Tasha Austin-Williams, Ph.D.’s Post

At NABA, students’ college success and workforce readiness remain a top priority. Last week, I had the incredible honor of 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤, bringing the students to the forefront to celebrate their dedication and scholarship achievements at the NABA FLOW Convention. The students also offered a heartfelt thank you to everyone supporting and investing in their college journey! This experience was profoundly inspiring as many of the students rely on 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞 𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬. To the individuals and corporate investors, 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐊 𝐘𝐎𝐔 for creating pathways to success for the 200 students who received scholarships from NABA this year. Together, we are making a lasting impact on the lives of our students and their futures. A special 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐊 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 for awarding scholarships to many of these students, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to their educational journeys. Additional highlights from the NABA convention last week included: 1) Sharing my own college journey, unexpected paths, and my research on AI and equity during the scholarship celebration. 2) Re-connecting with colleagues and friends and creating new relationships throughout the convention and during our Deloitte reception. 3) Staying committed to my 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥-𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 even with a packed schedule, in a different time zone, and unexpected requests. With so many sessions taking place at the convention, it was important to engage in several competitive fitness routines which many of us participated in throughout the week to maintain/increase our energy levels! It was great establishing new relationships in a highly competitive space. A very special thanks to Rachel D. Evans, MBA, Zena Mohammed, CPA, Mekala Ravichandran, Randi Hunley, PhD, Thalia Smith, Renata Petrusevska, Tonya A. Wilborn, Korynne Bernard, the DEI Institute team- Kashima Atwood, Heather McBride Leef, and Maria Wright, MBA, and so many other Deloitte leaders for their dedication to NABA and for creating an unforgettable experience for our Deloitte and overall NABA community. #NABA #Education #StudentSuccess #Scholarships #FirstGeneration #CollegeJourney #Inspiration #AI #Equity #Community #CorporateSupport #FutureLeaders #Networking #Empowerment #wellbeing

***𝐍𝐀𝐁𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧-Oscar Night*** Deloitte day, a fascinating AI conversation, an inspirational reunion, and a special award for Deloitte! So many of us walked away inspired last week from the amazing space that NABA INC. created during NABA’s “𝐅𝐋𝐎𝐖” National Convention. There were so many points of reflection that I’ll have to share in multiple posts this week 😊 What were my 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 last Tuesday during the convention? 1) Connecting with our Deloitte community and highlighting our strategic collaboration with NABA and the work we are doing to drive transformation. It was a joy to introduce my dear friend, Guylaine Saint Juste, to reconnect with our Deloitte family. Over 500 Deloitte participants join the NABA convention this year! 2) Engaging in a fascinating 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐬𝐨𝐧 on the opportunities with AI in the entertainment industry and getting a sneak preview into what Tommy is actually doing with AI today in his world (stay tuned for the release of Tommy Davidson’s AI-generated video which is quite impressive). 3) Reconnecting with Adeola Adigun-Raimi MBA, MSc, CSM, CCSS, who returned to the convention with her 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 – reminding me of my story as a young mother and my mother's advice to “keep going” I shared these same words of wisdom with our NABA community last year and Adeola reminded me of how important this message was to her as she continues to push forward to achieve her dreams!  4) Winning the first award announced during NABA’s award ceremony which was for “𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫”…quite a surprise to us. My Oscar style speech included quotes such as…    • ”we definitely deserve to win…we’ve done so much with NABA...” 😊 (ok, I did say it with a little humor and kindness from the heart and ended with a thanks to all)    • “congratulations to all the nominees…”    • “we could not do this alone and are thankful for the journey of ALL of the corporate partners that are leaning into NABA…we aren’t competitive in this space, we are 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 that matters for the entire NABA community and it takes us all to get this right” A special thanks to Kim Williams and Toi Eshun, MBA for presenting Deloitte with the award. 5) A bonus was reconnecting with my onsite "Chief of Staff" Stevie Nettles along with 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧𝐢, including my beautiful friend Sammar Asif (I know I will always find many of my “colleagues for life” at the NABA Convention each year!) Stay tuned for more memorable moments! #NABA #NABAFLOW #Deloitte #AI #Inspiration #Community #Awards #Leadership

