Lila wrapped up International Operations Festival with a Fireside Chat, answering questions ranging from how operations leaders can gracefully lead their organisations to do more with less human and financial capital, to how AI is changing operations within and across organisations.
Scaling Operations With or Without AI
Tune in to hear Lila Ibrahim answer questions ranging from how operations leaders can gracefully lead their organisations to do more with less human and financial capital to how AI is changing operations within and across organisations.
For the final session to celebrate the International Ops Festival, Lila told us all about:
🧠 her incredible career journey from Intel to Google DeepMind 💭 her thoughts about the social impact of AI 💡 her advice for current and aspiring operations leaders
Lila emphasizes the importance of authenticity in her career and discusses her transition from engineering to operations roles and discusses how AI has the potential to positively impact various areas of operations, including internal governance, customer operations, people operations, finance operations, sales operations, legal operations, and business intelligence. AI can automate tasks, improve efficiency, and support decision-making in these operational areas.
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Our guest speakers:
Lila Ibrahim
With over 25 years of experience, Lila has honed her belief that successful organisations thrive when driven by a clear mission and impactful initiatives. Currently, she is the COO of Google DeepMind, a world-leading AI research company that aims to solve intelligence to advance science and benefit humanity. 🚀
Lila has helped some of the world’s leading technology companies grow, including:
- Intel Corporation where she held a series of global engineering, technology, and management roles;
- Venture firm Kleiner Perkins
- Coursera, where she was the President, CBO and COO and helped bring education to millions of people around the world.
She is the Co-Founder and Chair of the EdTech non-profit Team4Tech and previously served on the Board of Gannett | USA TODAY NETWORK, helping it become the largest US print media company. 📚
Our moderator:
Charlene Chen
Charlene has nearly 20 years of ops leadership experience: she’s worked with a variety of organisations ranging from tech startups to international non-profits to Fortune 500 companies. 💡
She began her career as an IT consultant at Deloitte Consulting, but spent 8 years focused on operational leadership of socially impactful venture-capital-backed businesses in the fintech and healthtech industries. 🚀
Charlene was the Co-Founder and COO of AZA Finance (formerly BitPesa), before joining Lantum as their COO. In 2020, she became a Co-Founder of Operations Nation - and is one of the main organisers of the International Ops Festival. 🎉
Event Recording and Slides
You can watch the recording of this event (and our previous events) on our YouTube channel here:
Event Summary
Please note that this summary has been written by ChatGPT summarizing the event transcript.
Invest in Your Own Development: As an operations leader, it's crucial to invest in your own development, especially early in your career. This will become more challenging as you take on more responsibilities.
Build Your Personal Board of Advisors: Surround yourself with a diverse group of advisors who can challenge you, provide different perspectives, and support your growth. These advisors should not only be friends or family, but individuals who can give you honest and constructive feedback.
Embrace a Growth Mindset: Stay curious and open to learning, especially when it comes to emerging technologies like AI. Take advantage of available resources and courses to stay updated with industry trends.
Focus on Communication and Interpersonal Skills: In addition to technical skills, develop your communication, empathy, and authenticity. These "power skills" are essential for building relationships, managing teams, and driving positive change in your organization.
Understand the Importance of Responsible Innovation: When introducing new technologies like AI, consider not only the technical aspects but also the societal impact. Engage with communities, civil society, and policymakers to ensure responsible and equitable deployment.
Don't Fear Change: Embrace innovation and technology as tools to enhance efficiency and effectiveness in your role. Understand that these advancements are meant to complement human skills, not replace them.
Stay True to Yourself: In a rapidly evolving field like operations, it's important to stay true to your own values, strengths, and perspectives. Your unique approach and contributions are valuable.
Remember the Positive Potential of Technology: While it's crucial to acknowledge the risks and challenges associated with new technologies, also focus on the positive impact they can have on your organization and society as a whole. Engage in conversations that highlight the potential benefits.
Advocate for Responsible Governance: As an operations leader, advocate for responsible governance within your organization. This includes setting clear principles, fostering a culture of accountability, and actively engaging in ethical discussions surrounding technology implementation.
Build a Culture of Continuous Learning and Improvement: Encourage a culture where learning and improvement are valued. Foster an environment where team members feel safe to ask questions, share ideas, and challenge the status quo.
Remember, as an operations leader, you play a pivotal role in driving positive change, both within your organization and in the broader industry. Embrace your unique strengths and continue to learn, adapt, and grow along with the ever-evolving landscape of operations and technology.