OTTAWA, November 4, 2019 – The University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI) is partnering with MindBridge Ai and Willis College (Willis) to address the gender inequity challenge confronting the AI and Cybersecurity workforce. Womxn make up less than 20 percent of the workforce, which further exacerbates the talent shortage and skills crisis faced by both industries. This public-private partnership offers an innovative learning platform to drive competencies and leadership as a pathway toward increasing the number of womxn in these evolving fields.
“Incremental growth is unacceptable given the impact of exponential technologies and we must crack the code allowing more womxn to have progressive careers in AI and Cybersecurity,” said Sophia Leong, an Executive at the University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute.
“With the influence and impacts that AI and Cybersecurity have on society, it’s critical for industry to find ways to include womxn at all levels of the business,” said Eli Fathi, CEO of MindBridge AI. “Diverse workforces and leadership teams have proven to positively affect team culture, product quality, and the bottom line, and this initiative helps all of us achieve those goals.”
“There is a real urgency in our need to be more innovative and targeted. We can’t afford to have another generation of womxn excluded from an entire industry just because there is a perception that Cyber and AI are only open to men. Now is the time to engage womxn,” said Rima Aristocrat, President & CEO of Willis College.
The future of work demands a technology-literate and fully inclusive workforce. Given the speed of changes, gender inequity must be redressed. The solution lies in close collaboration among partners focused on targeted skills acquisition and career pathways.
The public-private partnership aims to accomplish just that and turn the tide of gender inequality.
About MindBridge Ai
MindBridge Analytics Inc. is a FinTech company based in Ottawa, Canada. Through the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies, the MindBridge Ai platform detects anomalous patterns of activity, unintentional errors and intentional misstatements. Using the MindBridge Ai Auditor, organizations across multiple industries can minimize financial losses, reduce corporate liability and focus on providing higher value services to their clients.
About University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute
The University of Ottawa’s Professional Development Institute (PDI) occupies a unique position in the field of advanced education and applied leadership training. Located in the heart of Canada’s capital, in close proximity to a number of important national institutions, PDI develops and delivers innovative learning for leaders across sectors in both official languages. Our courses and programs are built upon a solid foundation of providing professional development and executive training in Ottawa for more than a generation.
About Willis College
Established in 1866, Willis College is Canada’s first post-secondary education establishment, a shining example of the strength and agility of career colleges in Canada. With over 150,000 graduates and an outstanding faculty, Willis College is proud to be a pipeline for producing some of Canada’s top talent in Business, Healthcare and Technology. Willis Cybersecurity Academy is the only multivendor academy with industry-led partners from US, UK and Israel. To learn more about Willis College, visit http://www.williscollege.com
Contact
Sophia Leong, sleong@uottawa.ca
Rima Aristocrat, rima.aristocrat@williscollege.com