"I want to build something that is challenging, with some amazing people"
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ODAIA Team 2021 - Having fun with my team!
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BIO
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Helen co-founded ODAIA in 2018, an AI-powered commercial insights SaaS platform for Pharma companies.
As Chief Technical Evangelist, Helen brings her understanding of artificial intelligence, customer analytics and digital transformation to drive ODAIA’s thought leadership efforts, ultimately helping pharma teams adopt AI in their work and leverage data science and AI to achieve a competitive advantage. She has been teaching product development, design, and entrepreneurship for 9 years at the University of Toronto in the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Computer and Mathematical Sciences. Helen co-founded UofT's Department of Computer Science Innovation Lab (DCSIL), an incubator that supports students and faculty to commercialize their innovations in emerging technologies. Her passion is making digital art helens.art |
WORK
Co-founder & Chief Tech Evangelist, ODAIA.AI 2018 - present
Adjunct Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto 2014 - present https://web.cs.toronto.edu/contact-us/faculty-directory#adjunct
Department of Computer & Mathematical Sciences, University of Toronto 2016 - present
Advisor, Huex.ai, 2022
Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR), YSpace Summer Programme - York University, Toronto, 2021 - present
Startup advisor, Torque Labs - Geotab 2019
Co-founder, DCSIL - Department of Computer Science Innovation Lab, University of Toronto 2014 - 2018
Technology and Entrepreneurship Curriculum Developer, University of Central Asia, Toronto/Kyrgystan, 2017 - 2018
Product Development Team member, NERD (Neurotech Early Research & Development), Ontario Brains Institute 2016 - 2017
IBM Watson University Teaching team and advisor, University of Toronto 2014 - 2015
Founder and Executive Producer, GLOBAL Smartweek: IoT & Machine Intelligence Conference 2014 & 2015
Mobile App Camp Producer & Community Manager, Mobile Experience Innovation Centre, OCAD University 2013 - 2014
Co-founder & Chief Tech Evangelist, ODAIA.AI 2018 - present
Adjunct Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto 2014 - present https://web.cs.toronto.edu/contact-us/faculty-directory#adjunct
Department of Computer & Mathematical Sciences, University of Toronto 2016 - present
Advisor, Huex.ai, 2022
Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR), YSpace Summer Programme - York University, Toronto, 2021 - present
Startup advisor, Torque Labs - Geotab 2019
Co-founder, DCSIL - Department of Computer Science Innovation Lab, University of Toronto 2014 - 2018
Technology and Entrepreneurship Curriculum Developer, University of Central Asia, Toronto/Kyrgystan, 2017 - 2018
Product Development Team member, NERD (Neurotech Early Research & Development), Ontario Brains Institute 2016 - 2017
IBM Watson University Teaching team and advisor, University of Toronto 2014 - 2015
Founder and Executive Producer, GLOBAL Smartweek: IoT & Machine Intelligence Conference 2014 & 2015
Mobile App Camp Producer & Community Manager, Mobile Experience Innovation Centre, OCAD University 2013 - 2014
PROGRAM & THOUGHT LEADERSHIP CREATION
Podcast Host, The Making Impact - Life Science Series, 2022 - present
Founder, UX/Design Toronto Group 2012 - 2021 (Now part of TechToronto)
Organising Committee and presenter, International Women's Week 2021, Dentsu International, 2021
