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It brings me good luck and hope - both rings are gifts from my mother: the first was given to me when I was 16, bought from an Afghan refugee on the Greek islands, I almost lost it when I jumped off a rock (it fell off my finger from the pressure) and my friend found it (divine intervention).
The other is a recent gift again from my mother, with the stone larimar, or else the Atlantis stone, the national stone of the Dominican Republic, it brings serenity and peace.
Elena founded Data Natives, now Europe’s largest data science and AI community:
2015
Elena
Poughia
Elena Poughia is a force in the realms of AI, data science, and the arts, blending technology and human creativity to shape a more inclusive future. As the Managing Director of Dataconomy, one of the top 10 AI magazines in the world with 1.5 million monthly readers, and the founder of Data Natives, Europe’s largest data science and AI community, Elena is at the forefront of innovation. Her efforts are redefining the intersection of data and human experience, giving rise to a global platform that embraces both cutting-edge technology and cultural diversity.
Born with a passion for creativity and knowledge, Elena’s journey took her from the world of contemporary art, where she collaborated with leading institutions like the Gagosian Gallery and the Venice Biennale, to the dynamic field of technology. Her pivot to tech came with the founding of Data Natives in 2015, a conference that now boasts over 300,000 subscribers and gathers the brightest minds in AI, data science, and beyond.
Elena's work is driven by an unwavering commitment to AI ethics, diversity, and inclusion. She doesn’t shy away from difficult truths about the tech industry's lack of representation. Her brainchild, Data Natives, is more than a conference—it’s a movement designed to push boundaries and foster a deeper understanding of how AI can reflect the richness of human experience. She is also a vocal advocate for data privacy and has served on EU expert groups, advising on AI and tech ethics. Her voice on these subjects resonates at the highest levels of global discourse.
She regularly speaks at major global events such as Web Summit, SXSW, and Tech BBQ, where her insights inspire audiences to rethink AI’s potential. From keynoting for Google, IBM, and SAP to lecturing on AI for business consultants at universities like CBS and Esade, Elena demonstrates the depth of her knowledge and her commitment to educating future leaders in AI.
Her entrepreneurial spirit doesn’t stop at data science. As co-founder of Thousand Faces, a community for female founders and investors, and LALA Art Space, a queer-focused art initiative in Athens, Elena continues to break barriers. These projects are extensions of her core belief that technology, art, and community are not just complementary forces, but necessary allies in creating a more just and creative world.
Despite the global recognition—being named a CNN Woman of the Year in 2020 and profiled by Handelsblatt as an emerging entrepreneur—Elena remains deeply grounded in her mission to transform the tech landscape. She challenges the pursuit of innovation without humanity, insisting that inclusion, ethics, and sustainability are not just buzzwords, but pillars upon which the future of AI must be built.
