Didem Un Ates

Didem Un Ates is a globally recognised AI executive, Algorithm Auditor and certified Executive Coach who is renowned for helping organisations navigate the future of responsible artificial intelligence. With more than 25 years of experience across technology, innovation and business transformation, Didem has become one of the leading voices on human-centric AI, diversity and inclusion, and the ethical operationalisation of emerging technologies. Formerly the Vice President of AI Strategy and Innovation at Schneider Electric, she now serves as a Value Accelerator Senior Operating Advisor and Member of the AI and Generative AI Council for Goldman Sachs Asset Management. Hired as an AI speaker for her ability to translate complex technological developments into practical and inspiring insights, Didem empowers audiences to embrace innovation with confidence and responsibility.

Armed with an MBA from Columbia Business School, Didem built her career working with some of the world’s most influential organisations, including Capgemini, EY and Motorola. She joined Microsoft in 2012 as a Business Development Lead before progressing into several senior leadership positions across data and AI strategy. As Head of Applied Strategy for Data & AI, she co-created the Metaverse for Education Co-Innovation Program and helped operationalise responsible AI practices across a workforce of more than 120,000 employees. Her leadership contributed significantly to Microsoft’s commercial growth, including generating billions in revenue. Didem later became Managing Director of Data and AI at Accenture before founding LOTUSAI, her AI and GenAI consulting firm that advises global enterprises, hedge funds and private capital organisations.

Didem’s influence extends far beyond corporate leadership. She sits on the boards of the Edge AI Foundation, the Wharton Alumni AI Studio, the Columbia Business School Women’s Circle, the Hg Foundation Technology Advisory Board and the tinyML Foundation. She is also a World Economic Forum Fellow and a member of the Forbes Technology Council. Passionate about inclusivity in technology, she founded Microsoft’s Girls in AI Hackathon and Bootcamp alongside the initiative Alice Envisions the Future. Her achievements have been recognised with numerous honours, including the Microsoft Rise Award, the Dublin Tech Summit Diversity Role Model Award and recognition as CEO of the Year UK 2025 in AI Advisory and Upskilling. She has also been named a TechWomen 100 Champion and featured in the Trailblazer50 list.

As a speaker, Didem combines strategic expertise with an engaging and motivational delivery style that resonates with audiences across industries. Her presentations explore the intersection of AI, ethics, innovation and leadership, helping businesses understand how to harness emerging technologies responsibly while keeping people at the centre of transformation. Drawing upon her experience advising global corporations and financial institutions, she delivers practical guidance alongside visionary insights into the future of AI. Whether discussing generative AI, diversity in technology or organisational transformation, Didem inspires audiences to embrace change, unlock innovation and lead with purpose in an increasingly AI-driven world.

In January 2024 we sat down virtually with Didem Un Ates and discussed future technologies and how companies can introduce AI into everyday practices. Watch our Exclusive Interview with Didem Un Ates here.