What Happens When Talent Has No Guide? Mentorship, STEM and the Future of AI

What Happens When Talent Has No Guide? Mentorship, STEM and the Future of AI

What Happens When Talent Has No Guide? Mentorship, STEM and the Future of AI In this episode of AI for Equity, hosts Jenny Garrett OBE and Leah-Sunshine Garrett sit down with Bamidele Farinre, Chartered Biomedical Scientist, educator, author of The Mentor's Journey: From Learning to Leading, and passionate STEM advocate. Bamidele shares her remarkable journey from growing up in Nigeria with dreams of becoming a pharmacist, to overcoming academic setbacks after moving to the UK, and ultimately building a successful career in biomedical science, education and leadership. Bamidele Farinre is a Chartered Biomedical Scientist, STEM leader, Agile Project Manager, and advocate working at the intersection of science, technology, education, leadership, and social equity. Her work focuses on ensuring innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence, is developed responsibly, ethically, and inclusively.She is Vice Chair of the IBMS Virology Specialist Advisory Panel, an HCPC Biomedical Scientist International Registration Assessor, Fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Science, and Honorary Fellow of the Academy for Healthcare Science. Her proposal on AI equity in STEM was selected by the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Diversity and Inclusion in STEM and adopted into its 2026 to 2027 programme led by the British Science Association. Bamidele is also the founder of BAMS Space “No Ceiling,” a global mentorship and leadership platform supporting underrepresented communities in STEM. Through policy advocacy, speaking, writing, and mentorship, she continues to champion equitable access, representation, and ethical innovation across science and technology. Together, we explore: • The resilience required to overcome failure and setbacks • Why mentorship can be transformational rather than transactional • The barriers facing underrepresented groups in STEM • The role of advocacy in creating equitable opportunities • How representation shapes the future of AI • Bamidele's pioneering work on AI equity in STEM • Why inclusion must be built into innovation from the start This conversation reminds us that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. If we want AI systems that serve everyone fairly, we must ensure that the people building and shaping those systems reflect the diversity of the communities they impact. Connect with Bamidele: IG: https://www.instagram.com/bamiciousofficial/ [https://url.avanan.click/v2/r02/___https://www.instagram.com/bamiciousofficial/___.YXAxZTpyZWZsZXhpb24tYXNzb2NpYXRlcy1saW1pdGVkLTZiNWIxZWM0OmE6bzphYTcwYWExNDkyMWI0Mjk4MzQ4ZWQxNmZmOGQxYTQ2NDo3OjA4OTM6MWYwM2JhNGU4NDBhMDFlNzgxZjI5YWQ4YTc5NDkzYTAxMzBjNzc0NGRhNmNiMTEzOTYxN2JlNmQxZWJiMjVmMjpoOlQ6Rg] LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bamidele-farinre-352b1191/ [https://url.avanan.click/v2/r02/___https://www.linkedin.com/in/bamidele-farinre-352b1191/___.YXAxZTpyZWZsZXhpb24tYXNzb2NpYXRlcy1saW1pdGVkLTZiNWIxZWM0OmE6bzphYTcwYWExNDkyMWI0Mjk4MzQ4ZWQxNmZmOGQxYTQ2NDo3OjEzNGI6NTFkMzIxN2ZmMWY4YTcyMWRhYTMwMDBmNjc3NWM2NzM3ZjM3OWQxODMzOGI4YTg0Njg3ZDYxYTIyZTE4Y2QzNTpoOlQ6Rg] TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@simply_bamsstem/video/7593421101628214550 [https://url.avanan.click/v2/r02/___https://www.tiktok.com/_@simply_bamsstem/video/7593421101628214550___.YXAxZTpyZWZsZXhpb24tYXNzb2NpYXRlcy1saW1pdGVkLTZiNWIxZWM0OmE6bzphYTcwYWExNDkyMWI0Mjk4MzQ4ZWQxNmZmOGQxYTQ2NDo3OjFiY2Q6ODJjMTZiY2FkOGQyNWY3YmRhY2YwZTkyMmQyMTgwY2E0ZjkyMzlkODJmNTFkM2ExY2UwNGU3NDkxNzYzNTJhYjpoOlQ6Rg] FB:https://www.facebook.com/bamiciousofficial/ [https://url.avanan.click/v2/r02/___https://www.facebook.com/bamiciousofficial/___.YXAxZTpyZWZsZXhpb24tYXNzb2NpYXRlcy1saW1pdGVkLTZiNWIxZWM0OmE6bzphYTcwYWExNDkyMWI0Mjk4MzQ4ZWQxNmZmOGQxYTQ2NDo3OjVlMTE6NmQ2MGMyYmNmNjYzOWM4NzA1NGQxZTRhOTg0ZDMzOWFhZmYyOWVhODRhYjM2NWZmODIxOTM1YWQzMzMwYWUwZjpoOlQ6Rg] BAMS Space Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/bams-space-no-ceiling-7208851946718330882/ [https://url.avanan.click/v2/r02/___https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/bams-space-no-ceiling-7208851946718330882/___.YXAxZTpyZWZsZXhpb24tYXNzb2NpYXRlcy1saW1pdGVkLTZiNWIxZWM0OmE6bzphYTcwYWExNDkyMWI0Mjk4MzQ4ZWQxNmZmOGQxYTQ2NDo3OjcwZDI6YzczNTI5MjIwNjg5MzgwNzdkZGJlZjcwMWFmZmJjZmVlY2Q2MTdjMWNhY2UzYzBhOGYxYjliZmQ3ZTM0MjY5OTpoOlQ6Rg] Relevant Featured Links: • https://www.linkedin.com/events/7457408514643197952/ [https://url.avanan.click/v2/r02/___https://www.linkedin.com/events/7457408514643197952/___.YXAxZTpyZWZsZXhpb24tYXNzb2NpYXRlcy1saW1pdGVkLTZiNWIxZWM0OmE6bzphYTcwYWExNDkyMWI0Mjk4MzQ4ZWQxNmZmOGQxYTQ2NDo3OjBhMjY6NmExOWI5NjY0OWE1YWUwYjMxNzc5Mjg1NmI5ZjkzNzE0NjNlZGIyNWU3YTA5OGJlM2U5ZjJmZjIyN2JjNjg0ZjpoOlQ6Rg]  • https://preciousonline.co.uk/bamidele-farinre-ai-equity-stem-policy/ [https://url.avanan.click/v2/r02/___https://preciousonline.co.uk/bamidele-farinre-ai-equity-stem-policy/___.YXAxZTpyZWZsZXhpb24tYXNzb2NpYXRlcy1saW1pdGVkLTZiNWIxZWM0OmE6bzphYTcwYWExNDkyMWI0Mjk4MzQ4ZWQxNmZmOGQxYTQ2NDo3Ojc5ZjM6NzYzZDc5YzgzYzcwOWQ0YmNkNTE3YmQ4NGE3ZDE4NmFjN2M3NzBhZTQ3ODUxNTQyMmZjMzg5ZTYwNDg3YTE2NzpoOlQ6Rg] • https://thepathologist.com/issues/2026/articles/april/lets-banish-the-bias-in-ai-models/ [https://url.avanan.click/v2/r02/___https://thepathologist.com/issues/2026/articles/april/lets-banish-the-bias-in-ai-models/___.YXAxZTpyZWZsZXhpb24tYXNzb2NpYXRlcy1saW1pdGVkLTZiNWIxZWM0OmE6bzphYTcwYWExNDkyMWI0Mjk4MzQ4ZWQxNmZmOGQxYTQ2NDo3OmFmZTA6YzI3MDZkZTc5NTI1MTk0NjQ0Y2IxZGE3ODQ3NTgwOTRiOTcyM2VmNjA1YmQ4OWExNjM2MjY0MDkzNTNlYTBhOTpoOlQ6Rg] • https://www.selectscience.net/video/advancing-ai-equity-and-the-future-of-laboratory-governance-with-bamidele-farinre [https://url.avanan.click/v2/r02/___https://www.selectscience.net/video/advancing-ai-equity-and-the-future-of-laboratory-governance-with-bamidele-farinre___.YXAxZTpyZWZsZXhpb24tYXNzb2NpYXRlcy1saW1pdGVkLTZiNWIxZWM0OmE6bzphYTcwYWExNDkyMWI0Mjk4MzQ4ZWQxNmZmOGQxYTQ2NDo3OjE1NjI6YzA1Y2U1NjA4YmI1Yzc3YzZhNzkzZWVkNDY2YjMyZWFiYTNlNzNmOGIxYTQyNzFlMDVjOTc2ZDJmZTljYzYwMTpoOlQ6Rg] • https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/bams-space-no-ceiling-7208851946718330882/ [https://url.avanan.click/v2/r02/___https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/bams-space-no-ceiling-7208851946718330882/___.YXAxZTpyZWZsZXhpb24tYXNzb2NpYXRlcy1saW1pdGVkLTZiNWIxZWM0OmE6bzphYTcwYWExNDkyMWI0Mjk4MzQ4ZWQxNmZmOGQxYTQ2NDo3OmVhNjU6NDQ0MWY2OGQ5Yzg4NTNmM2Y5Y2NjOGY3OTAwYzAxMTY2Y2U0M2NhNzA4MTM4MzgzZGMyMTAxZWI3ZDc1YWUwNjpoOlQ6Rg] •  https://www.britishscienceassociation.org/news/appg-on-diversity-inclusion-in-stem-launches-new-project-on-ai-equity [https://url.avanan.click/v2/r02/___https://www.britishscienceassociation.org/news/appg-on-diversity-inclusion-in-stem-launches-new-project-on-ai-equity___.YXAxZTpyZWZsZXhpb24tYXNzb2NpYXRlcy1saW1pdGVkLTZiNWIxZWM0OmE6bzphYTcwYWExNDkyMWI0Mjk4MzQ4ZWQxNmZmOGQxYTQ2NDo3OjQ5OTk6ZWRiMTU3Yjk5ZTQwYWY1ZDAxNWY5MDdhMTI1YzI0Y2MzMzNkMTRhZWI5MjE1ZjY5MzIxMzY2ZTY3ZDk1M2U3ODpoOlQ6Rg] https://thebiomedicalscientist.net/2026/03/23/towards-fairer-ai-future-stem [https://url.avanan.click/v2/r02/___https://thebiomedicalscientist.net/2026/03/23/towards-fairer-ai-future-stem___.YXAxZTpyZWZsZXhpb24tYXNzb2NpYXRlcy1saW1pdGVkLTZiNWIxZWM0OmE6bzphYTcwYWExNDkyMWI0Mjk4MzQ4ZWQxNmZmOGQxYTQ2NDo3OjY0YTE6YTAyZTRjOWE1YWVhNDg0NGY0MDg1NWI5ZGE0ZmEwYzAzOGQyODIwMGY4MmI0MThkM2E4ZTg1YWZmNDgxZDc1MjpoOlQ6Rg] • https://ahcs.ac.uk/2026/03/13/ahcs-honorary-fellow-spotlight-bamidele-farinres-submission-selected-for-appg-diversity-inclusion-in-stem-flagship-project/ [https://url.avanan.click/v2/r02/___https://ahcs.ac.uk/2026/03/13/ahcs-honorary-fellow-spotlight-bamidele-farinres-submission-selected-for-appg-diversity-inclusion-in-stem-flagship-project/___.YXAxZTpyZWZsZXhpb24tYXNzb2NpYXRlcy1saW1pdGVkLTZiNWIxZWM0OmE6bzphYTcwYWExNDkyMWI0Mjk4MzQ4ZWQxNmZmOGQxYTQ2NDo3OmUyZjk6NTU1MmYzMjRhNDA1Y2JhYjlkNjNjZGQyMmI4Y2E0MWVmNTFmMDg4NzFiOGZiNjdiMDc2NThkYjg2NmNlOTMwNjpoOlQ6Rg] Links for Bamis books': https://selar.com/m/bamidele-farinre1 [https://url.avanan.click/v2/r02/___https://selar.com/m/bamidele-farinre1___.YXAxZTpyZWZsZXhpb24tYXNzb2NpYXRlcy1saW1pdGVkLTZiNWIxZWM0OmE6bzphYTcwYWExNDkyMWI0Mjk4MzQ4ZWQxNmZmOGQxYTQ2NDo3OjljMmM6MDM1NjE3NmJlMGEzNDU4NzFkYjhmMjNmMzYyYjIzNWFjOTcyZTUzM2IyYzczZmVjMGNhYzA0YWY3YmI1MDk4YjpoOlQ6Rg]https://www.amazon.com/Mentors-Journey-Learning-Leading/dp/B0DBM69SBS [https://url.avanan.click/v2/r02/___https://www.amazon.com/Mentors-Journey-Learning-Leading/dp/B0DBM69SBS___.YXAxZTpyZWZsZXhpb24tYXNzb2NpYXRlcy1saW1pdGVkLTZiNWIxZWM0OmE6bzphYTcwYWExNDkyMWI0Mjk4MzQ4ZWQxNmZmOGQxYTQ2NDo3OmUzNjk6ZWRhNmY4ZTE0NjZlZTFlOGZkMzkyZTA0ZDJlODAyODNkMDY0NGUxYWY0YjIxN2JmMGQ0NjQ0ZTU2ZGJjZDFiZjpoOlQ6Rg]https://muraplatform.com/u/bamidele-farinre9815 [https://url.avanan.click/v2/r02/___https://muraplatform.com/u/bamidele-farinre9815___.YXAxZTpyZWZsZXhpb24tYXNzb2NpYXRlcy1saW1pdGVkLTZiNWIxZWM0OmE6bzphYTcwYWExNDkyMWI0Mjk4MzQ4ZWQxNmZmOGQxYTQ2NDo3OjcwN2I6OGVmY2U5MDNkOTQ5MjI1NWIzY2U3Yjk0ZGNlMjJlNTk4ZjVkNTdiZWE1ODY5NTAxMWYwMzJhNTc5ZDJkNWI2MzpoOlQ6Rg] #AIForEquity #ArtificialIntelligence #STEM #Mentorship #ResponsibleAI #WomenInSTEM #Innovation #Leadership #TechForGood #EquityInAI

