Alisha Bose: Leading with Purpose and Making AI More Accessible

Alisha Bose, a student at the University of Washington, is passionate about using technology as a force for inclusion. Alisha envisions a future where emerging technologies are inclusive by design, and she hopes to help build that future by working at the intersection of artificial intelligence and accessibility.

“I would love to work in the field of accessibility when I graduate—specifically, a role where I can work with emerging technologies such as AI and be on the forefront of making it inclusive to all.” She shares.

Finding Break Through Tech

Alisha first learned about Break Through Tech through a LinkedIn post shared by a fellow. While she was curious about machine learning and artificial intelligence, she initially felt unsure whether she had the skills to break into the field. The AI Program offering both foundational learning and real world application, changed that. 

“I was interested in artificial intelligence and machine learning, but didn’t think I had the resources or skillset to pursue those fields. Break Through Tech drew me in because of the opportunity to not only be taught these skills in the summer foundations course, but also apply them in a real-world scenario with a company.”

Gaining Confidence and Growing as a Leader

Through her participation in the AI program, Alisha’s self perception began to shift. Leading her team during the AI studio project challenged her assumptions about what it takes to be a strong leader in tech. 

“I didn’t have to be the smartest or most capable in the room in order to be a good, efficient leader. I found that if I understood my limitations, I could grow through them—I could ask my team for help, and learn along the way. Knowing this now, I won’t hold myself back from leadership roles.”

This experience not only boosted her confidence, but helped her find a sense of direction in her future career. She began to use her voice more publicly in tech spaces as well. One highlight was writing a published feature on leadership in tech for the Society of  Women Engineers, where she explored what it takes to reach the C-suite through interviews with industry leaders, such as Break Through Tech’s founder and CEO, Dr. Judith Spitz. Alisha came away from the experience with a stronger sense of her own potential as a leader and a deeper commitment to creating an inclusive tech industry.

Technical Tools Training

Alisha became more comfortable using tools like Python, Google Colab, and Github, which all once felt intimidating. After her experience in the AI Program, she feels confident applying to roles that require these skills.

During her Challenge Project with Relativity, she and her team investigated bias in generative AI. She describes the project as deeply aligned with her values, “Ethics and inclusivity are really important to me, so I was so excited to work on a project that values this! The field of AI ethics and bias is majorly important as more and more places begin to integrate AI in their systems. Without checks and balances, it runs the risk of really hurting marginalized groups.”

A Vision for the Future

Looking ahead, Alisha hopes to help shift how the tech industry views accessibility. “My hope for the tech industry is for it to become a space where accessibility isn’t a guideline, but a standard that everyone upholds because they see the value in making products inclusive for all. And I’m really excited to start in the workforce and be involved in making this hope a reality!” 

Her advice for future fellows? “Don’t hold yourself back! You hold so much more value than you think, and you can contribute so much to this field. Don’t let the fear of failure or lack of technical knowledge stop you from pursuing something you’re interested in.”

With passion and determination guiding her, Alisha is on her way to becoming exactly the kind of changemaker the tech industry needs. Follow Alisha’s journey on Linkedin and read her feature in SWE.