Organising Committee, Industry Day: Data Science and AI (Part of the Statistical Inference, Learning and Models in Data Science Conference) Toronto
www.fields.utoronto.ca/activities/18-19/statistical_inference_ind
AI WEEK, November 2017 (UofT Provost Grant Awarded)
Talent Tuesday: Mentorship Career Program between Industry/Startups & Computer Science students, September - November 2017 (UofT Provost Grant Awarded)
Funding Innovation Conference, May 2017 & 2018 (UofT Provost Grant Awarded)
Augmented-Reality Bus Tour Reveals New Side of The University of Toronto Campus, March 2017 (UofT Provost Grant Awarded)
Summer Arts & Science Entrepreneurship Program, May - July 2015 & 2016 ((UofT Arts & Science Grant Awarded)
Podcast Host, The Making Impact - Life Science Series, 2022 - present
Founder, UX/Design Toronto Group 2012 - 2021 (Now part of TechToronto)
Organising Committee and presenter, International Women's Week 2021, Dentsu International, 2021
Organising Committee, Industry Day: Data Science and AI (Part of the Statistical Inference, Learning and Models in Data Science Conference) Toronto
www.fields.utoronto.ca/activities/18-19/statistical_inference_ind
AI WEEK, November 2017 (UofT Provost Grant Awarded)
Talent Tuesday: Mentorship Career Program between Industry/Startups & Computer Science students, September - November 2017 (UofT Provost Grant Awarded)
Funding Innovation Conference, May 2017 & 2018 (UofT Provost Grant Awarded)
Augmented-Reality Bus Tour Reveals New Side of The University of Toronto Campus, March 2017 (UofT Provost Grant Awarded)
Summer Arts & Science Entrepreneurship Program, May - July 2015 & 2016 ((UofT Arts & Science Grant Awarded)
COMMUNITY BUILDING
Adjudication Committee RBC Borealis AI Graduate and Post-doctoral Fellowships, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Faculty advisor, The University of Toronto's The 99 AI Challenge 2019/2020 https://onesearch.library.utoronto.ca/ai-challenge
Mentor - Safe x Connected Cities Accelerator, Highline Beta, 2019/2020
Member organising committee and Hackathon Co-chair: ICT4S Sustainability Hackathon 5th International Conference, 2018, Toronto http://2018.ict4s.org/
Organiser and supervisor, Datafest, University of Toronto, 2017, 2018
UofT DCS Entrepreneurship Committee, 2014 - 2018
Adviser Correlation One & Datathon, University of Toronto 2016
Adviser Waterfront International Quantathon, University of Toronto, 2015, 2016
Organiser GirlGeeks, Toronto 2013 - 2014
Adjudication Committee RBC Borealis AI Graduate and Post-doctoral Fellowships, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
Faculty advisor, The University of Toronto's The 99 AI Challenge 2019/2020 https://onesearch.library.utoronto.ca/ai-challenge
Mentor - Safe x Connected Cities Accelerator, Highline Beta, 2019/2020
Member organising committee and Hackathon Co-chair: ICT4S Sustainability Hackathon 5th International Conference, 2018, Toronto http://2018.ict4s.org/
Organiser and supervisor, Datafest, University of Toronto, 2017, 2018
UofT DCS Entrepreneurship Committee, 2014 - 2018
Adviser Correlation One & Datathon, University of Toronto 2016
Adviser Waterfront International Quantathon, University of Toronto, 2015, 2016
Organiser GirlGeeks, Toronto 2013 - 2014
WRITING CONTRIBUTIONS
Entrepreneur Magazine, How to find your startup niche", April 2022, Online www.entrepreneur.com/article/424748
Entrepreneur Magazine, How to find your startup niche", April 2022, Online www.entrepreneur.com/article/424748
EDUCATION
Degrees:
International Business, Masters, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Tasmania, Australia, 2008
