Female Entrepreneur who uses AI tools
Information about the interviewee
- Profession: Instructional designer, Consultant of integration of systems and website designer
- Organisation: Works with different contracts for different businesses/organisations
- Country: Born in Brazil from a Dutch family and currently living in Italy
- E-mail: pdw@learningdigital.eu
CV
Paula de Waal Almeida Santos is a highly experienced consultant with over 30 years of experience in learning innovation and instructional design. She possesses a deep understanding of educational research and applies it within diverse contexts, including higher education, the public sector, healthcare, teacher training, and international projects. A passionate advocate for open-source technology, she has been a dedicated collaborator with the Moodle community since its early days and has contributed significantly to its development.
Currently, Paula runs her own consultancy, where she focuses on providing expert guidance in strategic learning innovation, educational technology integration, and effective instructional design. Her work has seen her involved in numerous European projects and she is a strong believer in the importance of professional networking. It’s also been said that she maintains a healthy work-life balance, enjoying activities such as tending to her vegetable garden in her free time.
Summary
Paula de Waal is a female entrepreneur and university educator with a great deal of experience in AI. She points out that it is important to have a nuanced understanding of AI tools when using them in business. She says that entrepreneurs may wish to consider looking beyond superficial prompt engineering and exploring the underlying mechanics of different AI models, in order to make informed decisions. This includes being aware of the current limitations of generative AI, such as its reliance on existing data and potential for inaccuracies. She lifts up targeted training programmes as useful way to help female entrepreneurs gain the skills they need to navigate the complexities of AI. These could include practical applications such as simulating customer interactions and automating repetitive tasks. She suggests that we should be careful not to rely on AI too much for important tasks like legal and HR decisions, and that it is important to have human oversight when using AI.
Paula touches on the specific challenges that female entrepreneurs face, particularly the difficulty of achieving a healthy work-life balance. While acknowledging the potential of AI to support business functions like marketing, management, and design, she suggests that it is important to consider the responsible implementation of AI technology and the need for continuous adaptation as it evolves. She recognized the financial burden of keeping up with rapidly changing AI models and the time investment required to develop effective, customised solutions. She has noticed the problematic use of AI in HR, where algorithmic bias can disadvantage qualified candidates, and suggests that a more human-centred approach could be beneficial.
