Intentional Ambition: How an Engineer Built a Healthcare AI Startup with Kawell Batia

Intentional Ambition: How an Engineer Built a Healthcare AI Startup with Kawell Batia

What does it take to leave the safety of a career, back yourself, and build something from scratch?  In this episode of the Race and STEM Podcast, Steve Fuller sits down with Kawell Batia - engineer, technologist, and founder of Aival, a healthcare AI startup helping NHS hospitals adopt trustworthy AI in radiology.  Kawell shares her journey from a childhood shaped by travel and multicultural influences, through engineering and computing, to becoming a CEO disrupting one of the most high-stakes industries in the world.  They explore what holds people back from claiming their ambitions, why networks and confidence are the real barriers for minority professionals, and why being intentional - in your career, your community, and your connections - is the most powerful tool you have.  If you've ever had a bold idea but weren't sure you were allowed to want it, this one's for you. Part of The IN Group [https://wearetig.com/] Communities, Race in STEM a safe, judgement-free space to share one another’s experiences and ideas. Together, we can challenge the status quo and showcase the excellence of the underrepresented in STEM. Keep in touch and find out more about RACE in STEM! [https://www.linkedin.com/company/92723104/]

From Policy to People: What HR Leaders Won't Tell You

In this episode of Race and STEM, Steven Fuller sits down with Veronica Andrews [https://www.linkedin.com/in/veronica-andrews/], a Chief People and Operations Officer with over 15 years of experience in HR and business operations across global and startup environments.  Veronica pulls back the curtain on what HR really is, and what it should be. From growing up in New York surrounded by strong women and a quietly powerful grandfather, to navigating discrimination as a Black woman in senior leadership, Veronica shares the unfiltered truth about the HR profession. She breaks down why employees distrust HR, how to build genuine relationships in the workplace, and what it will take for HR to evolve into the strategic, human-centered function businesses actually need.  Whether you work in HR, have ever been frustrated by HR, or are simply curious about what goes on behind closed doors, this conversation will change how you see the people function forever. Part of The IN Group [https://wearetig.com/] Communities, Race in STEM a safe, judgement-free space to share one another’s experiences and ideas. Together, we can challenge the status quo and showcase the excellence of the underrepresented in STEM. Keep in touch and find out more about RACE in STEM! [https://www.linkedin.com/company/92723104/]

Principles Over Popularity: Why HR Must Lead With Truth

In this episode of Race in STEM,  Nigeal Stokes Fisher shares a candid and powerful perspective on leadership, integrity, and the true role of HR. From growing up in Mississippi to leading HR functions across global organisations, Nigeal reflects on the principles that have shaped her career — and why being liked should never come before being right. She explores why HR is the engine of an organisation, why data must anchor every difficult conversation, and why “no” is a complete sentence. This is a conversation about candour over comfort, truth over popularity, and the courage it takes to stand firm in your values - especially when it’s uncomfortable. If you work in HR, leadership, or alongside either, this episode will challenge how you think about responsibility, accountability, and the future of the function. Part of The IN Group [https://wearetig.com/] Communities, Race in STEM a safe, judgement-free space to share one another’s experiences and ideas. Together, we can challenge the status quo and showcase the excellence of the underrepresented in STEM. Keep in touch and find out more about RACE in STEM! [https://www.linkedin.com/company/92723104/]

We Didn’t See Ourselves in STEM – So We Built SISTEM

In this episode of the RACE in STEM podcast, host Steve Fuller is joined by sisters Dr Abigail Otchere and Donna Otchere, co-founders of SISTEM [https://www.linkedin.com/company/sistem-uk/]. Growing up in Brixton, Abigail and Donna share their journeys into science and engineering – navigating under-resourced schools, cultural expectations, confidence struggles, and being the only Black women in many academic and professional spaces. Abigail reflects on her path from failing A-levels to earning a PhD in biomedical science and building a career in medical writing, while Donna opens up about studying mechanical engineering, facing bias in the classroom, and questioning whether she truly belonged. Together, they discuss: * Why access to STEM isn’t enough without retention * How confidence, culture, and representation shape career outcomes * The impact of teachers, mentors, and community * Why SISTEM was created to make the journey easier for the next generation This is an honest, powerful conversation about identity, resilience, and what it really takes for women of colour not just to enter STEM – but to stay and thrive. Part of The IN Group [https://wearetig.com/] Communities, Race in STEM a safe, judgement-free space to share one another’s experiences and ideas. Together, we can challenge the status quo and showcase the excellence of the underrepresented in STEM. Keep in touch and find out more about RACE in STEM! [https://www.linkedin.com/company/92723104/]

Curiosity Took Me Further Than Any Job Title

In this episode of the RACE in STEM podcast, host Steve Fuller speaks with Moyo Tobun, a clinical research leader and founder supporting clinical trials across phases II–IV. Moyo describes herself as “made in the UK and assembled in Nigeria” – a phrase that captures how her upbringing across two cultures shaped her confidence, discipline, and resilience. Starting her career as a bench scientist, she knew early on that staying in one lane wasn’t for her. This episode is an honest and grounded conversation about: * Taking ownership of your career path * Moving beyond job titles and traditional routes * Navigating cultural differences at work without losing yourself * Building something meaningful when curiosity meets lived experience Part of The IN Group [https://wearetig.com/] Communities, Race in STEM a safe, judgement-free space to share one another’s experiences and ideas. Together, we can challenge the status quo and showcase the excellence of the underrepresented in STEM. Keep in touch and find out more about RACE in STEM! [https://www.linkedin.com/company/92723104/]