AI Isn't the Enemy: Responsible AI Is a People Problem

Most conversations about AI are stuck in a tired binary. It's either the technology that's going to replace us all, or a clever bit of automation that doesn't really matter. Both framings miss the point, and both let the people building these systems off the hook. In this episode of AI for Equity, Leah and Jenny sit down with Maria Axente, one of the UK's leading voices on responsible AI and instrumental in establishing PwC's centre of excellence in the field. Maria's route in didn't start with computer science. It started with a curiosity about the systems people build, and how those systems shape the rest of us. That perspective runs through everything she does. We get into: * Why the dominant framings of AI, threat or toy, are both wrong * What responsible AI actually means in practice, and where most organisations are still getting it wrong * The socio-technical lens, and why treating AI as purely technical leads to bad decisions * Why education is the conversation nobody wants to have, and what shifts when you put the right tools in front of the next generation * How to build AI that augments human judgment instead of replacing it A conversation about power, design, and the uncomfortable middle where the real work of responsible AI happens.

Curiosity Over Fear: Dev Aditya on Teddy AI, Children and Trust in the Machine

Dev Aditya has built the world's first publicly available AI teacher, an AI model for children with hearing impairments, and Teddy AI, a learning tool for young kids. Through OIAI, his work has reached tens of thousands of learners across four continents. In this episode, we talk about what equity in AI education actually looks like, how children decide to trust a machine, and why curiosity matters more than fear when shaping how the next generation meets AI. Hosted by Jenny Garrett OBE and Leah Garrett.

Whose AI is it anyway? Julia Stamm on Women, Power and Responsible Innovation

In this episode of AI for Equity, Jenny Garrett OBE and Leah Garrett sit down with Julia Stamm, founder of C-Shapes AI and a leading voice on responsible AI innovation in Europe. Julia came to AI through social science, not engineering, and that lens shapes everything about how she works: from her years funding innovation across European institutions to her current mission of amplifying the women pioneering responsible AI. We talk about why AI is a human capability challenge before it's a technical one, why the same handful of names keep dominating the AI conversation, and what it actually takes to build a more inclusive ecosystem. Julia shares the thinking behind C-Shapes AI, the role of education and regulation in responsible AI use, and the practical work of equipping female leaders with the strategic fluency to engage confidently with AI in their organisations. If you're interested in where technology meets power, diversity, and social impact, this conversation is for you. In this episode: * Julia's path from social science to AI leadership * Why technology doesn't exist in a vacuum * The visibility problem for women in AI * Responsible AI as a collective responsibility * Building diverse AI ecosystems that deliver real outcomes * The Responsible AI Use Act and what it signals for Europe Follow AI for Equity for new episodes every week. #AIforEquity #WomenInAI #ResponsibleAI #DiversityInTech

The Founder Who Coded Her Way Out: Inkar Kenzhessarina on Daisy and AI for Mental Health

Inkar Kenzhessarina didn't set out to build a mental health startup. With a background in international relations and law, founding a company was never the plan, until burnout and clinical depression during her master's in Sweden made it impossible to ignore the gap between people who need mental health support and people who can actually access it. Daisy, the AI platform she went on to build, is an attempt to close that gap. It runs on transparency, so users know they're talking to a chatbot. Anonymity, so there's no human waiting on the other end and no judgement. And clear ethical guardrails, including automatic redirection to crisis services when a user shows signs of being in danger. In this episode of AI for Equity, Inkar joins Jenny Garrett OBE and Leah Garrett to talk about: * The pivot from law to founder, and why personal pain became professional purpose * How she taught herself to code and built an MVP from scratch * What early users are actually doing with Daisy, versus what she expected * The cultural stigma around mental health in Kazakhstan, and how AI shifts the equation * The ethical complexities of building AI that holds people in their hardest moments * What transparency and safeguarding look like when the user on the other end is vulnerable If you're interested in AI applied to wellbeing, in founder stories that begin in personal crisis, or in what ethical design looks like in mental health tech, this one is for you. Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. #AIForEquity #MentalHealth #EthicalAI #FoundersStory #MentalHealthTech #Daisy #FemaleFounders #AIForGood #Wellbeing