Championing Equality

A Lower Sixth student was invited to share her views on feminism in the digital age with Microsoft’s global senior management.

Molly originally wrote a speech about gender bias in AI for a public speaking competition when she was doing her GCSEs, before developing it to deliver at last summer’s end of year event, South Hampstead Wrapped. A parent in the audience was so struck by the power of her message that he invited her to speak at his workplace and to share her views with Microsoft’s healthcare AI senior product managers. “I was extremely impressed by Molly’s speech. The themes she expounded upon – the place of technology, the male assumptions that get built into products, and the importance of changing this – are topics that Microsoft colleagues are passionate about; we know we have a lot to learn, especially from the next generation.” 

Molly, now in the Sixth Form, delivered her speech on a Teams call before taking questions from Microsoft team members based all across the world, who praised her cogent arguments, thoughtful insights, sharp challenges, and eloquence. She even followed up with some ideas and recommendations on how to make AI more inclusive and ethical.

“Being invited to express my views with employees at such an influential multinational felt a little surreal. I’m used to sharing my opinions amongst fellow debaters, so to have a platform like this was an incredible outcome and a genuine opportunity to effect change. I’ve been at South Hampstead since the age of four and have always been encouraged to stand up for what I believe in. There is a pervasive culture of discussion and debate; classes are very discursive, and teachers always cultivate deeper level critical thinking through their knowledge and enthusiasm. Amongst the students, there’s a real excitement to learn from each other and a willingness to listen and respond to ideas.” 

Passionate about empowering girls to combat inequality in the digital space, Molly has also written a blog post about the disproportionate threat of AI and deepfakes on women and has even quizzed PM Keir Starmer on the topic at a recent political event she attended. Molly discovered her enjoyment for public speaking in the Junior School and recalls entering her first debate contest in Year 7 – and losing every motion! Now an accomplished debater, who was on the training squad for Team England last year, she is currently taking A Levels in Economics, English, History and Politics and is keen to pursue her interest in the ethics of technology in the future.