64. Stop watching and start building AI. With Sumathi Menon. Women in AI Special Episode.

Most people are consuming AI tools. Far fewer are building with them and that gap is where the real opportunity lies. In this episode, AI strategist Sumathi Menno argues that the biggest barrier to AI adoption isn’t technical skill but hesitation. Through her work advising organisations and leading the nonprofit Women Defining AI, she focuses on turning curiosity into capability, helping professionals move from experimenting with prompts to actually building AI-powered products and solutions.With a background in financial services before moving into AI strategy, Sumathi now works with organisations struggling to translate AI hype into practical implementation. Her approach starts with understanding workflows and identifying targeted use cases rather than forcing AI adoption for its own sake. Alongside this advisory work, she runs hands-on initiatives, including hackathons that bring newcomers together to build AI prototypes for public sector challenges. The goal is simple but powerful: democratise AI creation, bring more women into building the technology, and ensure the next generation of AI systems is shaped by a broader set of voices.AI is our Business.UKAI is the Trade Association for AI businesses across the UK. Join us, ukai.co