Gestoso Consulting: Tech Inclusion Strategist and Coach

15/09/2025

[Webinar Invitation] Ethical AI Leadership: Balancing Innovation, Inclusion & Sustainability

Join me on Wednesday 17th September for a practical, high-value webinar tailored for women leaders committed to harnessing AI’s power confidently, ethically, and sustainably.

You will leave the session with actionable insight into how AI intersects with environmental impact, leadership values, and equity.

Why attend?
• Uncover key barriers women face in using AI.
• Discover the hidden cost of generative AI—from energy consumption to bias.
• Gain practical guidance on how to minimise footprint while harnessing generative AI tools more responsibly.

Date: Wednesday 17th September

Time: 13:00 London | 14:00 Paris | 8:00 New York

Link to register below
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/gwm6XfF4RV-k2oHDrNuuhQ

This is a taster of my program "Women Leading with AI: Master the Tools, Shape the Future", starting on Thursday 25th September (link in the comments)

Step into a practical, high-value webinar tailored for women leaders committed to harnessing AI’s power confidently, ethically, and sustainably. This session delivers actionable insight into how AI intersects with environmental impact, leadership values, and equity. Why attend? • Uncover key bar...

15/02/2025

Stop Undermining Your Message.

Many women in tech have told me that my posts about undermining speech patterns and how to minimise them are very useful but that they’ve missed some.

So, I’ve compiled them in a downloadable checklist so you can have them handy.

Discover seven communication habits blocking your career success and how to neutralise them.

I recommend you don’t try to tackle all of them at once.

Instead, pick one and work on it for a week.

Then, go to the next one.

[SCOOP] As I coach, I can see your brain spinning about the “right one” to choose first… There is no “right one”, pick one and don’t procrastinate anymore.

Discover seven communication habits blocking your career progress and how to neutralise them.

27/10/2024

[Techno-Patriarchy: How AI is Misogyny’s New Clothes

Gender discrimination is baked into artificial intelligence by design and it’s in the interests of tech bros.

In my day job, I support our clients using AI to accelerate the discovery of new drugs and materials. I can see the benefits of this technology to the people and the planet.

But there is a dark side too.

That’s the reason tech
- Disregards women’s needs and experiences when developing AI solutions.
- Deflects its accountability in automating and increasing online harassment
- Purposely reinforces gender stereotypes
- Operationalises menstrual surveillance
- Sabotages women’s businesses and activism

I substantiate each of the points above with real examples and the impact on the lives of women.

Fortunately, not all is doom and gloom.

Because insanity is to do the same thing and expect a different outcome, I also share what we need to start doing differently to develop AI that works for women too.

Gender discrimination is baked into artificial intelligence by design. Tech disregards women's needs, deflects accountability, reinforces stereotypes, automates women's surveillance and censorship.

25/10/2024

[Sam Altman’s vision] The Intelligence Age Or Pluralistic Ignorance

Pluralistic ignorance (also known as a collective illusion) is a phenomenon in which people mistakenly believe that others predominantly hold an opinion different from their own. (Wikipedia) It’s the “posh” definition of “the emperor’s clothes”

Last month, Altman penned the essay “The Intelligence Age” where he shared pearls of wisdom such as

“we will have superintelligence in a few thousand days (!)”

And although LLMs are autocomplete systems on steroids. Sam Altman thinks that he has figured it out

“How did we get to the doorstep of the next leap in prosperity?
In three words: deep learning worked.
In 15 words: deep learning worked, got predictably better with scale, and we dedicated increasing resources to it”
Or maybe not?

“There are a lot of details we still have to figure out, but it’s a mistake to get distracted by any particular challenge. Deep learning works, and we will solve the remaining problems.”

And he warns us that it’s critical to burn down our planetary resources if we don’t want AI to be a tool for rich people (?!?)

“If we want to put AI into the hands of as many people as possible, we need to drive down the cost of compute and make it abundant (which requires lots of energy and chips). If we don’t build enough infrastructure, AI will be a very limited resource that wars get fought over and that becomes mostly a tool for rich people.”

What’s in store for humanity if we go all in with AI?

“Although it will happen incrementally, astounding triumphs – fixing the climate, establishing a space colony, and the discovery of all of physics – will eventually become commonplace. With nearly-limitless intelligence and abundant energy – the ability to generate great ideas, and the ability to make them happen – we can do quite a lot.”

Sam is building a masterful cobweb of generalities mixed with AI hype and FOMO with the hope that, as in the emperor clothes’ tale, we become afraid to say “AI is naked”

Would he succeed?

In the next couple of decades, we will be able to do things that would have seemed like magic to our grandparents.

24/10/2024

[Career Promotion Myth #18] You Have FOBO

Before making a career decision, do you keep waiting until you
- Have all the information?
- Feel 100% sure?
- Be certain that you fulfil all the criteria?

