Power, Policy, and AI: Building More Inclusive Innovation Systems (S1 E11)

In this episode of Femmegineering:Podcast, Hanna Abdel Hamid is joined by Moa Persdotter, a gender equality expert and innovation strategist at Vinnova, Sweden’s innovation agency. Moa shares how she moved from political science into the innovation ecosystem, why “women in tech” should include more than just coders, and what it takes to embed inclusion into funding and innovation policy. They discuss Vinnova’s programme AI to Promote Gender Equality, with real examples of AI tools designed to detect or counter bias, from fairer venture funding decisions and recruitment to spotting bias in children’s books and meeting dynamics. Moa also reflects on why diverse teams matter because AI reflects the values of its creators, what Sweden gets right (and where challenges remain), and what happens when organisations pull back from DEI. The conversation closes with Moa’s work on the Just Tech Think Tank, her role with the Kofi Annan Foundation’s leadership initiative, and her new chapter in Silicon Valley supporting Nordic deep tech while helping build the Women in Tech Diplomacy Network.