The maths-loving former nanny heading to Oxford University

Lena Schiwitz, an AI manager at Zurich-based startup MoodTalk, is set to join the University of Oxford as part of a new AI masters programme. Schiwitz's career journey initially started as a teacher and childcare worker in Austria, where she had little exposure to technology or tech careers. However, her perspective shifted while working as a nanny in Switzerland, where she witnessed her host family's tech-focused professions.

Schiwitz then pursued a degree in business information technology, which allowed her to merge her understanding of people and learning with technology and AI. Her thesis on trust in AI led her to the intersection of technology and human needs, emphasizing the importance of understanding how individuals learn, respond to change, and utilize technology.

Schiwitz's work at MoodTalk focuses on building AI workflows, collaborating with clients, and identifying where people trust technology and its limitations. She is driven by the need to create technology that integrates seamlessly with human work while also figuring out how humans and AI should collaborate. Schiwitz's unconventional background and perspective have played a significant role in her drive to cultivate genuine trust in AI and technology teams.