How Bias Shapes Your Path to Innovation
Turning Unconscious Bias into Growth
Description
Bias is an inherent part of how we think, influencing decisions in ways we often don’t realize. But does bias always hinder innovation, or can it be harnessed to drive progress? In this session, we’ll explore the dual nature of bias—how it can both limit and unlock opportunities for growth and creativity.
Unconscious biases can reinforce traditional perspectives, limit diverse input, and create blind spots in decision-making. For example, bias in hiring processes or product development can result in missed opportunities for innovation and inclusivity. However, when acknowledged and managed effectively, bias can serve as a powerful tool for driving fresh perspectives and meaningful change.
Through interactive discussions and expert insights, we’ll share practical strategies for recognizing and leveraging bias in leadership, teamwork, and business strategy. We’ll explore real-world examples of organizations that have successfully transformed bias into a catalyst for innovation and inclusion.
Join us to gain actionable insights and practical frameworks that will help you navigate bias thoughtfully and strategically—turning it into an opportunity for progress rather than a roadblock to success.
Speaker Bio
Eva is the Chief Product Officer at Vectara, a Silicon Valley startup that enables enterprises to build Generative AI applications faster and safer.
Before Vectara, she was an investor with DNX Ventures, an early stage VC that helps US startups enter the Japan market. At DNX Ventures she drove investments in AI and Enterprise Infrastructure startups, such as: Squadcast, Naya, Roq.ad, Coalesce, Waii, Genesys Computing, Alkemi, Not Diamond, and Anthropic.
Before DNX, Eva spent nine years at Cloudera building products and go-to-market strategies, and helped grow business at scale. Her main product focus there was at distributed search technologies (incl NLP), and innovative end user tools for easier adoption. She also headed up the Executive Advisory Board that included executives from Global 2000 and Fortune 500 organizations around the world.
During her career from engineering to product, she experienced two acquisitions and one IPO, as well as built products from scratch and successfully launched $20-50M business strategies, at small and large companies. In parallel, she has been an active angel investor, an appreciated board member, and served as a startup mentor to the Nordic Innovation House in Silicon Valley.
Eva has a M.Sc. in computer science from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, with a major in AI and autonomous systems. She has also been awarded multiple technical patents throughout her career (Eva Andreasson).
Before Vectara, she was an investor with DNX Ventures, an early stage VC that helps US startups enter the Japan market. At DNX Ventures she drove investments in AI and Enterprise Infrastructure startups, such as: Squadcast, Naya, Roq.ad, Coalesce, Waii, Genesys Computing, Alkemi, Not Diamond, and Anthropic.
Before DNX, Eva spent nine years at Cloudera building products and go-to-market strategies, and helped grow business at scale. Her main product focus there was at distributed search technologies (incl NLP), and innovative end user tools for easier adoption. She also headed up the Executive Advisory Board that included executives from Global 2000 and Fortune 500 organizations around the world.
During her career from engineering to product, she experienced two acquisitions and one IPO, as well as built products from scratch and successfully launched $20-50M business strategies, at small and large companies. In parallel, she has been an active angel investor, an appreciated board member, and served as a startup mentor to the Nordic Innovation House in Silicon Valley.
Eva has a M.Sc. in computer science from the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, with a major in AI and autonomous systems. She has also been awarded multiple technical patents throughout her career (Eva Andreasson).
