Women in Tech: At the forefront of innovation - Key takeaways from Dana Ghosn, Typeless

We are delighted to profile our Women in Tech series, where we will hear interesting stories from inspirational people leading the charge at the forefront of innovation.

In episode 9, we hear from Dana Ghosn, AI Program Senior Lead at Doctolib - the fastest growing e-health service in Europe, which acquired Dana’s startup Typeless, a cutting-edge software company focused on improving medical care through Natural Language Processing and Artificial Intelligence. Please note this podcast was recorded in 2024, prior to the acquisition.

Interviewed by Cecilia Lahaye, International Employment Counsel in our Brussels office, Dana shares her insights on the evolution of the tech space in Switzerland and how it’s shaping the future of medical tech, the broader role of AI in healthcare, and the changing landscape for women in tech. Listen to the podcast here and read the key takeaways below.

• AI is solving healthcare's documentation crisis: Dana explains how medical documentation in hospitals and clinics is critically disjointed, and impacts billing systems and patient care. Healthcare professionals spend two to three hours per day on documentation, time that could be better spent with patients. Typeless addresses this through AI-powered medical transcription, classification by ontology, and document generation, optimising the entire medical data acquisition and processing workflow.
• The power of interdisciplinary teams and collaboration: Dana's journey from mechanical engineering at EPFL to energy specialisation at ETH Zurich, and eventually to AI in healthcare, demonstrates how diverse backgrounds drive innovation. Her transition into AI came through meeting researchers in natural language processing, proving that "a great team makes a great project." This collaborative approach brings fresh perspectives to complex technical challenges.
• Women's analytical strengths require balance: When discussing women in AI, Dana offers nuanced insights about analytical mindsets: whilst women tend to be more problem-focused due to their analytical nature, she cautions against becoming too absorbed in problems rather than being solution-driven when launching a business. She emphasises the importance of continuous learning and staying curious, investing time in podcasts and books even when the immediate utility isn't apparent.
• The regulatory gap between AI innovation and public policy: Dana identifies a critical disconnect, noting that "AI is really a bubble separated from all the public institutions, European institutions, and the politics in general." She advocates for better collaboration to balance regulation with innovation, as data regulation can significantly impact startup growth. Switzerland's more open approach to data sharing has enabled Typeless to test and innovate more effectively than in other European markets.
• Switzerland's supportive AI ecosystem: The choice to base Typeless in Switzerland reflects the country's unique advantages for AI startups. Dana highlights the strong network provided by institutions like EPFL and EDIAP, combined with Switzerland's excellent medical domain expertise. This ecosystem demonstrates how location can be crucial for startups requiring both technical research support and industry collaboration.
• Practical advice for AI entrepreneurs: Dana offers specific guidance for aspiring AI leaders: find your niche by balancing personalised client approaches with scalable products, be proactive in learning everything independently, stay solution-focused rather than problem-focused, and invest in continuous education through podcasts and books. Most importantly, she emphasises that "the team is so important" - learning to work effectively in teams is crucial for success in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.