Five young women, five visions for AI in action

The European Leadership Academy hosts The Schools for Female Leadership in the Digital Age and The Women’s Academy for Rural Innovation. Our mission is to help unleash the immense potential of female talent and build a more equal and sustainable future. More than 15,000 candidates have applied to join the once-in-a-lifetime experience it offers, and over 150 have benefited under a full scholarship since 2021.

We asked five ELA graduates how they’re using artificial intelligence now – or how they plan to use it in the future.

Dora Ioana Crișan, Romania – ELA 2023, Business Developer / Career Counselor, Evozon (IT company) / EvoCariera (NGO)

In 2022, Romania’s Ministry of Education found that 44% of university students dropped out within their first year, with nearly half failing to graduate by 2021. To address this, the government launched a national program offering remedial courses, counseling, and career guidance—a program I have joined.

My focus is on career guidance. With a team from the Romanian city of Sibiu, we’re building an AI-powered platform that aggregates university programs and pairs students with tailored recommendations. Users can take validated psychological tests, and AI will refine matches based on their interests and traits, making the process personalized and efficient.

Beyond degrees, the platform will connect students to scholarships, training programs, and opportunities like the European Leadership Academy. By combining psychological research with responsible AI, I aim to help Romanian youth make informed, meaningful choices—reducing dropout rates and unlocking their potential.

Cara Doumbe Kingue, France – ELA 2022, Astrobiologist, ENS de Lyon / Freelance

As an EdTech entrepreneur in the making, I’m excited by AI’s transformative potential across both front- and back-end systems. I believe AI can serve as a powerful equalizer for founders with a non-tech background by providing smart educational content curation and personalization. It can also help generate the streamlined operational workflows that are fundamental to competitiveness.

In the future, I plan to leverage AI to empower learners and educators to connect with the ideal academic and professional opportunities at the right time in their journey.

Stella Dumenčić, Croatia – ELA 2022, Master of Engineering, PhD student University of Rijeka, Faculty of Engineering

As a PhD student, research, and teaching assistant, I am passionate about using AI to create real-world impact and solve current challenges. Over the years, my research has ranged from medical imaging, animal conservation, climate monitoring, and supporting search and rescue missions.

Being part of programs such as Huawei’s Seeds for the Future and the European Leadership Academy have made me realize how much impact an individual can have in shaping a better future. This realization has motivated me to use AI to continue my research.

AI can not only drive scientific innovation, but also foster greater global understanding, helping people build bridges for collaboration across languages and borders. I am excited to play an active role in a future where technology connects, empowers, and uplifts communities.

Reda Petravičiūtė, Lithuania – ELA 2022, Master of engineering, PhD student, Administration of Kaunas Municipality

I’m using AI to turn urban planning from static documents into living systems. Some examples: models that learn neighbourhood character, AI that talks to spatial data, and procedural simulations that respond to real urban needs.

The Lithuanian capital of Vilnius has the data, and I have the vision and workflows to unlock I it – to replace the current, outdated planning documents.

Next step: scaling to Europe.

You can see my current work at https://aicitydesign.com/

Alisa Uzarina, Latvia – ELA 2021, Business Effectiveness Specialist, flydubai

Working in an airline’s “business effectiveness department,” my aim is to transform the aviation industry by leveraging AI. I focus on practical and cost-effective AI applications that drive efficiency, streamline internal processes, and elevate the customer experience.

Over the past year, I have explored how AI can improve on-time departures, baggage operations, and HR processes. With the sky being the limit, I am committed to uncovering more ways technology can benefit our company and customers, as well as society in general.