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Artificial intelligence is transforming industries, workforces, and the very way organisations operate. Yet, alongside technological breakthroughs, questions of ethics, leadership, and inclusion have never been more urgent. Investors, founders, and business leaders now face the challenge of marrying cutting-edge innovation with human-centric values, creating organisations that can thrive sustainably in the age of AI.In this exclusive interview with ETHRWorld EMEA, Ryta Zasiekina, engineer, founder, and angel investor, discusses how innovation, investment, and people strategy intersect to create sustainable, human-centric AI organisations.From engineer to investor: A journey shaping leadershipRyta Zasiekina has worn many hats: engineer, founder, and now angel investor. Each chapter of her career has left a distinct imprint on how she leads and evaluates teams.’As an engineer, I learned the value of precision, problem-solving, and building scalable systems. As a founder, I discovered that vision alone isn’t enough; inspiring people, building trust, and fostering resilience are equally crucial. Today, as an investor, I look not just at a product or market, but at the team behind it: how they collaborate, adapt, and stay true to their purpose’, Ryta explains.Her leadership style combines analytical rigour with empathy. When backing founders, she seeks the same balance: technical strength, emotional intelligence, and a commitment to building inclusive cultures. “These qualities create not just successful companies, but enduring ones,” she says.Core values guiding decisionsFor Ryta, decision-making as a leader and investor revolves around three principles: resilience, integrity, and impact. Experiences navigating geopolitical upheaval instilled resilience, while a career in AI reinforced the importance of integrity — innovation without responsibility can do more harm than good. As an investor, she prioritises ventures that combine ambition with purpose and create value beyond financial returns.
