Philosophy graduates working in AI and Data Ethics (Part 1)
An Interview with Alessandra Fassio
Are you studying philosophy and would like to pursue a career outside of academia? Did you ever wonder what a job in AI and Data Ethics looked like and whether it could be for you? I interviewed two philosophy graduates working in AI and Data Ethics to help you answer these questions. The first part of this series is dedicated to Alessandra Fassio, a Senior Data Ethicist at the Ministry of Justice in the UK who kindly agreed to answer a few questions about her profession. Subscribe to our newsletter to be notified when Part 2 is published!
Who is Alessandra?
Alessandra Fassio is a Senior Data Ethicist at the Ministry of Justice, UK Government, the first (and only!) of its kind in her department. She has an MA (Hons) in Philosophy and an MSc in Mind, Language & Embodied Cognition from the University of Edinburgh. During her MSc, she decided to investigate the use of facial recognition technology by UK police forces. “I was particularly interested in how this might impact our right to privacy”, says Alessandra. Her thesis was titled ‘Live Facial Recognition Technology: Privacy Invasion or a Safer Nation? An Examination of the Changing Concept of Privacy in the Digital Age’.
Interview
1. What does a typical day as a Senior Data Ethicist look like?
“What I enjoy most about my role is the variety it brings - no two days are the same!”, Alessandra told Let’s Phi. But there are three main elements to her role:
Developing a data ethics strategy: “As this is a brand new role, I’ve started from a blank slate. Working with various stakeholders and groups across MoJ (Ministry of Justice) and externally, I’m beginning to build and develop our data ethics strategy, working out how this can lean on existing work, learn from other areas, and ultimately be of value to our staff. Strategy and planning take time - so I’ll often try and carve out some time in my day to do some of this big-picture thinking.”
Collaboration with the Alan Turing Institute: “One project I am particularly excited about is the development of our data ethics framework. With the support of the Turing Institute, we are building a bespoke data ethics toolkit specific to the needs of the justice system. We have been working collaboratively to build a repository of practical, valuable tools that can be used across the organisation to support ethical decision-making.”
Ethical advising: “Another core component of my role is as an ethics advisor. I support specific projects across the directorate in a variety of ways, whether this is through providing feedback and advice on specific ethical challenges, facilitating workshops and discussions, or acting as a key stakeholder in more sensitive projects. I really enjoy getting the opportunity to be involved in such a broad portfolio of work and to build the confidence of our teams to identify and mitigate ethical risk in their projects.”
2. Why did you choose to work outside of academia?
Alessandra’s reason to leave the academic world boils down to the drive and passion she has for making a difference in society.
She says: “As cliche as it may sound, I wanted to do something that was going to make a difference, and I didn’t feel like I would achieve that in academia. I wanted to go out into the world and challenge how data and tech were being managed and used, and for me personally, it felt like a more sensible move to do this outside of the academic space. I felt that I would be able to have more diverse opportunities and experiences this way”.
On the subject of how to make the jump and step out of academia, Alessandra says: “I was also feeling a bit demotivated by the academic system and definitely needed a fresh environment for a bit. After working two part-time jobs, doing an internship, studying and trying to balance a social life at the same time, I look back now and realise I was definitely suffering from burnout. Getting myself out of that space was really important at the time - for both my physical and mental health. I think it’s really important to note that it’s totally okay to walk away from academia - for a short break, a long break, or forever! There are still so many ways to use your skills and knowledge to make an impact. If you need a break, take one!”
3. Any transferable knowledge or skills Philosophy gave you?
Alessandra told us that her philosophy degree gave her (at least) five core skills that she utilises every day in her line of work:
Ethical theory knowledge: “My role requires a good understanding of ethical theory and the different ways this can materialise in real-world situations. I use this knowledge pretty much every day!”.
Communication skills: “Being able to consume complex information and distil it into accessible outputs - whether this is blogs, summary documents, strategic plans, etc. It is so important in the workplace, particularly when working across technical and non-technical stakeholder groups or on public-facing work. Philosophy teaches you how to do this very well, and it’s a really valuable skill!”.
Problem-solving skills: “Being able to logically work through a problem, assess the possible options and provide a thorough analysis is something I use all the time at work. Being able to pick an argument/problem/challenge apart and put it back together is something philosophers can do in their sleep”.
The ability to manage and facilitate discussions: “Often during your studies, you’re encouraged to argue for points of view that you may not always agree with. This is really useful when working with large groups of stakeholders on complex projects. It allows you to see the merit and value in others’ opinions and viewpoints and take these on board. It also makes you a great facilitator for things like workshops, large discussions, etc”.
Public speaking skills: “The skills you learn at university from presenting to your peers carry through really well to working life, whether this is presenting at conferences or just leading meetings with your colleagues.”
4. Do you have any advice for philosophy graduates interested in working outside of academia?
Alessandra encourages philosophy students and graduates to not be afraid of asking for feedback. “This could be on applications, after an interview, or even on where to look for opportunities!”.
Moreover, she highlights that there can be value in taking risks. “ It’s okay to try different things whilst you work out what you enjoy and what types of work will be fulfilling. You might not get it right the first time, and that’s totally okay.”
Another important point she emphasises is about valuing your philosophy education. “I think philosophy gets a bad reputation for being soft, vague and useless. Prove people wrong. I’ve made it my mission to show people the value of philosophical training through the actions that I take. Don’t downplay how challenging it is and how useful it can be!”
And finally, don’t forget to keep track of your achievements. “No matter how big or small! Anything you’ve done during your studies can be used as great examples for CVs and interviews. Having a master document you can add to as you go has been so useful for me.”
There you go, Phiers! We hope you enjoyed this blog post/interview with Alessandra. We deeply value her insight and we appreciate her taking the time to chat with us about her non-academic career!
If you enjoyed this interview, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s the first in a series of Career Interviews and Part 1 of the AI and Data Ethics Interviews. Part 2 will be published next week, so keep an eye out for our newsletter posts and subscribe to be notified when they go live.
[This post was written by Mathilde Léon, Writer & Researcher @ Let’s Phi, as well as a valued community member].
Don’t forget to visit Let’s Phi website to see all our upcoming career workshops. You can also find us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.
Best Wishes,
The Let’s Phi Team.
#aiethics #dataethics #ethics #ukgovernment #academia #philosophydegree #employability #careerpath #skills #networking #careerinterview
 | A guest post by
|