Sonya Pleshcheva
The Vibe Coding Researcher: From Data Science to Instant Prototyping
In this fireside chat, Sonya shared her "new addiction" - vibecoding - a revolutionary approach that infuses intuition and creative flow into traditionally rigid technical processes. She showcased how coding with AI has transformed her work across data science projects, startup development, and collaborative innovation.
Her approach demonstrates how large language models can act as a learning catalyst, turning code into a readable and iterative teaching tool. She describes vibe coding as a creative process, not just a technical one — a way to prototype ideas at the speed of thought.
Advocacy & Inclusion
Sonia challenges long-held stereotypes about who can code:
« There’s this kind of pseudo-scientific idea that the world is split between, like, you’re either a literary person or a mathematical person… to be a programmer, you need to be born a certain way. Which is not true. And with all these AI tools, the learning curve is so much more accessible. »
She encourages women and non-technical founders to use AI tools as a bridge into technology rather than a barrier: « There are tools out there for you that can get you started. »
Key Themes:
AI-assisted and AI-automated coding
Human–AI collaboration in learning
Women in technology and accessibility
Creative entrepreneurship with generative AI
Rapid prototyping and innovation practices