Meet Sofie. She’s Head of AI Enablement.

AI for good, AI for growth

There’s a lot of potential in AI. And a lot of talk about the potential. But what we try to do in my team is to empower our colleagues to take the next step and re-think core processes with AI – making AI a part of what we already do, focusing on business value and impact. We identify tech and upskilling/reskilling needs and ensure motivation and buy-in all the way.

I feel a strong sense of responsibility to advocate for the implementation of new, complex, and challenging solutions – like the ones AI offers – because I know it's possible. And because it will, in the end, help more people live their lives to the fullest. This is the reason why I do everything I can to get AI rolling.

Paris is always a good idea

🥖 I'm 110% Francophile. I have been fortunate enough to live and study in Paris and learn the French way of living.

Joining

I never imagined I would join the corporate world

Joining Novo Nordisk was a big step for me. Previously, I had been a self-employed consultant, worked in the advertising industry and later part of a tech start-up, and I wasn’t sure if I had the patience needed to work in a larger company. But when I saw the job posting, I just knew it was for me. I know it sounds like a cliché.  

During the hiring process, my (future) manager promised me that Novo Nordisk could also work more like a start-up. I decided to trust her – and turns out she was right. 

I was hired to lead a team of 9 data scientists working as AI partners across the enterprise. Now 1,5 years later, I’m heading up a different area with a focus on AI Enablement rather than “only” data science – I had not imagined that development in my career to happen so fast in what I thought was a huge, slow-moving company. 

But I have come to appreciate that the upside to size is an organisational structure that makes rapid scaling possible and offers an opportunity to continuously grow.

Work

Less talk, more action

I spend a lot of time talking, writing, learning, and sharing all things AI. And I am not alone. That’s why we have created a thing called the ai.hub, which acts as a one-stop shop for everything AI in Novo Nordisk. We also do an ongoing livestream series, the ai.talks, where we deep dive in AI topics, for all employees to tap into.

Our team has also developed a Data & AI Accelerator Framework. It helps teams and departments identify processes that can harness the power of AI – and provides a clear AI roadmap that is ready for execution. 

As part of this framework, we also do hackathons to test the feasibility of the identified use cases, primarily focusing on data and tech. I am really proud of this work because it emphasizes a human-centric approach that I believe is essential to create real adaptation. And it makes it very tangible what we need to change tomorrow.

Ssshhhh…

🧘‍♀ Twice, I’ve participated in silent retreats, where I refrained from all forms of communication – both verbal and non-verbal. A significant challenge for someone like me, who thrives on constant communication. 

Outside of Novo Nordisk, I enjoy speaking and listening to talks about AI Enablement, which I do and have done in e.g. the Connected Women in AI community. I also enjoy participating in networks around women in tech and women in AI, as there is definitely still room for improvement in this arena, so to say. 

I've finally learned to balance my strong ambition with an even greater desire to spend time with my children while they still want to spend time with me. It helps me remember what truly matters when things get hectic.

Sofie Grue Haumann, Head of AI Enablement

Reflection

Tech for good

I was drawn to tech because of the high pace, the overwhelming opportunities, and the (sometimes also overwhelming) challenges. But from the very beginning, the so-called ‘bigger purpose’ has been what really drives me. 

Tech itself holds little value, but when used to make the world a better place to be, it becomes a powerful tool. To me, that’s crucial. And the reason why I like working with AI in pharma in particular – because everything we do evolves around helping more patients live better lives.