The Paris Chapter marked Women in Big Data’s 10-year anniversary with a powerful celebration centered on a theme that lies at the heart of our mission: Ethical, Inclusive, and Responsible AI. Hosted at Sorbonne University – SCAI (Sorbonne Cluster for Artificial Intelligence) and attended by more than 110 participants, the event brought together women leaders from industry, academia, entrepreneurship, and European institutions—each shaping how AI is designed, governed, and understood across Europe and beyond.

The event reflected not only how far the Women in Big Data Paris chapter has come, but also how far the global Women in Big Data community has evolved in its mission to expand diversity, inclusion, and impact in data and AI.

A Decade of Vision: AI That Serves Humanity

The celebration opened with reflections on the global WiBD movement. Tina Rosario, WiBD global leader, shared insights from the past ten years, reminding us how the organization has empowered thousands of women around the world to grow, lead, and innovate.

Speakers from the first roundtable emphasized a profound shift in the field: Responsible AI is no longer just a regulatory requirement—it is becoming a culture of practice, trust, and conscience.

They explored concrete actions now shaping AI development, including:

• Integrating MLOps and increasing model transparency
• Ensuring explainability and accountability
• Tracking and reducing the carbon footprint of AI systems
• Embedding human oversight at every stage
• Designing AI for All, where fairness, accessibility, and inclusion are at the core
• Leaders from Danone, LVMH Beauty, Renault, the European AI Office, and more brought perspectives that blended industrial innovation, policy insight, creativity, and human-centered design.

Roundtables That Moved the Conversation Forward

Two complementary roundtables anchored the day:

1. Responsible AI: From Obligation to Culture

Moderated by Andrea Leylavergne (WiBD Paris Chapter Director), this discussion explored how European companies and institutions are embracing Responsible AI as a long-term value. As one attendee summarized:

“European brands now see trust, sustainability, and transparency as competitive positioning—not just compliance.”

2. Responsible AI Applied: Science, Diversity, and Sustainability

Moderated by Odile JACQMIN, the second panel featured voices from research and industry who highlighted that ethics in AI lives not only in frameworks, but in everyday decisions—the culture teams build, and the people they uplift.

Speakers reminded us that Responsible AI is deeply human, rooted in choices, diversity, and the sustainability of our practices.

Workshops That Turned Ideas Into Action

The celebration continued with five bilingual, hands-on workshops, transforming principles into real-world practice. Topics included:

• Speed mentoring for women in tech
• Standing out in job interviews
• Justice, equity, and invisible disabilities in AI
• Socially intelligent agents
• Ethical hacking

Participants left energized, noting that these sessions made clear that Responsible AI is not just about algorithms—it is about people, values, and collective responsibility.

The Power of Community: A Human Story

The Paris co-director shared a heartfelt reflection that captured the spirit of WiBD:

“The world of work is above all a human story—encounters, sharing, and solidarity. Yesterday, I finally met the women I had collaborated with for months. I left with my heart full of gratitude, energy, and the desire to help more women in tech shine.”

Attendees echoed similar sentiments—from the mentor sessions to the networking breaks, the day felt like a reunion of passionate women committed to lifting each other up.

One participant summarized the speed mentoring session beautifully:

“Your expertise matters, but only if people know about it. Be visible. Reach out. Build your network. And apply even if you don’t meet 100% of the criteria—your potential matters.”

Gratitude to Those Who Made It Possible

Behind this milestone was a dedicated team of volunteers, speakers, facilitators, and partners.

Special thanks go to:

• SCAI for hosting and supporting the event
• The WiBD Paris leadership team – Andrea Leylavergne, Ph.D, Ahlem JAOUADI, Amel Hamzaoui, Ph.D, Olivia LAWSON, Odile JACQMIN, Yen Nguyen, Ikram B. and many others
• Our global WiBD leaders for guiding this movement from a pioneering idea to a global force
• All speakers, panelists, and workshop leads who shared their expertise with generosity
• And our sponsors Mersen and BIG DATA & AI Paris

The energy, curiosity, and engagement from the community made this anniversary truly unforgettable.

 

Looking Ahead: Building the Next Decade of Ethical and Inclusive AI

Ten years on, Women in Big Data continues to prove that when women lead with vision and authenticity, AI becomes not just smarter—but fairer, safer, and more human.

The Paris Chapter’s 10-year celebration was more than an anniversary—it was a commitment to shaping a future where ethics and inclusion are not afterthoughts, but the foundation of AI innovation.

Together, we’re not just talking about responsible and inclusive AI.

We’re building it.

Here’s to the next decade of Women in Big Data.