Building on the forward-looking conversations from the Women in Tech Global Conference, this feature explores one of the defining questions shaping technology today: as AI becomes more capable and autonomous, where does human expertise matter most?
In this spotlight, we feature three standout talks: Beyond the Prompt: Architecting Agentic Workflows at the Speed of AI, Balancing Humanity and Automation: The Dual Dilemma for Leaders, and From Capability to Outcome: Where AI Still Needs Humans.
From designing agentic workflows to navigating the balance between automation and human judgment, these sessions explore how we can move beyond simply adopting AI to building, leading, and working with it in ways that turn technological capability into meaningful outcomes—without losing the human expertise behind them.
Beyond the Prompt: Architecting Agentic Workflows at the Speed of AI
Andrea Hofmann is a Strategic Data & AI Leader with over 15 years of experience driving digital transformation and innovation within global organizations. As Head of Data Innovation at DHL IT Services, she spearheads end-to-end AI initiatives across IT Ops, Finance, and HR, delivering measurable efficiency through scalable, compliant frameworks. A "Woman in Tech" ambassador with a PhD in AI and Machine Learning from the University of Bonn, Andrea combines deep technical expertise with executive leadership. Her career at Deutsche Telekom and DHL is marked by a proven track record of building internal AI capabilities, leading global engineering teams, and shaping enterprise-wide strategies that transform AI literacy into a core business value.
During her session, you'll learn:
From Tools to Architects: How to shift your organization's mindset from using AI for simple tasks to architecting end-to-end, agent-native business processes.
The Zero-Based Blueprint: Practical strategies for dismantling legacy workflows and rebuilding them using Zero-Based Process Redesign to unlock exponential efficiency.
Safety by Design: Essential requirements for implementing autonomous guardrails and transparent "Safe AI" frameworks that protect the enterprise at scale.
The Skill Evolution: A roadmap for transitioning the workforce from manual operators to high-level orchestrators of a trusted, multi-agent digital landscape.
Balancing Humanity and Automation: The Dual Dilemma for Leaders
Dessalen Wood, CHRP, is the Global Chief People Officer at Syntax, a global provider of cutting-edge cloud and managed IT solutions. Dessalen leads company-wide human resource strategies, fostering a vibrant culture for over 2,800 employees in 15 countries.
With over 25 years of experience, Dessalen has built and developed People & Culture teams, creating customized professional development initiatives at renowned Canadian and US enterprises like Reitman’s Canada, Hudson’s Bay Company, and The Disney Stores. Before Syntax, Wood served as Chief People Officer at ThoughtExchange and Vice President of Talent Development at Cineplex Entertainment. Recognized with multiple awards, including the Retail Council Award for Talent Development, Waterstone Top 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures, and most recently, is proud to announce that Syntax has been named a Great Place to Work in all the countries they operate.
During her session, you'll:
Understand the wellbeing needs and why thy have intensified,
How to co-create an AI strategy with your employees,
Examples of co-created agents from 3 hackathons Syntax has held
From Capability to Outcome: Where AI still needs Humans
Subha Shrinivasan solves one of the most expensive problems in infrastructure: Operationalizing products in real-world deployments. Across Datacenter, Cloud, and Telecom, the constraint to scaling is rarely technology. It is the ability to translate innovation into profitable, repeatable execution at global scale. Her work focuses on building AI-First Delivery organizations that turn complex pilots into durable revenue engines.
She operates at the intersection of deep technical rigor, operating-model design, and P&L accountability, transforming delivery from a cost center into a strategic growth driver. The manifesto I drive is: Growth through execution and customer value creation.
She is a category creator of the AI-first delivery model - A framework that leverages AI at the right levers in product deployments & operations. As Global Head of Service Delivery, she drives the integration of Cloud, RAN, and OSS product lines into a single global delivery motion. Subha leads the organization that is redefining delivery into a strategic leverage by combining Solution Integration, AI-led automation, DevOps, and Infra-as-Code into one live system with closed-loop feedback. Her teams don't just "deploy" technology; they accelerate time-to-value for the world’s most complex telco transformations.
During her session, you'll learn:
Why execution & operationalizing products will never go out of fashion in an AI world.
The Women in Tech Global Conference 2027 (May 18-21, Virtual) will bring the global community together again to explore not only how quickly AI is advancing, but how we can build, lead, and make better decisions alongside it.
These talks remind us that the future of AI isn't simply about greater capability or more automation. The real opportunity lies in understanding where AI can accelerate our work, where human judgment remains essential, and how the two can work together to create meaningful outcomes. Join thousands of technology professionals from around the world at the Women in Tech Global Conference 2027 to discover new perspectives on AI, leadership, innovation, and the evolving role of human expertise—and take practical ideas back to your career, team, and organization.
Ready to be part of these conversations? Secure your Super Early Bird ticket and join us for the 8th edition of the Women in Tech Global Conference.
Want to keep learning and connecting throughout the year? Become a Professional Member to access mentorship, networking, expert content, learning resources, and opportunities to grow your visibility within the global WomenTech community.