***Boxing and AI in Vegas*** I never thought I’d learn to love boxing, let alone find profound connections between it and my work. But thanks to my husband, I’ve grown to appreciate the sport over the years—and this weekend in Vegas, I had my own talking points ready to educate my husband on the intersection of AI and boxing while witnessing an amazing fight😊               Here’s what I shared along with some reflections from this weekend: 1) The parallels between boxing and AI are striking! Both demand strategy, quick thinking, adaptability, and continuous improvement. For example, we know fighters must develop a strategy to outmaneuver their opponents and there are several ways AI can help accomplish this goal: *AI-driven simulations can mimic real-life challengers, providing invaluable practice. *AI tools can analyze fight footage to provide insights into a boxer’s performance, identifying areas for improvement and developing better boxing strategies. *AI can be used to monitor training loads and biomechanics to prevent injuries by providing real-time feedback on a boxer’s technique and physical condition. 2) Tank’s impressive knockout in the 8th round was a testament to rigorous training and real-time adaptability, making split second decisions to counter punches and seize openings (which was costly for Martin). Sound similar when it comes to AI? Of course it does because AI systems, particularly those using real-time data processing and reinforcement learning, must adapt to new information and changing environments instantly. 3) Meeting a legend, Floyd Mayweather’s dad, Floyd Mayweather Sr. over Father’s Day weekend was a treat! His insights into strategy, determination, and continuous learning, which ultimately helped his son become one of the greatest boxers ever —achieved without AI—is inspiring. Now imagine blending such human expertise with AI’s power; the potential is limitless! AI-Human collaboration is essential for maximizing AI’s benefits. Here’s to continuous learning and the exciting future of AI in sports and beyond! #BoxingAndAI #ContinuousLearning #AIInnovation #VegasExperience

***Celebrating New Beginnings: From First Grade to College*** Last week was pure magic as I watched some of my favorite people achieve incredible milestones! Little Olivia, is now striding confidently towards the 1st grade. Her power pose radiating the growth and determination she gained, was a result of her literally saying to us that “she came a long way” …at 5 years-old 😊. Meanwhile, the brilliant Mackenzie Swain fresh out of high school, is set to conquer college with the same enthusiasm and curiosity she’s shown during her time and engagement with our Deloitte family. Congratulations to them both! Mackenzie, it’s been an absolute pleasure mentoring you and diving into the world of AI together. I’m excited to see your continued success in college and beyond. Know that I’ll always be here as a mentor/sponsor, and one of your biggest cheerleaders! Regina Nealy, PMP #ProudMoment #NewBeginnings #FutureLeaders #AIatDeloitte #MentorshipMatters #SponsorshipMatters

