Asmau Ahmed’s expertise uniquely bridges the realms of atoms and bits, where her background in Chemical Engineering converges with decades of experience in leveraging big data analysis and predictive algorithms in the software industry. She excels in building and scaling ML/AI technologies to develop innovative solutions with significant social and financial impact. Her track record includes crafting technology and business solutions for complex global challenges across various sectors, including manufacturing, finance, consumer tech, and climate sustainability.
Most recently a senior executive at Google, Asmau managed engineering and product teams, tasked with proactively enabling Consumer Trust (and Responsible AI) through exceptional experiences across Google’s consumer-facing platforms – Google Search, Maps, Ads, Gemini, and Shopping – reaching billions of daily users. Prior to this, she reported to the CEO of Google X, Alphabet’s innovation factory, where she co-led a factory of 600 innovators, data scientists, and engineers focused on deep data analytics, ML, and AI, tasked with building the next Google-sized business. Within Google, she founded Pathfinder, a moonshot portfolio investing in the intersection of society, innovation, and AI.
Before her tenure at Google X, Asmau led a global portfolio of technology solutions for critical financial industry challenges, serving the CEOs of the top eight financial institutions through a consortium. This portfolio included 14 critical technologies and products, some developed in collaboration with governments, spanning cloud, privacy, cybersecurity, payments, and more. Throughout her career, she has held diverse roles as an engineer, CPO, venture-funded founder/CEO, and investor. Notably, she founded Plum Perfect, a visual search and advertising technology solution, serving enterprises like Target and QVC. As one of the 7th Black women to secure millions in venture funding in the US, she remains dedicated to changing the statistics for women in tech funding.
Asmau’s work extends beyond her professional roles, as she actively contributes to various boards and advisory roles. She serves on the boards of Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and Quinstreet (NASDAQ, Audit and technology committees), guiding the leadership team through crucial developments including business divestitures and several acquisitions. As an advisor, she lends her expertise to the Yale Entrepreneurship Society, Wing, Women who Invest, and Black ComputeHer, and Sound Ventures. Notably, she held a two-term position as a member and technology advisor on Walmart’s Opportunity Leadership Council.
Asmau has been recognized as a “Top Woman in Digital” by Cynopsis Media; “Black Business and Tech Professionals Changing the Game” by Huffington Post; and one of “26 Women Of Color Diversifying Entrepreneurship In Silicon Valley, Media, And Beyond” by Vanity Fair.
Asmau holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BS with Honors in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia. Beyond her professional endeavors, she is a devoted mother to two children. Her latest passion project, inspired by her son, focuses on finding solutions to integrate special needs children into mainstream classrooms and camps.
Sample Topics
The Future of AI and Consumer Trust: Building Trust in Technologies at Scale
In a world where technology increasingly intersects with every aspect of our lives, the need for responsible and trusted AI has never been more critical. Asmau Ahmed, with her experience and a tech founder and as a senior executive at Google, presents “The Future of AI and Consumer Trust: Building Ethical Technologies at Scale.” This talk delves into the complexities of engineering cutting-edge AI solutions that uphold consumer trust while enhancing user experience. Asmau will share invaluable insights from her journey, emphasizing the importance of integrating Responsible AI practices in technology development to foster positive social and economic impacts.
Relevance and Audience:
This topic is especially relevant as industries and leaders navigate the intricacies of consumer data privacy, algorithmic transparency, and the societal impacts of AI. Leaders and professionals in private and public sector looking to innovate responsibly while scaling their technological and business solutions, will find this talk invaluable.Asmau’s unique perspective not only illuminates the path forward for incorporating trust in technology but also inspires other sectors to follow suit, making it a critical discourse for today’s tech-driven world.
This topic will attract a diverse range of attendees, including C-level executives, technology managers, policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of AI and building trusted technology practices, providing them with strategic insights into building trust and accountability in their products and platforms.
Artificial Intelligence: The Good, The Bad, The Uncertain
Awards
In 2016, she received several prestigious awards such as Black Business and Tech Professional Changing the Game by The Huffington Post, Top Woman in Digital by Cynopsis Media, and Beauty Innovator of the Year by Refinery29.
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