Opportunities for women in AI and HPC

Ever notice that just 20-29% of AI leadership roles belong to women? I lived this statistic as one of the only women Solutions Architects at Amazon Alexa, walking into rooms where nobody looked (or sounded) like me. Here’s what happens when women are missing: Our systems lack fresh perspectives. Bias lingers. And the tech that’s supposed to empower us? It leaves voices out. Advice for women aiming for AI leadership: - Build your tribe. Seek mentors who open doors: then hold them for others. - Say yes before you’re “ready” (the secret: nobody’s really ready). - Your voice matters. Challenge assumptions. Share your unique lens on problems. Progress happens when we show up, speak up, and bring change: together. And for everyone else? Let’s make those rooms bigger AND more welcoming. Because better AI needs all of us. #WomenInAI #AIleadership

The AI headlines still tend to feature male CEOs. But when you look one layer deeper, a different and more interesting pattern shows up: many of the roles that turn “AI capability” into actual “AI impact” are being led by women. Take OpenAI as an example. Sam Altman remains CEO, but Fidji Simo leads Applications, the part of the organization responsible for translating cutting-edge research into products people actually use. That same execution layer includes leaders like Sarah Friar and Vijaye Raji, roles that are about making AI real, usable, and durable at scale. You see a similar structure at Anthropic, where Dario Amodei serves as CEO while Daniela Amodei, as President and co-founder, leads day-to-day operations and the commercial engine. Or at Scale AI, where Alexandr Wang is CEO and Lucy Guo was instrumental in building early operations and product design. This is not a “behind the scenes” consolation prize. This is the work. 😎 These are the roles that determine whether AI actually changes anything in the world: productization, operational rigor, safety, adoption, and outcomes. I see this up close in my applications work at University of Oxford, where one of the strongest forces in the room is a woman spearheading both the class and the division because she deeply understands how AI moves from model performance to real-world value. And I see it in much more ordinary places too. My neighbor Cat Ihonvbere, who works quietly in applied technology at JPMorganChase, is constantly translating complex systems into things that actually function for real people. No headlines, no hype, just execution. That is the same muscle being flexed across the AI ecosystem right now. And yet the funding story still lags badly. Even in 2024, female founders’ share of U.S. venture deal value hovered around 19.9 percent, with deal counts continuing to slide. That number remains wildly misaligned with the talent, leadership, and results that are plainly visible if you are paying attention. So here is my ask for 2026. If you are an investor, back women building in AI like you mean it. If you are a CEO, hire and promote women into the roles where products ship and adoption actually happens. If you are an operator, mentor, sponsor, and open doors. The next generation of AI change is already being led. It is time the capital model catches up. I will leave you with a picture in your mind of my favorite little woman, my daughter Valentina. Every morning, she tries on my shirts before I get to wear them, just to make sure they are not too wrinkled. Leadership, it turns out, starts early. ❤️ #WomenInAI #AI #Leadership #HealthTech #Oxford #Startups #VentureCapital

Proud to share that Saudi Arabia ranked #1 for female inclusion in AI. According to Stanford University's AI Index Report 2025, Saudi Arabia now ranks… → 3rd in global AI job growth → 4th in the number of top AI models → And 1st in the world for female inclusion in AI That last one stopped me. While most countries are still talking about women in AI, Saudi has already built the pipeline, and the talent is showing up. Here’s what’s behind this unexpected lead: 1. Women are being trained, not sidelined. Through initiatives like Elevate (with Google Cloud), the goal is to train 25,000 women in cloud and AI by 2028. And these aren’t one-off workshops. These are deep, technical programs backed by KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology), SDAIA | سدايا, Apple, and more. 2. They're entering STEM in real numbers. Today, 59% of computer science students in Saudi universities are women. That's not a slight shift, that's a structural one. 3. There are real role models (not just panels). Women like: > Dr.Fatmah Baothman — the first woman in the Middle East with a PhD in AI > Dr. Latifa Al-Abdulkarim — one of Forbes' "Top Women in AI Ethics" > Deemah AlYahya — who led digital transformation at Microsoft and launched Women Spark to train 26,000+ women These are names you’ll be hearing more often, because they’re not just breaking in, they’re building what's next. 4. It’s not performative. It’s ecosystem-deep. From flexible work policies to women-focused bootcamps to actual funding, this isn’t window dressing. It’s infrastructure. ___ We talk a lot about innovation. But what’s happening in Saudi right now is a reminder that real innovation comes from inclusion. Not by chance, but by design. #AI #WomenInTech #SaudiVision2030

