CollectiveUP on ethical AI & women’s leadership in Vienna & London

In late November 2025, CollectiveUP’s CEO Liliana Carrillo took our mission global with back-to-back events in Vienna and London. We were thrilled to engage more than 150 social innovators and engineers with the message that technology, especially artificial intelligence, should empower society equitably. In Vienna, Liliana trained over 50 social entrepreneurs on AI, AI ethics, and the importance of diverse, unbiased data. In London, she joined a global panel at the IEEE Women in Engineering Leadership Summit to discuss entrepreneurship and AI ethics. These events were not just meetings – they were celebrations of innovation and inclusion. As UNDP notes:
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our task is to harness technology to “accelerate sustainable development, while mitigating its harms” undp.org; ethically used AI “can and must accelerate progress towards the SDGs” undp.org.

In both cities, we worked to turn this vision into reality by equipping people with the skills to build fair, inclusive AI solutions that advance goals like quality education, gender equality, and reduced inequalities.
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Empowering social entrepreneurs in Vienna

In Vienna, Liliana led an interactive workshop where social entrepreneurs from across the EU explored how to leverage AI for social good. Together with experts like Jacob Hensler and Mikel Oleaga, she covered essential topics including:

• AI fundamentals and applications in social projects
  
  
• Ethical AI frameworks and responsible tech design
  
  
• Detecting and mitigating algorithmic bias to avoid unfair outcomes
  
  
• Building diverse, representative data sets that serve all communities
  
  
• Case studies of inclusive technology addressing real-world challenges
  
  

Participants worked in teams and discussed how these ideas connect to social impact. Liliana remarked:
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‍“It was inspiring to see so many changemakers eager to use AI for good. They understand that technology can either widen gaps or help bridge them, so it’s our duty to build AI that uplifts everyone.”

This training strengthened individual ventures and advanced global goals by sharing knowledge (SDG 4: Quality Education) and emphasizing inclusion (SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities).
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Leading the AI ethics dialogue in London

The IEEE UK & Ireland Women in Engineering section hosted an International Leadership Summit – London Track at the University of West London under the theme “Women Leading AI & Automation.” Liliana Carrillo joined an expert panel on “Entrepreneurship and AI Ethics” ieee-ukandireland.org, sharing insights on how startups and social ventures can build technology responsibly. The event brought together engineers, researchers, industry leaders, and students to explore the future of AI and ethical innovation ieee-ukandireland.org. IEEE WIE notes that:
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This summit “reinforces IEEE WIE’s commitment to empowering women in STEM, promoting leadership, supporting ethical and inclusive innovation” ieee-ukandireland.org, a mission we proudly share.

Key panel topics included:

• Designing AI with social impact in mind (inclusive AI for sustainable development)
  
  
• Addressing algorithmic bias through diverse teams and data
  
  
• Building ethical governance and business models in tech
  
  
• Advocating for women’s leadership and innovation in AI (promoting SDG 5: Gender Equality)
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Throughout the summit, the energy and optimism were palpable. During the panel discussion (pictured above), attendees explored practical steps like auditing data sets and fostering diverse teams. Liliana added:
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“Ensuring AI serves everyone means designing it with everyone in mind. When social entrepreneurs bring their values into tech, they can transform sectors like education, health, and sustainability.”

This mirrors UN guidance that, when applied ethically, AI “can drive inclusive and sustainable growth, transforming sectors such as health, education, and sustainability, and improving lives” undp.org.
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Advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals

These workshops and panels directly support the UN Sustainable Development Goals. According to UNDP:
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AI used ethically “can and must accelerate progress towards the SDGs” undp.org, highlighting why our work matters.

A recent UNDP study even highlights Quality Education (SDG 4) as an area where AI can make a big impact undp.org – exactly what our Vienna training aimed to do by building new skills. Specifically:

• SDG 4 (Quality Education): Providing AI and ethics training to diverse learners.
  
  
• SDG 5 (Gender Equality): Promoting women’s leadership and participation in tech.
  
  
• SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth): Empowering social entrepreneurs to create sustainable livelihoods.
  
  
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure): Fostering responsible innovation and inclusive technology.
  
  
• SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities): Highlighting diverse data and inclusive design so that solutions work for all.
  
  
• SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals): Collaborating internationally across academia, industry and civil society.
  
  

By aligning technology training with social values, we help ensure innovation benefits everyone and leaves no one behind.
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Looking forward

CollectiveUP is energized by this momentum. As Liliana concluded:
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“Every workshop and panel is a step toward a future where technology uplifts everyone.”

We thank all our partners and participants for making these events such a success. Working together, we will continue ensuring that “no one is left behind” in the digital era undp.org. Our journey is just beginning: with each session we inspire and learn, we move closer to a future where AI serves people and the planet.

Get in touch for keynotes, workshops or projects around Responsible AI and  AI Ethics.

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