***A Dialogue with DEI Leaders at Deloitte University on AI*** Picture a vibrant gathering of over 130 DEI leaders, each one passionate about shaping a future where AI is implemented ethically and equitably. This was the atmosphere at our recent CDEIO forum at Deloitte University, where innovation met inclusion in a powerful dialogue. Did you know that... DEI leaders are uniquely positioned to drive transformation with AI by embracing two overarching critical roles: ▶Advancing DEI Initiatives with AI: DEI leaders can leverage AI to propel their own objectives forward and there are many notable, compelling use cases! ▶Embedding a DEI lens into AI solutions: Beyond their own initiatives, DEI leaders can help influence the design, development, and deployment of AI continuing through the post-deployment and monitoring phases contributing to the responsible use of AI. This can be accomplished by asking a series of questions such as: 1) Representative data: Is your data representative of the communities for the problems you want AI to solve, and does your data reflect real-world populations and conditions? 2) Inclusive algorithms: Does your AI solution accommodate diverse dialects and accents, especially in applications like chatbots? 3) Bias prevention: Have we considered leveraging bias-preventer mechanisms to make certain we are comfortable with our decisions as humans and to safeguard against discriminatory outcomes? This is what I shared with the DEI leaders along with other thoughts during our CDEIO forum last week, highlighting the growing recognition of DEI’s role in AI! It was a pleasure connecting with all of these amazing leaders on this topic which sparked a powerful dialogue on the intersection of DEI and AI!  The conversation was rich with insights and some practical strategies. DEI leaders shared their experiences, posed challenging questions, and collaborated on innovative solutions. A huge thanks to Heather McBride Leef, Kashima Atwood, Christina Brodzik, and Joanne Stephane, and so many other Deloitte leaders who made this forum a success! And a total bonus was getting to reconnect with my dear friend and colleague Kavitha Prabhakar on stage 😊, collaborating with Guylaine Saint Juste on the promises of AI & equity in the non-profit domain and NABA INC.'s leadership in this space, and engaging in an impressive dialogue with Russell G. who always offers thought provoking perspectives on this topic! #DEI #AI #EthicalAI #InclusiveTech #DiversityInTech #EquityInAI #Leadership #FutureOfWork #Deloitte #TechForGood #Innovation #BiasPrevention #DataDiversity #AILeadership

***Viola Davis, Guylaine Saint Juste, and Me…and a Dash of AI*** Thrilled to announce that I’ll be moderating a fireside chat with the legendary Viola Davis and the inspiring Guylaine Saint Juste at the upcoming NABA Insight 2024: Flow Convention & Expo! We’ll be sharing personal moments of inspiration and igniting motivation amongst a crowd of over 4,000 Black business leaders. And yes, I’ll definitely slip in a question on AI during this fascinating discussion! I look forward to seeing many of you at the Convention.

***Viola Davis, Guylaine Saint Juste, and Me…and a Dash of AI*** Thrilled to announce that I’ll be moderating a fireside chat with the legendary Viola Davis and the inspiring Guylaine Saint Juste at the upcoming NABA Insight 2024: Flow Convention & Expo! We’ll be sharing personal moments of inspiration and igniting motivation amongst a crowd of over 4,000 Black business leaders. And yes, I’ll definitely slip in a question on AI during this fascinating discussion! I look forward to seeing many of you at the Convention.

***This Week: Geneva, Switzerland and AI for Good*** Honored to announce that I’ve been invited to speak at the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Switzerland this week to share my research on AI and equity, and to discuss how we are harnessing AI to address global priorities. I’m excited to hear and learn from an outstanding lineup of visionary leaders, including my esteemed Deloitte colleagues who will also showcase some of our global AI contributions to help achieve the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals, OpenAI CEO discussing the future of AI, and a remarkable group of women innovators driving daily advancements in this field. As a Diamond sponsor, Deloitte reaffirms our unwavering commitment to sustainable development and our mission to create a better future through AI. Stay tuned for powerful insights emerging from the summit! Learn more about Deloitte's presence at the AI for Good Global Summit: https://lnkd.in/eHuPqXHH #AIforGood #SDGs #ArtificialIntelligence #ClimateChange #FutureofHealth #FoodSecurity

***Fashioning the Future with AI*** As an introvert, I’ve always relied on fashion as a means to preserve my energy and let my personality shine without saying much, serving as a powerful tool for conversation starters, building relationships, and fostering authenticity…and Dresses in particular, have always been my ultimate canvas for showcasing my individuality. And—I’ve always had a passion for numbers and problem solving! My journey from loving math to earning a Ph.D. in AI was shaped by personal experiences. Curious to know more? Dive into the latest edition of CIOLook, where I share snippets of my story, my enthusiasm about the potential of AI to solve signature issues, and my intentional focus on developing more women in this field…alongside a peek into a few of my favorite dresses (Digital version of the magazine)! I’m incredibly honored to be recognized amongst so many other women that are remarkable leaders shaping Innovation! My sincerest gratitude to CIOLook and NABA INC. for providing this platform!