Anthropology, BA, Faculty of Arts and Science, York University, Canada, 2004
Certificates:
Innovation and Technology, Professional Certificate (On-Campus), MIT, Boston, 2017 - 2018
Integrated Digital Marketing Certificate, IAB Canada, 2013
Social Media Marketing in Canada Certificate, IAB Canada, 2013
Social Media: Monitoring & Metrics Certificate, AKIMBO, 2013
Mental Health Advocacy, University of Tasmania Law School, 2006
Workshops:
Business Model Canvas Seminar with Yves Pigneur, UofT DCSIL, 2017
Mobile Concept Development workshop, Mobile Experience Innovation Lab/OCAD University, 2013
Market Mobile Deployment workshop, Mobile Experience Innovation Lab/OCAD University, 2013
Design Thinking and Usability Testing workshop with Wayne Pau, SAP - Mobile Experience Innovation Lab/OCAD University, 2013
Mobile Maintenance workshop - Mobile Experience Innovation Lab/OCAD University, 2013
Design Clinic, Microsoft - MaRS Discovery District, 2013
Mobile Biz Bootcamp - Developer Edition, The Mobile Institute - OCE Discovery, 2013
Degrees:
International Business, Masters, Faculty of Business and Economics, University of Tasmania, Australia, 2008
Anthropology, BA, Faculty of Arts and Science, York University, Canada, 2004
Certificates:
Innovation and Technology, Professional Certificate (On-Campus), MIT, Boston, 2017 - 2018
Integrated Digital Marketing Certificate, IAB Canada, 2013
Social Media Marketing in Canada Certificate, IAB Canada, 2013
Social Media: Monitoring & Metrics Certificate, AKIMBO, 2013
Mental Health Advocacy, University of Tasmania Law School, 2006
Workshops:
Business Model Canvas Seminar with Yves Pigneur, UofT DCSIL, 2017
Mobile Concept Development workshop, Mobile Experience Innovation Lab/OCAD University, 2013
Market Mobile Deployment workshop, Mobile Experience Innovation Lab/OCAD University, 2013
Design Thinking and Usability Testing workshop with Wayne Pau, SAP - Mobile Experience Innovation Lab/OCAD University, 2013
Mobile Maintenance workshop - Mobile Experience Innovation Lab/OCAD University, 2013
Design Clinic, Microsoft - MaRS Discovery District, 2013
Mobile Biz Bootcamp - Developer Edition, The Mobile Institute - OCE Discovery, 2013
IN THE NEWS
ODAIA raises Series A round
https://techcrunch.com/2022/02/10/odaia-raises-13-8m-for-its-ai-powered-commercial-insights-platform-for-pharma-companies/
https://techcrunch.com/2022/02/10/odaia-raises-13-8m-for-its-ai-powered-commercial-insights-platform-for-pharma-companies/
#SaaSChats Recap: Leaders in Tech + Keys to Success
www.l-spark.com/saaschats-recap-leaders-in-tech-keys-to-success
www.l-spark.com/saaschats-recap-leaders-in-tech-keys-to-success
Women in Tech: How to Make an Impact Through Inclusivity by Michelle Scarborough
https://www.baystbull.com/women-in-tech-impact-through-inclusivity/
https://www.baystbull.com/women-in-tech-impact-through-inclusivity/
UofT startup Hypercare helps hospitals co-ordinate COVID-19 care ‘efficiently and securely
https://www.utoronto.ca/news/u-t-startup-hypercare-helps-hospitals-co-ordinate-covid-19-care-efficiently-and-securely
https://www.utoronto.ca/news/u-t-startup-hypercare-helps-hospitals-co-ordinate-covid-19-care-efficiently-and-securely
Canadian female founders take on Silicon Valley with BDC and TCS
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/canadian-female-founders-silicon-valley-130000767.html
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/canadian-female-founders-silicon-valley-130000767.html
Twelve companies selected for second women in tech Silicon Valley Program (120 startups applied and ODAIA was chosen!)
