Impactful Week at COP28 - Shaping a Workforce that Drives Real Impact

Today, we're taking you on a journey to COP28 in Dubai, where Mia's participation marked a significant step in our advocacy for sustainability and gender equality in AI

Our Co-Founders Janna Salokangas and Tarja Stephens brought their passion and expertise to the global stage, emphasizing the vital role of AI skills in empowering women for a sustainable future. Engaging in panels like "Equal Voices, Equal Choices" and collaborating at the Future Mobility Hub, we were thrilled to contribute to the global dialogue on climate action.

This blog post will give you an inside look at Mia's journey through COP28:

COP28: All about global transformative climate action

COP28, the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is a pivotal global summit where world leaders, environmental experts, and activists convene to discuss and develop strategies against climate change.

About The Future Mobility Hub

Mia, as a Network Partner of the Future Mobility Hub, brought a unique perspective to the table. The hub is an innovative space dedicated to showcasing and exploring sustainable transportation solutions. It's a collaborative environment where experts and enthusiasts discuss and demonstrate the latest advancements in eco-friendly mobility, emphasizing the role of technology in shaping a greener, more efficient future in transportation.

This hub is a brainchild of Supercool Mobility Centers, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at accelerating the transition to electric mobility. With a plan to establish 60 centers globally by 2030, these hubs are designed to be epicenters of sustainable transportation, offering cutting-edge solutions and fostering the adoption of electric vehicles as part of the broader energy transition strategy.

Thank you, Ann Rosenberg for partnering with us and championing Mia’s mission!

Innovative minds and sustainable solutions

In this global platform, we collectively addressed issues of inequality, access to capital, education, and health in relation to climate change.

One of the highlights of Mia's participation was the panel discussion at The Female Quotient Equality Lounge hosted at Future Mobility Hub. The panel, titled "Equal Voices, Equal Choices," focused on empowering all genders through climate education.

Noting that 80% of those displaced by climate change are women, yet they hold only a minority of climate-related decision-making roles, the panelists called for urgent action to close the eco-gender gap.

Speaker Insights & Takeaways

• Derrick Feldmann Managing Director at Ad Council Research Institute: Stressed the need to delve deeper into individual perspectives beyond statistics to truly drive change.
• Dr Nitya Mohan Khemka, Director Global South Partnerships, PATH: Highlighted the exclusion of non-traditional identities in climate conversations. "Diversity in education leads to more creativity and better problem-solving."
• Natalia Olynec, Chief Sustainability Officer, International Institute for Management Development (IMD): Advocated for inclusive leadership and education in sustainability.
• Kathryn Alsegaf, Global Chief Sustainability Officer, Deloitte: Emphasized the importance of universal education on climate change at organizations with even Deloitte as a great example. "Awareness and education are crucial for all, from professionals to the general public."
• Sherena Hussain, COO, FleetZero and Founder, Academic Collaboration Consulting: Emphasized the pivotal role of education in fostering lifelong learning, inclusivity, and economic growth. She advocated for mindful application of learning, diversity in decision-making, and eliminating biases for achieving sustainability goals.

The conversation pointed to a critical issue: the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and the underrepresentation of women in climate-related decision-making roles.

As Janna stated, COP28 was all about action, and the panelists, concluded the discussion by turning insights into tangible steps:

Fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace

• Implementing Anti-Harassment Policies: Establishing a safe and respectful work environment is crucial. Anti-harassment policies play a significant role in retaining diverse talent.
• Supporting Maternity Leave and Child Care: Providing comprehensive maternity leave and child care options is essential for supporting women in the workforce.
• Fostering Role Modeling, Sponsorship, and Mentorship: Encouraging mentorship and sponsorship programs can help in guiding and retaining diverse talent.

These steps, as put forth by Kathryn and other panelists, are vital in ensuring that organizations not only talk about DEI but also actively implement strategies that make a real difference.

Insights from Al Gore: AI's Transformative Role in the Green Workforce

Team Mia also had the honor of meeting former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, a long-standing advocate for environmental issues. He shared his insights on the growing clean energy industry and the vital role of AI in the Green Workforce.

“AI is the most impactful technology that humanity has ever created. We are just in the early stages of an AI-driven technology revolution that really has almost no limit, which is quite extraordinary.”

-Al Gore on the power of AI in the Green Workforce

This resonated deeply with Mia's mission of integrating AI into sustainable solutions.

A big thank you to Filipa Lobão from Microsoft for sharing innovative solutions for accessible knowledge and education through AI and virtual avatars. In just a few minutes, we got to learn from an AI avatar about how gender equity, health, and education are all connected to climate crises.

We were honored to meet a global community of changemakers, leaders, and pioneers. A big shoutout to women like Carine de Meyere, Rei Chou, and Anita Kalergis (she/her) for leading the way and working to protect our fragile planet for future generations!

We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity to drive meaningful change in the realms of sustainability and technology.

This event has been a powerful reminder of the critical need to invest in training programs that nurture a diverse talent pool, equipping them with the necessary skills for the future, particularly in the green sector. We are stronger than ever in our resolve to foster a workforce that is not only skilled in AI but also deeply aware of its potential to drive sustainable change.

As we move forward, we remain dedicated to being at the forefront of this crucial intersection of AI education and shaping a workforce that drives real impact.

Mia is a pioneering Global AI school dedicated to empowering forward-thinking companies and non-technical women through education in AI and emerging technologies.

Our aim is to upskill 1 million women worldwide, driving inclusive innovation in the AI space.