Olga Ivina is a Delivery Data Science Director at Microsoft, where she leads a team of exceptionally talented data scientists across EMEA. She joined Microsoft from Deloitte Consulting in Germany, where, amongst other things, she helped develop and led the delivery practice for applied AI, helping enterprise clients turn artificial intelligence into working, delivered solutions.

Olga has worked in AI for over 16 years and has taken on many different roles along the way: researcher, project manager, and people manager. Her journey began in applied mathematics and air pollution research, and it evolved into leading international data science teams, giving her an end-to-end view of what makes data science projects actually succeed, from sound methodology to stakeholder communication and delivery discipline.

Olga speaks several languages and firmly believes in the power of communication and human interaction, a conviction that also shapes her approach to hiring and growing data science talent. She holds a Ph.D. in Experimental Sciences and Sustainability, and describes herself as a true nerd, a forever scholar, and a boring bookworm.