We talk a lot about FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) but one of the real career killers is FOBO - the Fear of Better Options.

What’s the problem with FOBO?
- We keep ourselves from making decisions without realising that not making a decision is ALREADY a decision.
- Perfection is the enemy of progress.
- Often, a good-enough decision made promptly is better than a perfect decision made too late.

But society has taught us that we women are not trustworthy enough to make decisions and that our baseline should be perfection.

The good news is that FOBO can be neutralised by learning to
- Accept imperfect choices
- Unhook from perfectionism

Ready to learn how to embrace imperfect solutions?

I’m a feminist coach for women in tech who want to break the glass ceiling and achieve their dream role.

DM to explore how I can help you get the career you deserve without burnout.

22/10/2024

What if others could use your face for videos supporting dictatorships or illegal activities?

Synthesia, a UK company valued at 1 billion dollars, enables users to create synthetic videos from AI avatars.

How are those AI avatars generated? From human models.

And dictatorships around the world have used AI technology and fake newsreaders to create disinformation videos.

In this video, actor and model Dan Dewhirst explains how he became the unwitting participant in a deepfake video for an authoritarian regime

In an exclusive interview for the Guardian, actor and model Dan Dewhirst explains how he became the unwitting participant in a deepfake video for an authoritarian regime

21/10/2024

[Fundraising for Homelessness] Sleepout Manchester Cathedral Nov 22nd
Do you know the average life expectancy for people experiencing homelessness in the UK? 45 for men and 43 for women.

This is about half of the UK life expectancy for men (82.3 years) and women (85.8 years) in the UK.

That’s why, although I hate camping—no matter how fancy the scenery or how cosy the setting—I’ll leave my comfort zone on Friday, 22 November 2024, and participate in the sleepout at the Manchester Cathedral from 7pm to 6am. The sleepout will raise critical funds to support the work of the Booth Centre, which has been caring for the Manchester community affected by poverty and homelessness for nearly 30 years.

As one of their Trustees, I cannot be prouder of the positive impact of our community centre run with people affected by homelessness.

Do you want to support us? Please go to my fundraising page below.

All donations made go directly towards supporting the fantastic work undertaken by the Booth Centre in supporting our community.



https://www.justgiving.com/page/patricia-gestoso-sleepout-cathedral-2024

19/10/2024

My most-read article this year is about weaponised incompetence. What does that look like?

At home: Your partner claims they are “not good” at household chores so you do them.

At work: You’re praised by how well you do the task, e.g. “You’re naturally good at taking notes during the meetings”.

You’ve been a victim of “weaponised incompetence” ― the act of faking incompetence at any one task (though usually an unpleasant one) to get out of doing it.”

In this article, I share practical strategies for dealing with it and detecting if you’re a perpetrator.

Let's talk about how the sneaky weaponised incompetence hinders women at home and at work and what to do about it.

17/10/2024

[AI for Good] AI tools used to demonstrate court judges use victim-blaming language in domestic abuse

Research by herEthical AI revealed attitude of disbelief and ‘stereotypical assumptions’ about survivors in England and Wales

Examples found through the research include characterising a woman as a “deeply troubled mother with mental health difficulties unrelated to the father’s behaviour”; referring to an attempted strangling as a possible “prank”; or concluding that it was improbable that an “educated professional” would not speak to anyone else while “inappropriate and wrong” sexual relations were happening.

Transcripts included phrases such as “you’re a silly girl” and “you could not have been r***d because you were married to him”.

Research by herEthical AI reveals attitude of disbelief and ‘stereotypical assumptions’ about survivors in England and Wales

16/10/2024

[Patriarchy in Pharma] Weight Loss Drugs Inventor Lotte Bjerre Knudsen

Lotte Bjerre Knudse is regarded as the inventor of the weight loss injections that made Novo Nordisk one of Europe’s most valuable companies. In this interview, she discusses the revolution spawned by the drug and also how much harder it was for her as a woman to get support for her ideas.

Below are some of her pearls of wisdom

“women are probably underestimated and not always sufficiently appreciated “

“I too know the feeling that being a woman is a disadvantage.”

“As a project manager in the 1990s and 2000s, it certainly would have been easier for me as a man.”

“During this time, some people labeled me as too passionate. Men, on the other hand, were described as intelligent, hardworking or ambitious.”

“And even though things have got better, unfortunately, a quirky, nerdy female scientist is still often treated differently than her male colleagues.”

She also is a supporter of quotas but acknowledges that there is no magic bullet

“DER SPIEGEL: Are quotas for women the right way forward?

Knudsen: We have had good experiences with this at Novo Nordisk. Socially, it will take a few more generations to achieve complete equality.”

