Driving Change and Breaking Barriers with Amali de Alwis

AlchemistX: Innovators Inside

In this episode of AlchemistX Innovators Inside, host Ian Bergman welcomes Amali de Alwis, a dynamic professional with a rich background in technology and innovation. Amali, known for her roles as CEO at Climate and Data Accelerator Subak, Managing Director at Microsoft for Startups UK, and CEO of Code First: Girls, shares her unique journey from a curious child fascinated with building and fairness to becoming a serial entrepreneur and influential leader in the tech world.

The episode traverses through Amali's diverse career path, from engineering to shoe design, leading her to discover her true passion in the principles behind design and research. This shift marked the onset of her innovation journey, heavily focused on understanding the dynamics of the world and aiding brands in crafting relevant products and services. Amali's role in the tech industry was deeply influenced by her geeky side and her initial foray into software engineering.

Ian and Amali discuss the sense of restlessness often experienced by individuals in large organizations, underscoring that such feelings, while challenging, can lead to significant scale and impact when effectively harnessed. The conversation then highlights Amali's impactful work with Code First: Girls, an organization she founded to bridge the gender gap in technology education. Amali shares the organization's growth, teaching over 40,000 young women to code, and its role in empowering women to enter the tech industry.

Exploring the concept of innovation beyond technology, Amali reflects on her time in shoe design, emphasizing the crucial role of understanding how products interact with people, which is key to innovation in any field. The discussion also covers Amali's time at Subak, where she focused on climate data acceleration and the collective fight against climate change, highlighting the need for data sharing and collaborative problem-solving.

Delving deeper, Amali discusses the intersection of innovation, fairness, and the drive to make a difference, citing examples from various organizations addressing critical issues like climate action and decarbonization.

The conversation also touches upon how income inequality and the pursuit of profit can conflict with fairness, yet underscores that innovation can still lead to a fairer world.

This episode of AlchemistX Innovators Inside offers a deep dive into the complexities of innovation, fairness, and the impact of technology on society, providing valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs and innovators alike.

Full show notes and resources at https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/podcasts

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