Bolor (Obuna) Battsengel

Founder, AI Academy Asia

Bolor (Obuna) Battsengel, a trailblazing force in Mongolia's digital revolution.

Mongolia, a country in East Asia between Russia and China, is historically known for the vast Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan and its nomadic traditions. Today, the country has a mining-driven economy rich in coal, copper, gold, and rare earth minerals.

(I visited Mongolia with my Dad and family a few years ago and it’s beautiful ♥️).

Battsengel was born in Mongolia’s countryside, moved to the capital city of Ulaanbaatar at age 10, skipped three grades, and finished high school at 14. She later earned a Master’s in Public Policy from University of Oxford.

Check out here inspiring career highlights after that:

► 2019: At just age 29, Battsengel became Mongolia's youngest Vice Minister and spearheaded the country's digital transformation through "E-Mongolia," digitizing over 180 public services to reach remote populations.

► 2021: Launched Girls Code, which has trained young women from rural areas in coding and STEM skills. The program has produced 120 graduates, with some continuing their studies at Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University of Cambridge.

► 2023: Founded AI Academy Asia with the aim of training 500 teachers to bring AI literacy to rural Mongolian communities.

Through AI Academy Asia, Battsengel is helping rural communities use AI for weather prediction, livestock health management, and economic resilience. This is critical work in a country where extreme winters (or "dzuds") can kill millions of animals by burying pastures under snow or freezing the ground solid, cutting off food supply.

With 30% of Mongolia’s 3.5M inhabitants still nomadic herders, Battsengel’s work is ensuring they aren’t left behind in the AI era. Her innovative approach to bridging traditional practices with modern technology has earned her recognition as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader.

Here’s what I loved from a recent interview with her: "I hail from a herding community, and I still possess 300 sheep," says Battsengel. How cool is that? Battsengel may be working in cutting-edge AI but she stays authentic and deeply connected to her nomadic heritage.