What's Wrong With: The Podcast SOUR

Today on the podcast, we have Adio Dinika from the Distributed AI Research (DAIR) Institute—a space for independent, community-rooted AI research, free from Big Tech’s pervasive influence.

Adio Dinika is a Research Fellow at DAIR, focusing on the intersection of AI, labour, and ethics. His work highlights the invaluable contributions of data workers in the Global South, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Adio's research aims to ensure that AI development is guided by principles of social justice and inclusivity, acknowledging the critical roles played by these often overlooked contributors.

Adio's advocacy for an inclusive AI ecosystem is rooted in a commitment to equity and decoloniality, striving to reshape the narrative around AI to be more representative and fair. His efforts underscore the need for a more comprehensive and socially responsible approach to AI, recognizing the intersection of technology, labour, and ethics.

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Today in the episode of What’s Wrong With: The Podcast, we are excited to be talking with Neil Redding, a speaker, author, Innovation Architect and Near Futurist!

As Founder & CEO of Redding Futures, Neil has led teams and served as an advisor at multiple spatial computing startups, including Auki Labs, Bitreel, and Friends With Holograms, among a range of other clients. Prior to Redding Futures, Neil led innovation at Mediacom, Gensler, and ThoughtWorks. A computer scientist by training, he has also delivered for dozens of clients, including Visa, Nike, NBA, TED, The Economist, MoMA, Apple, and Oracle. In addition to consulting with clients worldwide, Neil is a frequent keynote speaker and has presented at conferences like SXSW, Building the Future, AWE, and Immerse Global Summit.

SOUR hosted a dynamic panel discussion exploring the complexities and challenges of artificial intelligence (AI). Titled “What’s Wrong With AI?”, the event brought together an esteemed group of AI professionals to engage in a diagnostic conversation about the current and future implications of AI technology.

Today in the episode of What’s Wrong With: The Podcast, we are excited to be talking with Emily McGarvey, Director of Sustainability for Room & Board.

Emily McGarvey brings 20 years of experience spearheading social and environmental strategies with a focus on product, supply chain, operations, and branding. Leading sustainability initiatives for Room & Board and Room & Board Business Interiors, the brand’s commercial arm, she is strategically focused on bringing sustainability to the forefront of furniture manufacturing.

Prior to her role with the company, McGarvey served as Director of Corporate Social Responsibility at Target, where she played an integral role in developing the corporation's sustainability program, rolling out enterprise-wide initiatives including the company’s chemical management and transparency policy and their incredibly popular Car Seat Trade-In program. In 2018, she founded Star Impact Consulting, where she provided purpose-driven strategy and branding for both for-profit and nonprofit business sectors such as Apparel Impact Institute.

In today’s episode of What’s Wrong With: The Podcast, we are excited to be talking with equity and inclusion advocate: Manpreet Dhillon!

Manpreet is a certified Personal and Executive Coach, Human Resources Professional, and Internal Auditor who uses her skills and expertise to create strong organizational cultures and provide economic empowerment to equity-deserving groups - among which as Founder and CEO of Veza Global. Her experience in community development, knowledge transfer, project management, and gender mainstreaming sets her apart as an expert in the field.

With over 20 years of experience in leadership, coaching, human resources, and change management, Manpreet focuses on creating systemic change to address institutionalized inequalities through representation from the communities being served. As a settler, born in Canada with parents from India, and someone living with invisible disease, Manpreet is a powerful advocate for others who live with it too.

Manpreet ranked #15 globally on the 2020 EmPower Ethnic Minority Future Leaders list and is a contributing author to Chicken Soup for the Soul, Forbes, Thrive Global, and CHRP People Talk.

She also serves as an Ambassador with the Women's Enterprise Center and was a Business Coach for the Entrepreneurs with Disabilities program. In 2018, she led one of the first trade missions held by a private company, guiding women entrepreneurs to Croatia to further the mission of increasing exports by women entrepreneurs.

Manpreet has held positions as a board member of the Canada India Education Society, liveBIG Society, British Columbia Institute of Technology Alumni Board of Directors, was a past Board Member of Royal Roads University, and has served on various arts and health boards.

Today in the episode of What’s Wrong With: The Podcast, we are excited to be talking with Nzinga Mboup!

Nzinga Biegueng Mboup is a Dakar-based, Senegalese architect who co-founded WOROFILA a practice that specializes in bioclimatic architecture and construction using earth and biomaterials sourced locally. In addition to her architectural practice, Nzinga has worked as a researcher for the African Futures Institute and co-authored two research projects called Habiter Dakar and Dakarmorphose that investigate the problematics of housing, heritage and identity in the city of Dakar. Nzinga has also co-produced the installation Bunt BAN as a participant in Guests from the Future at the Biennale Architettura 2023 and starting in the summer 2023 has been appointed as the curator of the c/o Dakar program of the Canadian Centre for Architecture.