"We urgently need more women building AI technologies, and the fact that women make up less than a third of AI professionals and only 18% of AI researchers globally is a crisis that demands attention. But this isn’t just a pipeline problem; women everywhere need to start using AI tools in their daily lives and work. In AI training programs, women represent just 28% of enrollments worldwide. Studies show women are 16 percentage points less likely than men to use AI tools in the same job. This reluctance creates a dangerous cycle: as women hesitate to adopt these technologies, they fall further behind in both the workplace and a society increasingly shaped by AI.    But this time could be different. The good news? You don't need a computer science degree or corporate backing to start using AI. Many of the tools are free and available to anyone with a computer or smartphone.  Imagine having a mentor available at any hour, offering guidance without judgment. Master new skills at your own pace, free from the weight of imposter syndrome that haunts so many women in male-dominated spaces. This technology could be more than just another tool; it could be the great equalizer we've been fighting for, giving women the support, efficiency, and confidence that the prior systems have consistently failed to provide. We have, at times, had to forge new paths without established role models. This systemic lack of guidance remains a barrier to equality, with women 24% less likely than men to get advice from senior leaders, and for women of color, the gap is even wider, with nearly 60% never having had an informal interaction with a senior leader. With tools like ChatGPT, every woman can now have a mentor in her pocket—one that helps her rehearse difficult conversations and provides the continuous support that was historically only available to those with strong networks. This technology could also be powerful in addressing the confidence gap that has held women back for generations, the self-doubt and internalized societal messages women often carry that undervalue their abilities and discourage risk-taking. Today, we see similar patterns in women's hesitation to adopt AI technologies. But with these tools, it’s possible for women to get feedback on overly apologetic language in their emails, help preparing for salary negotiations, coaching on presentations, and support identifying the achievements they may be underselling on their resumes.  Research shows that when women overcome this initial hesitation, they often outperform their male counterparts. The key differentiator? Not technical skills, but the confidence and a willingness to experiment. Women who ease into using AI—perhaps using generative AI to draft a challenging email or prepare talking points for a meeting—quickly discover how these tools can augment their work and amplify their expertise." Read more 👉 https://lnkd.in/ejEJJjqR #WomenInAI #WomenInSTEM

Women cannot afford to sit this one out. AI is not just “another trend” it is the biggest shift in power, opportunity, and possibility since the internet. And for the first time, the playing field is level. You no longer need to write code to participate you just need to know how to prompt, think creatively, and apply your expertise. Yet right now, only 29% of the AI-skilled workforce are women. After 12+ years in tech recruitment, I’ve seen the gender gap up close and we cannot let that happen with AI. Yes some AI companies will fail. Just like the dot-com era, there will be hype and noise. But there will also be billion-dollar breakthroughs, careers rewritten, and entirely new categories of work created. And the women who step in now will be the ones shaping that future not reacting to it later. My biggest concern is women missing the opportunity to claim the seats, roles, and influence that this moment makes possible. We need more women building, leading, investing, prompting, experimenting, and owning the narrative. A huge thank you to Lisa Teh for joining me on the Career Confidence podcast one of the strongest advocates for women in tech and entrepreneurship. Her new book Get Real is dedicated to helping more women step into business and own their power. So if you’re a woman watching this, this is not the time to “wait and see.” It’s the time to learn, play, test, build, and lead. The future isn’t written yet but whoever shows up now will be the ones writing it. Share this with someone who needs to hear this.

