Ep 34: Unbias the Algorithm: AI as a Tool for Gender Equity with Dr Alessandra Wall

2025-04-29

In this episode of The AI Grapple, Kate vanderVoort is joined by Dr Alessandra Wall - psychologist, leadership strategist, and founder of Noteworthy - to explore how AI can help women reshape their careers instead of fearing job loss. Alessandra works with high-performing women in tech who are often juggling expectations, under-recognised achievements, and the ever-growing mental load. This conversation digs into what’s holding women back in AI and tech, the biases baked into systems, and how AI - when done right - can unlock time, ease, and leadership o...

In this episode of The AI Grapple, Kate vanderVoort is joined by Dr Alessandra Wall - psychologist, leadership strategist, and founder of Noteworthy - to explore how AI can help women reshape their careers instead of fearing job loss. Alessandra works with high-performing women in tech who are often juggling expectations, under-recognised achievements, and the ever-growing mental load.

This conversation digs into what’s holding women back in AI and tech, the biases baked into systems, and how AI - when done right - can unlock time, ease, and leadership opportunities for women at every level.

✨ Key Highlights:

➡️ Alessandra’s career journey - from psychology to empowering women in tech
Alessandra shares how growing up with ADHD shaped her drive and work ethic, and how that personal experience guided her into a career in psychology. After hitting burnout, she transitioned into coaching, now using those same therapeutic tools to support women navigating the high-stakes world of tech and leadership.

➡️ Being the only woman in the room - and why it’s still happening
We unpack the systemic issues that continue to isolate women in tech and AI - from a lack of early representation to high attrition at senior levels. Alessandra shares why women are still fighting for authority, even at the top, and why the system needs more than a token fix.

➡️ Can AI reduce bias? Yes - if we train it right
AI reflects the data it’s fed. Alessandra explains how recruitment tools can either reinforce bias or break it - and why the people building these systems need to prioritise diversity and allyship to get meaningful results. Garbage in, garbage out doesn’t have to be inevitable.

➡️ The invisible workload: How AI can lighten the mental load
From scheduling appointments to managing family logistics, women often carry the bulk of home-life organisation. Alessandra shares how AI is already helping her - and her clients - reclaim headspace and time, freeing them up to lead more fully at work and live more fully at home.

➡️ AI isn’t just for engineers - how every woman can use it to stay competitive
You don’t need a tech background to benefit from AI. Whether you’re in marketing, coaching, or finance, understanding how to use AI as a productivity and strategy tool is a major edge. Alessandra breaks down how women can upskill and support others through this transition.

➡️ Parkour and AI - yes, really!
Alessandra compares learning AI to her journey into parkour at 37 - a male-dominated, intimidating space where women hesitate to jump in. Her advice? We need more women teaching women how to navigate and own these tools. The power is in mastering the basics, together.

📌 Connect with Dr Alessandra Wall: