Q&A with Ida Riis Jensen: On AI Agents, Ambition, and Finding Her Place at ADC

Ida Riis Jensen, Senior Consultant at ADC, studied Mathematics and Technology at the Technical University of Denmark, specialising in deep learning. After gaining hands-on experience as a data scientist, she realised she wanted to get closer to the people behind the problems to not only build solutions, but also shape them.

At ADC, she found the perfect balance: combining technical depth with close client collaboration. In this Q&A, Ida shares how she’s grown her skills, what excites her about AI’s future, and why being a curious “social nerd” fits right in at ADC.

 

What has your career growth within ADC looked like?

When I first joined, I was in a more junior role since I didn’t have any consulting experience. I was hired to be a specialist within AI and engineering, and right from the beginning I was placed on very technical projects like implementing mail routing solutions using AI models. At that point, my focus was mainly on technical implementation and building the solution.

But not long after I started, things changed quite a bit. I began taking on more ownership, like running demos for clients. Now, I’m also involved in sales meetings and drafting proposals as the technical expert in the room. That shift gave me more confidence and helped me grow beyond just writing code.

Over the past two years, I’ve developed not only technically, but also as a consultant. I’ve had the chance to present ideas, prototype solutions, and take the lead in discussions. And here in the Denmark office, I’ve become the go-to person for AI questions!

Can you share a project where you felt your work had a significant impact and what was that experience like?

One of my favourite ADC Collective Principles is committing to projects that truly matter for our client, where our expertise can spark real positive change. One early project still stands out: we helped a client automate their mail routing process after their previous AI model failed and caused more frustration than support.

We built a much better-performing model and worked closely with the client’s team, essentially forming one combined “super” team. The end-users were genuinely happy and said that it made them have more trust in AI.

What stuck with me most was seeing one of their junior data scientists grow so much during the project. He gained confidence, improved his technical skills, and became more vocal in discussions. For me, that kind of knowledge-sharing and empowerment is just as rewarding as solving the technical challenge.

How does ADC’s “committing to projects that truly matter” principle influence how you approach your work?

It really shapes how I think about our work. It’s not only about building a technical solution, but also asking deeper questions like: what problem are we actually solving? And how can we help in a meaningful way, not just for the business, but for the people working there?

Sometimes that means gently challenging the client to get to the core of the issue, because real impact only comes when we truly understand what needs to change. We also try to make their work easier, not just through automation, but by making sure the solutions are understandable, maintainable, and support their growth.

If a client’s team needs upskilling, we support that too. It makes me proud when we leave a client not only with a good product, but also with new skills and more confidence. That kind of human impact really matters to me.

How does ADC support your personal development?

ADC really invests in personal growth. I’ve had a mentor who was technically stronger than me, which helped a lot since that is where I wanted to improve. I’ve also had chances to attend AI events and stay updated on the latest developments.

We’re encouraged to set personal goals and regularly check in on them with our managers. Early on, one of my goals was improving public speaking (which I don’t enjoy) but my mentor and manager supported me with opportunities to practice. I still don’t love it, but I’m much less nervous now.

I’ve also learned a lot from our feedback sessions. It’s been so valuable to get advice from experienced colleagues, and I really appreciate that ADC cares about my development both technically and personally.

Can you share a few examples of the public speaking opportunities?

One example is our monthly Copenhagen Day, where people are encouraged to go on stage and present their current client projects. It’s a nice challenge because you have to explain your work clearly to a broad audience, including those who aren’t very technical.

My mentor signed me up for that, which was the perfect first step in a supportive setting. After that, I was encouraged to lead demo sessions for end-users and stakeholders, which helped me practice in real client environments. Now we’re looking for an external event where I can speak. Even though I haven’t found the right one yet, I’ve had a lot of support and encouragement from the team.

How would you describe the company culture at ADC?

The culture at ADC is incredibly collaborative and supportive. It’s so clear that everyone genuinely wants to see each other succeed, whether it’s on a project, preparing for a presentation, or facing a new challenge with a client, there is always someone ready to help or cheer you on.

We’re great at lifting each other up and sharing knowledge, and there’s a real sense of celebration when someone achieves something. That spirit of encouragement isn’t something I’ve seen in other consultancies. On top of that, we have plenty of social activities and team events that help build strong connections.

I’ve even made real friendships here. I got married last weekend, and one of my colleagues showed up at the church – she was just so happy for me. It meant so much to me. Knowing I get to work with people like that every day is really special and, I think, one of the things that sets ADC apart.

What excites you about the future of AI?

Honestly, I could talk about this for hours. What excites me most is how AI is becoming the main driver of transformation, not just internally at ADC, but for our clients too. We’re constantly working to stay ahead, exploring the latest models and advancements, and figuring out how to apply them to real, complex problems.

It’s mind-blowing what AI can already do, how it can learn from data and solve problems in ways that feel almost human. I can’t help but smile when I talk about it. The pace of development is incredible, and the possibilities really feel limitless. What is even better is that AI transformation is part of our core strategy at ADC, which aligns perfectly with my own goal of becoming an expert in building and applying AI. I truly believe it is going to change the way we work by putting more focus on people and how we can help them.

Do you have a dream AI project you would love to work on?

Actually, I think I’m already working on it! Back in December, I said my dream project would be to work with a multi-agent system that could outperform a human team, and that’s exactly what I’m doing now. At my current client, we have over 50 AI agents running in production. It’s so exciting to work with agentic AI that can make decisions and take actions on your behalf.

One idea I find especially cool is connecting two companies’ AI agents so they can communicate and collaborate without humans in the loop – like a full team of AI agents working across organisations. I’m starting to explore that space more now.

What I also love is learning what it really takes to get AI used in day-to-day work. For example, I built a dedicated team of agents that can generate code, run it, and produce graphs for scientists in 30 seconds. That same task would usually take them around eight hours. It’s amazing to see that kind of real impact and transformation in action.

If you were to give advice to someone starting their career at ADC or looking to apply to work here, what would it be?

Show your passion for data and AI and don’t hold back on being a bit nerdy! We’re social nerds here, and we genuinely love what we do. It’s very motivating to work with people who are curious and excited, especially about AI, since that’s our focus as a consultancy. So, lean into it. It’s cool to be a nerd here.

If you’re passionate about learning, building smart solutions, and being creative with technology, you’ll feel at home. Also, another thing that really sets ADC apart is the work-life balance. There is a lot of trust and flexibility from the leadership, and while people here are ambitious, it’s also completely okay to take time to recharge and set boundaries. That balance is something I find refreshing.

Would you like to know more?

Feel free to reach out to us for more information by contacting our recruitment team at recruitment@adc-consulting.com or checking our contact page.