Mara is an Associate Director at McKinsey & Company, where she helps organisations drive AI adoption through human-centred methods. She defines herself as a data-savvy humanist. Her practice spans across AI, data journalism, and design with the overarching objective of finding the strategic intersection between AI models and human intents to implement responsible AI systems that move organisations forward.

Previously, she led the AI Strategy practice at IBM, where she also developed the company’s first-ever data storytelling program. Yet, by background, she is a data journalist. She worked as a data journalist for agencies and newsrooms like Aljazeera. Mara lectured at many universities about how to humanize AI, including the London School of Economics. Her books and writing explore how to weave a humanistic approach into AI development.