https://betakit.com/twelve-companies-selected-for-second-women-in-tech-silicon-valley-program/
https://betakit.com/twelve-companies-selected-for-second-women-in-tech-silicon-valley-program/
ODAIA Raises $1.6 million to commercialize it's predictive AI Platform
https://betakit.com/odaia-raises-1-6-million-to-commercialize-its-predictive-ai/
https://betakit.com/odaia-raises-1-6-million-to-commercialize-its-predictive-ai/
From anthropology to AI: Meet the U of T expert guiding the software companies of tomorrow
https://www.utoronto.ca/news/anthropology-ai-meet-u-t-expert-guiding-software-companies-tomorrow
https://www.utoronto.ca/news/anthropology-ai-meet-u-t-expert-guiding-software-companies-tomorrow
Deconstructing important ideas at TEDxUofT
https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/main-news/deconstructing-important-ideas-tedxuoft
https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/main-news/deconstructing-important-ideas-tedxuoft
AI & Deep Technology in Toronto: My 3 Takeaways From University of Toronto Funding Innovation Conference
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ai-deep-technology-toronto-my-3-takeaways-from-funding-nitin-chopra
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ai-deep-technology-toronto-my-3-takeaways-from-funding-nitin-chopra
Augmented-Reality Bus Tour Reveals New Side of The University of Toronto Campus
http://startupheretoronto.com/sectors/technology/augmented-reality-bus-tour-reveals-new-side-of-u-of-t-campus/
http://startupheretoronto.com/sectors/technology/augmented-reality-bus-tour-reveals-new-side-of-u-of-t-campus/
AI Success Story: UofT's ROSS Intelligence Returns to Toronto to open new AI research headquarters
https://www.utoronto.ca/news/ai-success-story-u-t-s-ross-intelligence-returns-toronto-open-new-research-headquarters
https://www.utoronto.ca/news/ai-success-story-u-t-s-ross-intelligence-returns-toronto-open-new-research-headquarters
Cisco Toronto Innovation Centre hosts a weekend of FinTech hacking with TD Canada
https://blogs.cisco.com/innovation/cisco-toronto-innovation-centre-hosts-a-weekend-of-fintech-hacking-with-td
https://blogs.cisco.com/innovation/cisco-toronto-innovation-centre-hosts-a-weekend-of-fintech-hacking-with-td
Employers turning to hackathons to find tech talent
https://www.thestar.com/news/innovation/2016/09/13/employers-turning-to-hackathons-to-find-tech-talent.html
https://www.thestar.com/news/innovation/2016/09/13/employers-turning-to-hackathons-to-find-tech-talent.html
Robotic Rehab: Start-up Helps Kids with Cerebral Palsy
http://medicine.utoronto.ca/news/robotic-rehab-start-helps-kids-cerebral-palsy
http://medicine.utoronto.ca/news/robotic-rehab-start-helps-kids-cerebral-palsy
'Elite' Law Firms May Be Among Earlier Adopters of Artificial Intelligence Platforms
http://www.iltacon.org/HigherLogic/System/DownloadDocumentFile.ashx?DocumentFileKey=850f334b-549b-465b-ae3d-5750f67dc307&ssopc=1
http://www.iltacon.org/HigherLogic/System/DownloadDocumentFile.ashx?DocumentFileKey=850f334b-549b-465b-ae3d-5750f67dc307&ssopc=1
Meet (Winning) Team ROSS Intelligence
https://www.ischool.utoronto.ca/content/meet-winning-team-ross
https://www.ischool.utoronto.ca/content/meet-winning-team-ross
Women Lead Tech in Mississauga, Peel Region & at The University of Toronto
http://icubeutm.ca/women-lead-tech-mississauga-peel-uoft/
http://icubeutm.ca/women-lead-tech-mississauga-peel-uoft/
Intel IoT Roadshow in Toronto
http://blog.bemyapp.com/intel-iot-roadshow-toronto/
http://blog.bemyapp.com/intel-iot-roadshow-toronto/
GLOBAL SMARTWEEK 2015
http://web.cs.toronto.edu/news/current/GLOBAL_SMARTWEEK_2015.htm
http://web.cs.toronto.edu/news/current/GLOBAL_SMARTWEEK_2015.htm
New space for software innovations: Computer science incubator to be “open to all disciplines”
http://thevarsity.ca/2015/03/16/new-space-for-software-innovations/
http://thevarsity.ca/2015/03/16/new-space-for-software-innovations/
Smartweek Using Christie Interactive Visual Solutions
https://www.christiedigital.com/en-us/business/visual-solutions/new-projectors/smartweek-2014
https://www.christiedigital.com/en-us/business/visual-solutions/new-projectors/smartweek-2014
Michael Wekerle at SMARTWEEK 2014 in TORONTO
http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/michael-wekerle-at-smartweek-2014-in-toronto-555827.htm
http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/michael-wekerle-at-smartweek-2014-in-toronto-555827.htm