She was labelled passionate. Me too. I was also labelled as "organised" - whilst men were described as promising and talented.

Danish researcher Lotte Bjerre Knudsen is regarded as the inventor of the weight loss injections that made Novo Nordisk Europe’s most valuable and one of its most-hyped companies. In an interview, she discusses the revolution spawned by the drugs.

15/10/2024

[Celebration] I’ve been nominated for the WomenTech Network Speaker of the Year Award!

What got me the nomination?

My keynote, “Beyond the Offer Letter: Dispelling 7 Myths About the Gender Pay Gap,” at the WomenTech conference, was attended by more than 100 women online! The feedback was amazing—several attendees shared that the keynote had inspired them to talk with their managers about a promotion or a salary increase.

This year, my other talks and speaking engagements shared a focus on

1.- Helping women progress in their careers (e.g., in tech, on boards, negotiating their salaries, presentation skills)
2.- Advocating for inclusive tech for good (AI for charities, AI for innovation, how boards can drive AI adoption)
3.- Or both (deep fakes, effect of AI in the future female work).

Guest on “Deep Fakes and Their Societal Impact” - Privacy, Data and AI Lounge podcast (Oct ‘24).

Workshop “Delivering Presentations that Connect You with Your Audience” - Queen Bee Coaching (Sep ‘24).

Panelist on “Framing Deepfakes: What Influences Public Perception, Policy, and Economic Dynamics?” - Framing Deepfakes online colloquium (Jul ‘24).

Panel chair “Decoding your path to the corporate boardroom” hosted by European Women on Boards (Apr ‘24).

Keynote Forging Your Path: Why Women in Tech Don’t Need Role Models - Venezuelan Women in Tech Mentoring Program (Feb ‘24).

Panelist on “Innovation and Artificial Intelligence” - NGO Whisperer Global Summit (Nov ‘23).

Panel chair “Route to Non-Executive Director: Different path to advance your career” - Institute of Directors and European Women on Boards (Nov ‘23).

Keynote “Debunking Myths About the Low Representation of Women in Tech” - Women on Stage Conference (Nov ‘23).

Panel chair “The Role of Boards in AI Adoption” - Women in Risk and Control Annual Event (Nov ‘23).

Keynote Seven Counterintuitive Secrets to a Thriving Career in Tech - Manchester Tech Festival (Nov ‘23).

Keynote Automated out of work: AI’s impact on the female workforce - Women in Tech Festival (Oct ‘23).

Guest on Do we need a role model? Inspiration or Imitation - I am Mantuana podcast (Oct 2023).

Some testimonials
“Patricia delivered an inspiring speech on AI’s impact on the female workforce. The way she presented was extremely engaging and inspiring, her presentation skills are top-notch. She provided valuable insights into the industry. The impact she has left is lasting 😊” Karolina Olszewska.

“I invited Patrícia for the Closure of the Mentorship program at Venezolanas in Tech. She understood the audience and left the audience inspired and empowered. A top speaker that I would highly recommend” Patricia Manley.

ASK: The awards will be presented on November 11th and you can support my nomination by using the social media buttons on my nomination page below.

WomenTech Network​ is a ​community that promotes ​gender diversity in tech and connects talented and skilled professionals with top companies and leading startups that value diversity, inclusion and strive to create a culture of belonging.

14/10/2024

[My Mission] Help Women Co-Create the Tech We Deserve
99% of our digital tech products suck.
But it doesn’t need to be like that.

Let’s peel the “tech” onion

Tech products are designed by privileged able white men for other men like them. That hasn’t changed in decades. They’re biased. They don’t address systemic issues. They exhaust planetary resources…

What’s worse, with the AI infatuation - the Hype, the Doom, and now 3 Nobel awardees - the greediness and bias have the potential to continue to scale exponentially in the next few years.

But there is a remedy. Diverse tech at the top, with people like you leading change. And I can help you get there if you are a tech woman and if you aren’t.

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵
I work with female tech leaders to break the glass ceiling and help them achieve their dream role.

Through wholistic coaching and mentoring, I empower you to thrive In your tech career with feminist guidance. I’ve helped ambitious women to get
- Transition from academia to a corporate job
- A promotion to people manager during maternity leave
- A 70% salary increase
- Their first board position
- Launch their EdTech business

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗰-𝘀𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗳𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀
I empower female leaders to harness AI's potential for sustainable growth and responsible innovation. No technical background is required.

Through my programs and consulting, executive and non-executive women have gain insights on topics such as
- AI Strategy
- AI Risks
- Operationalising AI
- AI, data, and cybersecurity
- AI and regulation
- Sustainable AI
- Ethical and inclusive AI

That has enabled them to weigh decisions about how to drive AI adoption in their organisations.

Ready to supercharge your career?

DM to discuss how I can help make 2024 the year you transformed your professional life.