Details
Join us for an interactive discussion led by Aritra Saha (Manager, Data Engineering, Analytics and Data Sharing, American Airline) and Shambavi Dhall (Business Data Analytics and Information Technology Associate, Credit One Bank).
In this webinar, Eileen Vidrine shares her inspiring journey of breaking the barriers within both the Air Force and the data industry, traditionally male-dominated fields. As the former Chief Data & AI Officer for the Department of the Air Force, Eileen tackled significant challenges, from establishing the Chief Data Officer role—when the concept was still in its infancy—to overcoming resistance to a data-driven culture in a highly structured environment.
Her resilience, strategic vision, and commitment to building diverse, high-performing teams allowed her to transform obstacles into opportunities, creating pathways for future leaders. This session will delve into how she championed diversity and inclusion, secured leadership buy-in, and spearheaded initiatives that have redefined data and AI landscapes.
Attendees will gain actionable insights on breaking organizational barriers, fostering team collaboration, and driving innovation despite adversity. This is an opportunity to learn how Eileen successfully navigated complex challenges and led transformative change.
Speakers
Post-event summary
The webinar, part of the Women Data Professionals Leadership Series, titled “From Air Force CDAIO to Inspiring Innovator: Breaking the Barriers in Data,” hosted by EDM Council and Women Data Professionals, featured insights from Eileen Vidrine, the former Chief Data and AI Officer of the U.S. Air Force.
- Eileen Vidrine, Chief Data and Artificial Intelligence Officer, Department of the Airforce
- Co-moderator: Shambavi Dhall, Business Data Analytics and Information Technology Associate, Credit One Bank
- Co-moderator: Aritra Saha, Manager, Data Engineering, Analytics and Data Sharing, American Airlines
The discussion explored Eileen’s groundbreaking journey in data leadership, emphasizing innovation, inclusion, and ethics in AI and data management. Eileen shared her experiences in establishing the Chief Data and AI Officer role, highlighting challenges like resource allocation, talent acquisition, and fostering a data-driven culture. She emphasized the importance of building alliances and demonstrating rapid value to gain leadership buy-in, noting, “Responsible AI is everybody’s responsibility.”
Key themes included building robust talent pipelines through internships, partnerships, and mentorship programs. Eileen shared success stories like the “C-17 Puck Scheduler” datathon, which transformed a manual scheduling process into a digital solution with 92% accuracy, showcasing how small-scale initiatives can yield scalable, impactful results.
Eileen also stressed the value of fostering inclusion, encouraging women and underrepresented groups to be bold and intentional in pursuing leadership roles. Reflecting on her military background, she attributed her disciplined focus, operational perspective, and “get stuff done” approach to her success in tackling complex challenges in data strategy.
Ethics was a cornerstone of the conversation, with Eileen detailing how ethical considerations were embedded in AI initiatives through top-down and bottom-up approaches. The Department of the Air Force’s appointment of a Responsible AI leader and adherence to guiding principles ensured integrity in AI implementation.
Closing with advice, Eileen encouraged the audience to continuously invest in learning, saying, “You must stay relevant at the speed of mission to seize opportunities.” Her current focus includes mentoring emerging leaders and advising on tech integration, exemplifying her dedication to empowering the next generation in data and AI leadership.