How Leaders Can Mitigate AI Bias for Women - an Interview with Sarah Lloyd Favaro, Senior Solutions Director, Office of Responsible AI and Governance at HCLTech

In the latest Fearless Female Leadership interview, I had the honor of talking with Sarah Lloyd Favaro, Senior Solutions Director, Office of Responsible AI and Governance at HCLTech, about one of the most urgent and misunderstood leadership topics today: how leaders can mitigate AI bias for women.

Sarah’s career has always lived at the intersection of technology and learning. Long before generative AI swept into the mainstream, she was exploring how tech could enhance human capability (not replace it.) But with the rapid rise of AI tools, Sarah doubled down on understanding how these systems work, why bias appears, and how leaders can prepare their organizations for a future where AI is woven into every workflow.

What makes Sarah’s perspective so powerful is her blended expertise: she understands both the practical magic of AI and the very real risks. She believes strongly that if organizations benefit from AI’s productivity and innovation, they must also ensure equitable, responsible, human-centered usage.

She emphasizes the critical role leaders play in upskilling their workforce… especially women, who are statistically underrepresented in AI fields. According to Sarah, equitable access to education and tools is non-negotiable if companies want to avoid widening gender and societal gaps.

Sarah also demystifies what many call the AI “black box.” She explains that becoming confident with AI doesn’t require being an engineer. Instead, it requires learning how to communicate with AI systems, think critically about outputs, and understand where bias may creep in.

Her message is both empowering and practical: AI is here to stay. And with the right awareness, skills, and strategies, women and leaders can shape a future where AI is an equalizer (not a divider.)

🔑 10 Key Takeaways from the Interview with Sarah Lloyd Favaro:

• 0:01:18 – Sarah has always been drawn to the intersection of learning and technology; AI naturally became part of her professional evolution.
• 0:04:31 – AI tools often use biased data, meaning biased outcomes can disproportionately affect women and marginalized groups.
• 0:05:00 – Leaders play a critical role in equitable access: upskilling the entire workforce is essential as jobs rapidly change.
• 0:06:10 – Women remain underrepresented in AI; ensuring they don’t fall behind in adopting new tools is crucial.
• 0:07:29 – Mid-sized and smaller companies may lack AI resources, but they still need a point leader and a diverse AI decision-making team.
• 0:08:42 – One of the most important first steps in upskilling is learning how AI communicates, and how you communicate with it.
• 0:10:59 – Building a simple no-code chatbot can demystify AI and strip away fear of the “black box.”
• 0:12:30 – Communication is becoming one of the most valuable skills in AI-enabled work environments.
• 0:13:48 – Start by experimenting with accessible tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, or Llama to build comfort and understanding.
• 0:16:04 – Always review AI outputs with a critical lens; AI can hallucinate, amplify bias, and generate inaccurate or stereotypical results (e.g., CEOs portrayed only as men).

If you’re interested in being featured on the Fearless Female Leadership podcast, or you’re a leader looking to gain clarity on ‘what’s next’, how to build more cohesive and high-performing teams, and lead with greater confidence and influence, let’s have a confidential conversation.

Cheering you on always!
– Sheryl