Our people
07 November 2024
Macquarie’s new GenAI tool, Macquarie AI Chat, is enhancing people’s roles and transforming the future of work in a myriad of ways. Two people integral to its rollout across the Group are Service Designer Zoe Ellis in Sydney and Data and AI Senior Manager Jamie Hannen in New York.
Zoe Ellis, who began her career as a fashion designer, and Jamie Hannen, who started as a professional dancer, both chose to reskill and pivot to new careers in service design and data. They are now part of the Digital team within Macquarie’s Corporate Operations Group (COG) and play an integral role in the deployment of Macquarie’s new GenAI tool, Macquarie AI Chat, and in the upskilling of our people to effectively use AI in their roles.
Zoe Ellis completed a Bachelor of Design, majoring in Fashion and Textiles, enjoying a decade-long career in fashion that saw her work for prominent brands in Sydney and New York and establish her own label.
During the pandemic, Zoe decided to leverage her skills to pivot industries. She reskilled and, in 2022, joined Macquarie as a Service Designer.
“Working in fashion, you do a lot of problem-solving and interact closely with people, which aligns with the practice of service design,” Zoe explains.
“Service Design acts as a sibling discipline to Product Design, focusing on ensuring that our employees – our customers in this context – receive a seamless experience from the initial interaction to the underlying processes and support mechanisms that facilitate these experiences.”
Zoe uses her expertise to help deliver enterprise projects across Macquarie. In 2023, she expressed interest in working on new everyday AI projects. As someone who transformed her career path, she was excited by the prospect of opening up people’s minds to something new.
“AI is transforming ways of working,” Zoe says. “I was interested in being part of the team that’s exploring what’s possible for Macquarie with AI.”
Just a year ago, most companies were wondering how to safely bring AI tools into an enterprise setting. Now, every person here has access to Macquarie AI Chat, and we’re exploring what’s next.”
Macquarie AI Chat is a general-purpose generative AI (GenAI) chat tool available to all employees and forms a central part of the Group’s approach to making GenAI capabilities available to employees in a way that balances maximising opportunity with robust risk management.
As part of a global team, Zoe helped shape the rollout strategy for the tool and now works directly with users on upskilling to enable them to make maximum use of the technology.
The team highlights the benefits and capabilities of the tool through a range of initiatives, from pop up ‘Ask me anything’ sessions and formal training sessions to presentations at team forums.
“We’re helping people unlock the benefits of GenAI for their unique roles and supporting them in developing skills in this area,” Zoe says. “AI is dynamic and evolving, but it’s becoming an increasingly important skill for our people.”
Zoe encourages Macquarie’s people to see GenAI as an accelerated starting point and a way to think more expansively and creatively.
“Macquarie AI Chat enhances creativity and drives efficiency. Our teams can use it as a second set of eyes for their work, to generate technical and creative outputs, to streamline tasks, and explore new avenues in their role. But it’s always important to have a human in the loop”
Zoe says she uses Macquarie AI Chat every day.
“I use it for small tasks such as drafting communications from simple notes,” Zoe explains. “I also use it for larger-scale creative brainstorming to help me break out of my bubble and inspire new ideas.”
She believes projects like GenAI align with Macquarie's culture of innovation and align with its principles of enabling ‘Opportunity’ through encouraging innovation, ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit.
“At Macquarie, everyone is focused on opportunity,” Zoe says. “It’s not hierarchical. Anyone with an idea and a plan to execute it often receives support to realise that idea.”
“It’s a pleasure to work in this environment,” Zoe adds. “Working on Macquarie’s AI Chat is particularly exciting; I’ve contributed to introducing a cutting-edge digital solution now used by over 5,000 colleagues in a typical week.”
Jamie Hannen is the first to admit that he didn’t take a typical path into working in data and AI.
“I studied performing arts and worked as a professional dancer on cruise ships,” he explains. “Later, I spent four years as a flight attendant”.
Finding himself at a crossroads, Jamie was inspired to register for a Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences before carving out a new career in data for financial services. He joined Macquarie in Sydney in 2019 and believes his performing arts background has given him valuable soft skills.
Jamie spent three years working in data quality and data risk and controls with COG Enterprise Data Management before moving to data upskilling with Digital Transformation and Design, now COG Digital.
He expressed interest in transferring to New York in 2023 and soon after took on a role driving enterprise AI adoption from the New York office.
“I’ve really found my space in data and AI, and Macquarie has been a big part of shaping that,” Jamie says. “It’s a very exciting time to be in this field because it's brand new, and there is so much exploration going on”.
The ability to leverage AI tooling is going to become an expected skill. I enjoy seeing the light bulb moment when other people realise it is going to be a game changer for them.”
Jamie is also part of the global team working on the rollout and adoption of Macquarie AI Chat, leading adoption for the northern hemisphere.
“Right now, my role is to open people’s eyes to its capabilities and support our teams with their tailored strategies to drive adoption,” Jamie says.
Jamie notes that roles across Macquarie are diverse, but Macquarie AI Chat has the capability to support people in many ways.
“Every day I get tapped on the shoulder by someone who has found a new use case,” he explains. “We are on a learning curve, exploring a new way of working.”
Before the rollout, Jamie and the team hosted the Macquarie AI Hackathon, which involved over 800 people globally and was acknowledged by an internal award.
“We wanted people to experiment, to open their minds to what’s possible in a safe learning environment where they could have fun and collaborate.”
“We brought together global teams of engineers and non-technical employees to see the possibilities of AI,” Jamie explains. “The event really aligned with Macquarie’s culture of innovation and collaboration.”
Jamie’s enthusiasm for AI and its potential is infectious.
“Personally, AI has transformed my day-to-day working - that’s why I get so excited when I talk about it,” Jamie explains. “I use Macquarie AI Chat to create agendas and communications materials, or to write emails.”
Jamie highlights the fact that Macquarie's GenAI tool protects highly sensitive data, and that data is not used to train the underlying AI model. To reduce risk, anyone using Macquarie AI Chat has to complete an e-learning module.
“Macquarie is exploring AI in a safe way,” Jamie explains. “It's not a race, it's about the journey.”
Jamie recently spoke on a panel about the DEI considerations of working in the AI space.
“I am proud to be part of the LGBTQ+ community,” Jamie says. “We need to watch for bias in AI and use it ethically.”
An example of this is Macquarie’s guidance for candidates on using AI in the recruitment process. Macquarie values the unique perspectives its people bring, and all applications are considered holistically. This means candidates are encouraged to use AI to enhance their application but not as a substitute for their authentic self.
“Diversity is one of Macquarie’s strengths and a point of difference that allows us to be bold and different. It’s one of the many things I like about working here.”
“I can be authentically me and that is embraced at Macquarie.”
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