Profile: Cal Al-Dhubaib

Meet Cal Al-Dhubaib. CEO of Pandata.

Name: Cal Al-Dhubaib

Job: CEO, Pandata

City: Cleveland

Hometown: Dhahran, Saudi Arabia

Q: What does your organization do?
Pandata helps organizations design and develop AI and machine learning solutions. We work with some incredible institutions like Parker Hannifin, FirstEnergy, Hyland Software, and the Cleveland Museum of Art. Our focus is on helping our clients develop and adopt human-centered machine learning and AI solutions that put privacy and fairness first.

I started Pandata in 2016 after a few years working in public and population health research. It was a time when the title Data Scientist was relatively new. In fact the field was so new that I had the opportunity to become the first data science graduate from Case Western Reserve University (to my father's initial dismay after 7 years & 6 major changes).

Personally I am passionate about growing the data science community in our region that will help organizations based here compete globally and thrive in a digital economy. I'm proud to say that we are now a 10-person team, and growing, that include 3 PhDs and rich backgrounds in everything from law to neuroscience to marketing and manufacturing, all based in Cleveland.

Q: What’s a problem you're working to solve?
AI is rapidly transforming our digital interactions – from hyper personalization to chatbots to quality control in call centers and beyond. Whether you are building it or using software that has AI embedded in it, AI is pervading all facets of our organizations. While these advancements are exciting, there are mounting examples of unintended consequences – from discriminating against female candidates to prioritizing healthcare of white patients over black patients.

AI can unintentionally undermine an organization's strategy to be inclusive, fair, and ethical. These unintended consequences are the result of historical norms, biased datasets, and blackbox models. Not every AI project is as flashy and high risk like self-driving cars or making credit decisions for consumers, but inevitably every AI solution affects humans in some ways.

As we've partnered with organizations to design and develop AI and machine learning solutions, we've come to appreciate the importance of infusing ethics into our processes. Right now we're working to create an approachable framework for designing and adopting ethical AI.

Q: What’s a lesson you’ve learned that's shaped your work?
When I started Pandata five years ago, there were fewer than 150 professionals with the title 'Data Scientist' in Northeast Ohio. Today, a quick search on LinkedIn shows that we have over 600. I've seen organizations from mid to large attempt to attract and hire data scientists from around the country at a premium only to have job openings that linger for months or experience low retention beyond a couple years.

Pandata wasn't going to be viable if we played by the same rules - we decided to invest in a talent pipeline for Jr. Data Scientists whom we train and cultivate. A few of our clients have adopted this model from us as well - not only have we beat the national statistics on retention in the field, but we've cultivated a more diverse organization as a result. As more companies in Northeast Ohio build out data science teams, I think there's wisdom in looking within to cultivate a thriving talent pool of Ohio-based data scientists.

Q: What’s a trend in technology or innovation that doesn’t get enough attention?
Beyond the occasional headlines and some growing interest in the data science community, there aren't a lot of voices advocating for formal measures to design and adopt ethical AI. This makes sense, because many organizations are still early in their journey to adopting AI as part of their growth strategy.

But data scientists alone can't solve this problem, especially when you consider the reality that it is one of the least diverse STEM disciplines. AI is only going to get more advanced, and these issues are only going to grow in complexity. We need leaders from both the private and public sectors as well as community leaders coming to the table to start discussing practical ways that we can get ahead of this.

Q: What’s one moonshot idea that could help make Ohio a world leader in technology and innovation?
By now, we've all encountered the pop-up on websites confirming our rights to share or withhold data on our digital behaviors. GDPR set off a wave of regulation across the world that has led to increased transparency and accountability with respect to the use of personal information.

While this regulation initially created some hurdles for organizations, it offered up new avenues to showcase fairness and transparency as a virtue to differentiate and win consumers over. What if Ohio were to take that to the next level? What if we could become the first state to protect humans from unintended consequences of AI, or better yet reward organizations for the ethical use of AI? It could set off a similar wave of change, incentivizing organizations to change for the better.

Q: What’s a recent book, podcast or news story that you found interesting?
I just finished reading "Outrageous Empowerment" by Ron Levit - it gives a perfect roadmap on how to build a culture-first organization. Instead of focusing on policies and traditional people management, it encourages cultivating shared values and coaching over management. I can attest from experience that building a culture-first organization is hard work, but the dividends of an engaged team showing up in full-force with all their passion is a worthwhile result.

Q: What's your favorite place in Ohio?
The Cleveland Museum of Art is one of our local gems - world class art that spans from the ancient world to contemporary, unique dining experiences, and a monthly evening mixer, in a spectacular building. Did I mention it's free? What's not to love!

Q: What makes Ohio special to you?
I came here from Saudi Arabia for my education (thank you CWRU!) but stayed for the people. My mother is originally from Cleveland and I have family in the area including my sister and brother, two nieces and seven nephews!

Beyond my immediate family here, none of whom work in tech, I had no pre-existing ties to the region. I am so grateful for organizations like Jumpstart who quickly helped me build a network of mentors and thought leaders. Without these mentors, I wouldn't be here today and certainly wouldn't have been able to build and grow an organization like Pandata. In all my travels, I've yet to encounter a community as welcoming and supportive as the people here.

Connect with Cal on LinkedIn.