Empowering Sustainability Through AI Innovation – Exclusive Interview with Debola Ibiyode
- Brainz Magazine
- Jan 15
- 6 min read
As the global spotlight on sustainability and innovation grows brighter, Debola Ibiyode is redefining how technology can create meaningful impact. She is the Founder and CEO of CarbonAI, a domain-specific AI platform that transforms how the world understands carbon markets, sustainability data, and ESG intelligence. With more than two decades in software engineering and innovation leadership, Debola has built intelligent systems that connect technology with purpose, translating complex data into clear, actionable insight. Recognised as one of Europe’s leading women in technology and innovation, she is committed to demystifying and democratizing AI through education, storytelling, and real-world application.
Before establishing CarbonAI, Debola held senior leadership roles that shaped her reputation as a pioneering technologist and strategist. As Director and Chief Technology Officer at Liquid Accounts, she led the creation of one of the UK’s first cloud-based accounting platforms for SMEs and guided the company to a successful acquisition in 2017. Beyond technology, she is a passionate advocate for STEM education and women in leadership, mentoring girls and young women through Optisource Coding and similar initiatives that inspire the next generation to innovate with confidence and purpose.
Debola Ibiyode, AI Expert and Founder, Coach and Mentor
Your career journey is remarkable. What inspired you to become a technologist, and what continues to drive your passion for innovation today?
If I had to sum up my career in a single phrase, it would be this: building technology is my strength. From the beginning, I have had an instinct for cutting through the noise to see what truly matters and to create technology that solves real problems. What drives me most is the belief that technology is not just about code; it is about people. It is about understanding human needs and then building solutions that make life simpler, smarter, and more sustainable.
Whether empowering accountants, enabling sustainability officers, or teaching young people to code, I see technology as a bridge connecting purpose with possibility.
You have built products across diverse sectors, from education to accounting, and now carbon markets. How have you adapted your skills across these industries?
Adaptability has been the cornerstone of my career. When I was at Liquid Accounts, I was not an accountant, yet I was building accounting software. To understand our users, I bought a copy of Accounting for Dummies and studied how accountants think, work, and make decisions. That experience taught me that building great technology starts with empathy.
Since then, I have applied that same principle across every sector, from education and finance to sustainability. The tools evolve, the industries change, but the approach stays constant: immerse deeply, learn fast, and build with precision and purpose.
How is CarbonAI redefining domain intelligence in sustainability, and what makes your approach stand out?
Many people in AI are chasing the next big model. At CarbonAI, we focus on making AI useful in the real world – particularly in sustainability and carbon markets, where data is complex and fragmented. ESG data, in particular, demands context, integrity, and interpretability. Most solutions stop at “insights”; we go a step further. That’s where we thrive – turning complexity into clarity.
How would you describe your core service in one sentence?
Our focus is building intelligent systems that turn sustainability data into meaningful, human-understandable insights, helping organisations make faster, smarter, and more responsible decisions. That’s the heart of what we do – empowering the CarbonAI platform to become the go-to intelligence partner for sustainability officers and carbon market participants, helping them work more efficiently and productively.
Who is your ideal client, and how do you help them succeed?
Our ideal clients are organisations impacted by the drive to sustainability, the price on carbon, emissions, and reducing dependence on high-carbon supply chains.
What is a common myth in your field that you’d like to debunk?
That AI will somehow fix everything. It won’t. AI is powerful, but it’s only as good as the human intention behind it. The real breakthroughs happen when AI and human expertise work side by side, amplifying each other’s strengths – that’s when innovation becomes sustainable and meaningful.
Another myth is that achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) will automatically solve global challenges or bring world peace. In reality, general intelligence carries a high degree of noise and unpredictability. What we should be striving for instead is Artificial Domain Intelligence – building expert AI agents that specialise deeply in a specific field. These focused systems are far more valuable to human experts than any all-knowing, generalist model could ever be.
Can you share a client success story that illustrates your impact?
We partnered with a global carbon trading firm that needed greater transparency and speed in understanding market data. Together, we built a live carbon-pricing intelligence platform that now powers how they track, compare, and analyse carbon markets – used and trusted by leading exchanges like CME and Bloomberg. Seeing their team make faster, more confident decisions is exactly why we build what we build.
What sets your approach apart from competitors?
For us, AI isn’t just about code – it’s about connection. We combine deep domain expertise with human-centred design, ensuring every system we build is transparent, conversational, and trustworthy. Our clients often tell us it feels like working with a partner, not a platform – and that sense of collaboration and trust is what defines CarbonAI.
What is the first step a prospective client should take when they engage with you?
Dive in! The system is intuitive to use, and clients can begin adding value to their work immediately. From onboarding to first use, our team provides guided support so that users can quickly experience how CarbonAI enhances productivity and insight in their daily workflow.
How do you measure success with your clients?
We measure success by repeat usage and long-term engagement. The more our system becomes part of our clients’ daily operations, the more successful we know we’ve been. Seeing users return, rely on, and expand how they use CarbonAI is our strongest indicator of impact and satisfaction.
How do you stay current with trends in your industry and tech?
Curiosity drives us. We stay close to innovation – researching, experimenting, and collaborating with engineers, scientists, and sustainability experts.
What obstacles do clients often face before working with you, and how do you overcome them?
CarbonAI chatbot/assistance has been evaluated as 7x better compared to known generalist AI versions. With the chatbot, clients experience quick wins and see firsthand how responsible, domain-specific AI can make their workflows lighter, not heavier. Once they see that transformation, adoption follows naturally.
Being recognised as a global leader in technology and innovation is no small feat. What does that recognition mean to you personally and professionally?
It is incredibly humbling. Recognition is always appreciated, but for me, it is not about the spotlight; it is about the responsibility that comes with it. Each feature or award is a platform to amplify impact rather than celebrate individual success. It reminds me that visibility can inspire others, especially women and young people watching from the sidelines and wondering if there is a place for them in tech.
Professionally, it validates the work our teams have done, from building CarbonAI’s domain-specific systems to advancing ethical-AI discussions and sustainability strategies worldwide. Personally, it strengthens my commitment to demystify AI and to prove that innovation and integrity can, and must, coexist.
The tech industry, and particularly AI, remains male-dominated. How do you navigate your role as a female founder, and what lessons have you learned along the way?
Being a female founder in AI comes with unique challenges. There are moments when you are the only woman in the room, but I have learned that your voice becomes your greatest asset when you use it with purpose. I have never been afraid to stand out, yet I value the power of building bridges, mentoring other women, sharing lessons, and opening doors that once felt closed.
Representation matters. When young girls see women leading in AI, it reshapes what they believe is possible. That is why I speak often about women in leadership and STEM, not as a slogan but as a call to action. This journey has taught me resilience, confidence, and the importance of community. No one builds alone. Every success I have achieved has been grounded in collaboration, shared purpose, and a belief that technology should always serve as a force for good.
What do you want readers to remember, and how can they connect with you?
At CarbonAI, we want readers to remember that AI isn’t about replacing people – it’s about elevating what people can do. When designed with empathy and purpose, AI becomes a force for good – improving productivity, innovation, and sustainability.
To learn more or start a conversation, visit CarbonAI.eco or connect with us on LinkedIn. We welcome collaborations with organisations ready to build a smarter, more transparent, and sustainable future together.
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