Why don’t young women see themselves building AI?
Microsoft UK & Ireland’s ‘Beyond the Badge’ series spotlights extraordinary people within Microsoft who go beyond the day job and achieve amazing things. Here we celebrate Rakhi Sachdeva, who’s making it her mission to encourage more young women into technology careers.
When Rakhi Sachdeva took to the stage at Next Tech Fest, a networking event designed to connect young women with careers in technology, she asked the 300-plus women in the room to “stand up, close your eyes and picture the people who build the AI tools you use every day.”
Then she revealed two images – one of a man in a suit and one of a man in a hoodie and jeans – and asked those who had imagined someone similar to take a seat.
Almost the entire room sat down.
The exercise exposed something many of the attendees had never consciously considered: even though they were young women interested in technology, they didn’t identify themselves as typical AI professionals.
“If people don’t see themselves represented, they can struggle to imagine a future for themselves in the industry,” says Sachdeva. “That’s something we need to challenge.”
That message obviously resonated with attendees.
Speaking to Sachdeva after the session, Emmanuella Erikume, an aspiring network engineer, said: “I’m honestly a little embarrassed that during the starter activity I didn’t immediately picture someone like you or me in that position.
“I’m so used to seeing men represented in the field.”
Shaped by curiosity
Sachdeva’s own career path helps explain why the issue matters to her.
After moving from India to the UK, she faced the uncertainty of starting over in a new country.
“I came with a suitcase full of Indian clothes, bright, colourful ones, because I’d just got married,” she recalls. “I landed and instantly felt like I didn’t belong.”
Curiosity, she says, became her guide.
She began working in a call centre before discovering opportunities in technology. Over time, that curiosity helped her build a career in the sector.
Today, as Microsoft’s UK AI Workforce Strategy Lead – Central Government, she uses her experience to encourage others to see possibilities they may not have considered for themselves.
No code? No problem!
One of the strongest messages from her talk challenged another common misconception: that careers in AI are only for software developers.
“Designers. Storytellers. Researchers. The people who keep things fair. Project leads,” she says. “These roles aren’t building AI line by line, but they put us in the room where AI is built, so we can question it and make sure it’s built for everyone.”
That message landed with many in the audience.
Maneek Kaur Bhasin, who recently completed a degree apprenticeship in Leadership and Business Management, said hearing about alternative routes into technology was particularly valuable as she explored opportunities in sales and customer success.
Student Amnah Memon said the session changed her perception of what a technology career could look like.
“I never even knew it was possible to get into the tech space without knowing how to code,” she told Sachdeva. “Learning from your experience inspired me to attend my first ever hackathon.”
‘Incredibly inspiring’
The impact extended beyond students, with organisers and professionals agreeing on the thought-provoking talk.
Emma MacGregor, a community manager attending the event, said: “When I was younger, I didn’t have these opportunities. I now realise how important it is to be here to help each other. I messaged my friend during Rakhi’s session to say her talk gave me goosebumps.
“Her exercise really rang true for me. I found it incredibly inspiring.”
As the event came to a close, Emily Hall-Strutt, Director at Next Tech Girls, put it simply:
“Sharing such a personal story of how she got here gives the girls a real example of where they could be. The practical, actionable tips she got across in such a short time genuinely challenged the preconceptions in the room.”