The Role of Women in Programming

My recent research, which examines the adoption of emerging technologies through a gender lens, illuminates continued disparities in women's experiences with Generative AI. Day after day we continue to hear about the ways GenAI will change how we work, the types of jobs that will be needed, and how it will enhance our productivity, but are these benefits equally accessible to everyone? My research suggests otherwise, particularly for women. 🕰️ The Time Crunch: Women, especially those juggling careers with care responsibilities, are facing a significant time deficit. Across the globe women spend up to twice as much time as men on care and household duties, resulting in women not having the luxury of time to upskill in GenAI technologies. This "second shift" at home is increasing an already wide divide. 💻 Tech Access Gap: Beyond time constraints, many women face limited access to the necessary technology to engage with GenAI effectively. This isn't just about owning a computer - it's about having consistent, uninterrupted access to high-speed internet and up-to-date hardware capable of running advanced AI tools. According to the GSMA, women in low- and middle-income countries are 20% less likely than men to own a smartphone and 49% less likely to use mobile internet. 🚀 Career Advancement Hurdles: The combination of time poverty and tech access limitations is creating a perfect storm. As GenAI skills become increasingly expected in the workplace, women risk falling further behind in career advancement opportunities and pay. This is especially an issue in tech-related fields and leadership positions. Women account for only about 25% of engineers working in AI, and less than 20% of speakers at AI conferences are women. 🔍 Applying a Gender Lens: By viewing this issue through a gender lens, we can see that the rapid advancement of GenAI threatens to exacerbate existing inequalities. It's not enough to create powerful AI tools; we must ensure equitable access and opportunity to leverage these tools. 📈 Moving Forward: To address this growing divide, we need targeted interventions: Flexible, asynchronous training programs that accommodate varied schedules Initiatives to improve tech access in underserved communities. Workplace policies that recognize and support employees with caregiving responsibilities. Mentorship programs specifically designed to support women in acquiring GenAI skills. There is great potential with GenAI, but also risk of leaving half our workforce behind. It's time for tech companies, employers, and policymakers to recognize and address these gender-specific barriers. Please share initiatives or ideas you have for making GenAI more inclusive and accessible for everyone. #GenderEquity #GenAI #WomenInTech #InclusiveAI #WorkplaceEquality

AI Development Needs More Women. Here’s What Leaders Can Do About It: “The gender gap in generative AI isn’t just about who uses the tools—it’s also about who builds them. AI developers make crucial decisions—designing models, selecting training data, determining data usage, developing testing protocols—that affect AI’s accountability, accuracy, and societal impact. Just 31% of AI professionals are women, according to a 2024 LinkedIn analysis. In areas such as algorithm development, machine learning and text mining, the representation gap is even wider. The gender gap in AI expertise also plagues AI research: all-male teams author 75% of scientific publications. This is according to an analysis by the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts in the U.K. of over 74,000 AI-related scientific articles in fields like physics, math, computer science and engineering. Yet, women do prioritize responsible AI values according to a study conducted by Harvard doctoral degree candidate Zana Buçinca and Bauhaus University Professor Maurice Jakesch, among other coauthors, surveying 743 individuals from the general U.S. population, 755 crowd workers, and 175 AI practitioners. The survey was conducted in collaboration with researchers from Cornell University and Microsoft Research as well. Together, they found that women were 4-5 % more likely than men to rate AI values like privacy, safety, accountability, fairness and human autonomy as very or extremely important. Here’s how increasing gender diversity in AI development teams could ensure more accountable, accurate and socially responsible AI technologies—and how leaders can increase the representation of women in their AI teams: https://lnkd.in/esBfxPXf ✍️ Article by Corinne Post #WomenInSTEM #GirlsInSTEM #STEMGems #GiveGirlsRoleModels

Some studies suggest women are less likely than men to have basic digital skills, but that’s only part of the story. In fact, our Deloitte research found that women with hands-on experience with technologies like GenAI are not just closing gaps—they’re leading and shaping the future of work.    A recent Financial Times article (https://deloi.tt/4ekB15k) by Isabel Berwick cites our report and paints an interesting picture – women are behind men in adopting GenAI for their roles, but are beginning to catch up with their male counterparts in experimenting with this emerging tech.     The biggest remaining gap? Trust. While women are closing in on adoption and usage, our research found that women tend to be at least 10% more concerned with how their data is being stored and used than their male counterparts. As AI literacy becomes increasingly central to the future of work, staying ahead of AI trends is essential to stay competitive. As more women experiment with AI, we become better equipped to lead integrations within our current organizations and identify new opportunities that align with the technology itself. 

🤷♀️ I have never viewed being a woman in technology as a disadvantage, but it does come with its own unique challenges. I was honored to share some of my insights and experiences with MorningLaziness, discussing how I have navigated and found success in the tech world, especially within AI. Here’s a glimpse of what we covered: 👊 Breaking Barriers as a Woman in AI Navigating the tech industry as a woman, particularly in AI where leadership is often male-dominated, presents distinct challenges. I overcame stereotypes by embracing curiosity and committing to continuous learning. I believe that performance and results speak louder than background or gender. Transparent communication and support from strong networks of women leaders have been essential in building confidence in my voice and vision. Advice for Women Entrepreneurs in AI 🦉 My advice to women entering AI or emerging technologies is to trust your intuition and stay curious. Focus deeply on solving one problem rather than spreading yourself too thin. Surround yourself with people who support your bold ideas and encourage you to speak up. Full article below 👇

🚀 Breaking Barriers: Women Navigating Careers in AI & Tech 🚀 The job market is evolving at lightning speed, and AI is reshaping opportunities for women in profound ways. But with these changes come new challenges—biases in recruitment, shifting job demands, and the need for specialized skills. In the latest Cybele Health Podcast episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Natalia Bielczyk, PhD, a Computational Neuroscientist turned Career Strategist and creator of the Ontology of Value® Test, an AI-powered assessment that helps professionals discover their competitive edge. 💡 Key insights from our conversation: ✅ How cognitive biases impact women in AI-era recruitment—and how to overcome them ✅ The rise (and risks) of so-called "lazy-girl" jobs in an AI-driven market ✅ The most valuable skills & qualifications for staying competitive in tech ✅ How networking can help bypass flawed hiring algorithms ✅ AI tools that boost productivity and help women showcase their strengths ✅ Personal lessons from Natalia’s journey as a woman navigating IT and AI As AI transforms industries, how can women position themselves for success? Natalia shares actionable strategies to build resilience, leverage AI, and carve out fulfilling careers in tech. 🎧 Tune in now! 👉 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gergpZ_Z Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gkB7Q2vS Apple Podcast: https://lnkd.in/gCRvBEgK Let’s continue the conversation! What challenges do you see for women in AI and tech? How are you adapting? Drop your thoughts in the comments! 👇 #WomenInTech #AI #CareerGrowth #CybeleHealth #AIJobs #TechCareers #WomenInAI #Networking #FutureOfWork