The opportunities and access you have at the very beginning of your career shape everything that comes after. The new McKinsey & Company Women in the Workplace 2025 study highlights a critical challenge for entry-level women in today’s AI-driven workforce: 🔹 Only 21% of entry-level women are encouraged to use AI at work, compared to 33% of men. 🔹 While using AI does increase optimism about career mobility, only 37% of entry-level women believe AI will improve their future. 🔹 The “broken rung” persists: women are still significantly less likely to be promoted into their first management role, and only one-third of entry-level people managers are women. 👋🏾 Look what happens when you are intentional: 🔹 This should come as no surprise. Companies with higher representation of women see faster promotion and better retention. A clear competitive advantage. These data points are alarming; however, they also reveal a tremendous opportunity if companies choose to act with intention: ✨ Actively strengthen the early-career talent pipeline. Across the board, mentorship and sponsorship are not optional. ✨ AI is here to stay. Encouraging early-career women to engage with AI isn’t just a technical skill shift; it’s a confidence shift. As I’ve said before: if you don’t know where to start, start by asking questions. ✨ We need to audit our talent development strategies. Who is Coding Your Future? Innovation cannot come at the cost of equity. If women are not advancing at the same rate as men, their perspectives are missing from the rooms where critical decisions about products, policy, and people are made. At Black Girls Code, we are committed to equipping young women with the skills, community, and confidence to lead in tech and in AI. Let’s keep investing in the next generation of women leaders because equity in the workplace isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do. 💫 🦋

AI is Shaping the Future—Will Women Be Left Behind? I just returned from the Philippines, where 51% of Coursera learners are women—one of the only country where women outnumber men on our platform. An inspiring milestone! But here’s the challenge: 📉 Globally, women are being left behind in AI. A Harvard Business School study found that women are: Less likely to learn AI Less likely to use AI tools Less likely to build AI technologies If we don’t act now, GenAI will widen the gender gap instead of closing it. That’s why we partnered with AI experts like Jules White, Merve Hickok, and Barbara Oakley to create a new playbook: “Closing the Gender Gap in GenAI Skills.” . Women struggle to find time for AI learning → Flexible, AI-powered learning increases completion rates. . Women don’t see AI’s relevance → Real-world applications (healthcare, business, education) drive engagement. . Women lack confidence to advance → Mentorship and structured career paths are key. Download the playbook to access the full insights and solutions: 🔗 Closing the Gender Gap in GenAI Skills : https://lnkd.in/gQ4_j8sU 📸 (Posting this alongside a photo of the incredible women I work with—because representation matters!) How can we make AI learning more inclusive? Let’s discuss in the comments. #GenAI #WomenInAI #DiversityInTech #FutureOfWork

