founded AI Career Boost, determined to grow business leaders from a more diverse set of backgrounds by helping them succeed in their core strengths – in product, business, and leadership – by leveraging AI without having to go back and learn about it from first principles or taking a technologist’s approach.” Polly passionately proclaims: “I believe that for AI to reach its full positive potential in our society, we need a far broader set of viewpoints informing and leading the ways AI will be used in our society and everyday lives.”
Driving Impact through Innovation
Pioneering a future driven by artificial intelligence, Polly Allen stands at the forefront as a beacon of change, not just in the tech world but for society at large. As the founder and CEO of AI Career Boost, Polly is harnessing the power of technology to create a more inclusive and diverse future in AI leadership. In a world where the number of women leading in the tech industry still lags behind their male counterparts, Polly’s work is nothing short of revolutionary.
Polly’s deep‑seated belief in technology’s transformative power has steered her throughout her career. She opines: “Emerging innovations in AI will drastically change how we relate to one another and the world.” To ensure that these changes are positive, Polly emphasizes the importance of inclusivity in technology design and decision‑making. She has over two decades of experience developing software, building and leading science and software engineering teams. And with AI Career Boost, Polly is democratizing the access and power of AI to bring more diversity to the burgeoning AI space. It offers courses in AI Product Management to equip learners for the future of tech today.
AI Career Boost is an embodiment of this conviction. As part of its programs, Polly has overseen projects that aim to operationalize AI in various companies. Through these hands‑on experiments, product leaders can push the boundaries of technical possibilities, fostering innovation.
Reshaping the Future with AI
“AI Career Boost helps demystify AI for business and product leaders,” Polly states, an emblem of her relentless pursuit to foster equality in the AI space. Her mission? To break down the barriers keeping women and other minorities in tech fields from gaining a foothold in careers in AI and Machine Learning leadership. Looking ahead, Polly believes that AI will significantly impact virtually every industry. In her vision of the future, AI tools will become as commonplace as word processors or web browsers are today. To prepare for this imminent reality, Polly is committed to educating business leaders on AI’s role in business decision‑making. “I hope I can help business leaders embrace this future with confidence, making them powerful innovators and collaborators in data and AI/ML,” she shares.
Polly’s AI Career Boost tackles the challenge of the underrepresentation of women in AI from the ground up. Its courses provide both a conceptual understanding of AI and hands‑on experience with emerging tools. This unique blend of theory and practice ensures learners understand the possibilities, limitations and practical applications of large language models and generative AI tools. Polly’s work extends beyond her own company, too. As a board member of the Center for Workforce Inclusion Labs, she furthers her mission to create a diverse and inclusive tech world.
A Success Story Written in Code
As a woman who has often been the only female in the room during her career, Polly is deeply familiar with the hurdles faced by women in tech. Polly asserts: “Women and other minorities in technology leadership who feel like they are held back by a lack of technical depth and knowledge will benefit from the work we are doing.” Reflecting on her journey, Polly affirms that success is about making a positive impact on others. Her motivation comes from interacting with curious, engaged learners and seeing them succeed. Polly encourages others to remain true to themselves: “The world needs you as you are, not how a dominant culture is telling you to be to fit in.”
One of Polly’s most significant career achievements to date is launching the first generative AI answers on Alexa in 2020 while serving as Principal Product Manager for Alexa AI at Amazon. This project involved navigating technical complexities, bringing together stakeholders, and managing risk, showcasing her skills as a tech leader. Polly’s journey hasn’t been without its trials. Starting her career as a software engineer in the early 2000s, she found herself continually standing alone in a sea of men. “I would frequently be the only woman in the room,” Polly recalls. However, this adversity didn’t deter her. Instead, it fuelled her desire to create an inclusive space for women in tech.
AI: A Tool for Everyone
Despite her achievements, Polly remains humble, sharing: “AI is for everyone (yes, even you!).” Her message to the world is one of empowerment and accessibility, encouraging everyone to engage with AI and embrace its transformative potential. To women seeking to build their future in emerging technologies, Polly recommends her free online learning guide, which offers a range of resources to help newcomers and veterans alike in the AI and coding space. In the face of adversity, Polly is not just surviving; she’s thriving. With AI Career Boost, Polly is shattering barriers, encouraging diversity and empowering all individuals to embrace the future of AI. As we look towards a world increasingly influenced by technology, it is leaders like Polly Allen who inspire us to imagine a future where anyone, regardless of their background or gender, can shape our digital destiny.
