Microsoft and EY are driving a more inclusive AI industry through groundbreaking collaboration. EY’s Neuro-Diverse Center of Excellence and Microsoft’s Azure AI came together in an iterative co-design process to improve accessibility in Azure AI Foundry, driven by a shared inclusive design philosophy. Hear firsthand experiences from developers and discuss how inclusive innovation can lead to a more equitable AI-driven world, allowing developers of all abilities to thrive in the age of AI.
John Franzen
Supervising Associate
John Franzen (he/his) is a supervising associate at EY and has years of experience in technology and programming. He received his bachelor’s degree in applied mathematics from Brigham Young University – Idaho. He has worked for EY for over five years, during which he has worked with several emerging technologies such as RPA, blockchain, and AI and multiple programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, HTML, and Visual Basic for Applications. He was diagnosed with high-functioning autism.
Ailsa Leen
Principal Program Manager
Ailsa is a Principal Program Manager at Microsoft working on Responsible AI with a focus on accessibility and inclusion. Ailsa recognizes the excitement about AI in the accessibility space and is passionate about ensuring this innovation stems from truly inclusive foundations. One example of her work is a co-creation project with developers with disabilities to ensure that Microsoft's Azure AI Studio is accessible, so that everyone can be part of building and using the technology of the future.
David Mondello
Design researcher
David is currently a design researcher within the Cloud & AI organization at Microsoft. Many of his past projects have focused on eliciting the perspectives of people who have not often contributed to product development. He's enthusiastic about identifying and designing ways to preserve the value of professional expertise in human-AI collaboration.
Heather Tartaglia
EY Neuro-Diverse Center of Excellence Implementation Leader
EY Global Neurodiversity Implementation LeaderBackground
• Heather has over two decades of EY experience in project management, automation and innovation, and strategy development.
• She is currently serving as the EY Global Neurodiversity Implementation Leader. In this role, she is responsible for activating and harnessing the power of Neurodiverse talent within the firm and for the benefit of EY's clients.
• Her experience and knowledge in the field have solidified her reputation as a leader and subject matter resource in Neurodiversity and beyond.
• Heather has over two decades of EY experience in project management, automation and innovation, and strategy development.
• She is currently serving as the EY Global Neurodiversity Implementation Leader. In this role, she is responsible for activating and harnessing the power of Neurodiverse talent within the firm and for the benefit of EY's clients.
• Her experience and knowledge in the field have solidified her reputation as a leader and subject matter resource in Neurodiversity and beyond.