Women and the $8.75B AI-in-Energy Opportunity: The Time to Act is Now The global AI-in-energy market is already worth $8.75 billion and is projected to grow by over 30% annually—reaching an estimated $1.3 trillion by 2030. This transformation holds immense potential—not just for accelerating decarbonization, but for unlocking new pathways for women’s leadership, innovation, and economic participation. And we’re already seeing results. From Cameroon’s Green Girls Organization, which uses AI to bring off-grid solar and biogas solutions to rural communities, to the UAE’s AI-powered ZERO platform, which helps organizations track emissions and decarbonize, women are already leading the way with real-world examples of how inclusive AI can power inclusive energy transitions. Yet today, women still represent only one-third of AI professionals and just 20% of the energy workforce—despite comprising 40% of the global labor force. In fast-growing fields like AI, demand surged eightfold in 2024, but only 28% of learners were women. And while 48% of STEM graduates in the Arab region are women, only 20% participate in the labor market. These gaps represent not a constraint—but a vast, untapped opportunity. There is a clear path forward: 1️⃣ Inclusive Education & Digital Access: Expanding AI- and energy-focused education—particularly for young women—is vital to building a diverse, future-ready workforce. With the AI-energy market projected to grow rapidly, targeted skilling programmes can address the gender gap in AI pathways and unlock underutilized talent. 2️⃣ Inclusive Policy & Gender-Disaggregated Data: Gathering gender-specific data and using it to inform policymaking is essential to ensure women aren’t left behind in the AI-energy transition. Data-driven approaches can expose structural disparities, improve pay equity, and inform inclusive skilling and employment strategies—ensuring the transition mobilizes the full spectrum of available talent and leaves no one behind. 3️⃣ Support for Women-Led Innovation: Fostering women’s participation in AI-energy entrepreneurship is not just about equity—it’s a strategy for accelerating the clean energy transition. As the AI-in-energy market moves toward a $1.3 trillion valuation by 2030, prioritizing investment and support for women-led innovation can drive clean energy adoption while aligning growth with gender equity and sustainable development goals. This is more than a moment—it’s a movement. It’s an opportunity to build inclusive AI-energy ecosystems from the ground up, ensuring that policymaking is no longer blind to the full scope of exclusion. The talent is out there; now we need the policies, investments, and support to make this vision a reality. 📩 To find out more, I invite you to explore the latest edition of the Sustainable Energy Bulletin: 👉 https://lnkd.in/e28kqP-R #WomenInEnergy #AIForDevelopment #CleanEnergy #InclusiveInnovation #DigitalEquity #EnergyForAll #JustTransition

✨𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐈 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚 ✨ India’s AI future is being shaped by brilliant women—curious minds, bold builders, and quiet revolutionaries driving change across sectors. At AI Kiran, our mission is to spotlight these leaders, grow a trusted network, and provide recognition that travels with them—across platforms, communities, and careers. This week's highlights are a masterclass in curiosity, conviction, and courage: ✨ Anjali Singhal 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝑨𝑰 𝒋𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚? Anjali sees AI as a transformative force capable of driving real-world impact. Her AI journey began at IIT Indore, driven by one powerful question: How can intelligent systems reduce manual effort in large-scale mechanical operations? 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆? "Start small. Stay curious. You don’t need all the answers to begin—you’ll find them as you go." 𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒅 𝒐𝒇? Her published research on AI-driven hydraulic leakage detection replaces manual inspection with a smart, scalable deep learning model—bringing AI into the heart of industrial problem-solving. ✨Ashwini Asokan  𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝑨𝑰 𝒋𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚? Ashwini’s journey into AI started at Intel in the early 2000s, at Intel, exploring computer vision, NLP, and sensors. Her curiosity grew into a bold vision—how can intelligence be delivered as a system to the world? 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆? “In 2025, the value of AI lies in how you apply it. Go deep into domains, learn across industries, and be part of shaping the systems—not just consuming them.” 𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒅 𝒐𝒇? Building Mad Street Den’s AI stack, which evolved over a decade to the Vue.ai platform, powering generative search, vector AI, and enterprise solutions across the US, Middle East, and India. ✨ Urooj Khan 𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝑨𝑰 𝒋𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚? Urooj's fascination with tech solving real-world problems naturally led her to AI/ML—and she’s been building ever since. The idea that machines can learn, adapt, and assist humans in smarter ways really inspired her to dive deep into this field. 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆? "Build cool stuff and show your work to the world 🌎. Keep outgrowing your older version—your next version is always stronger." 𝑶𝒏𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒅 𝒐𝒇? Thinkweaver Agent: A CrewAI-powered research & writing agent, presented at Google with Women Techmakers. 𝑸: 𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒏𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑨𝑰 𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍-𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒕 today? Nominate more leaders via the form in comments! AI Kiran — a national multi-stakeholder movement co-led by the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Manthan O/o PSA, Verix and INKWomen and industry partners AnitaB.org India Youth Ki Awaaz nasscom SheTO Neythri.org The Udaiti Foundation Aspire For Her Karya 100 Girls In Gen AI (Building AI Products). Announcing more partners soon.

The Impact of #AI on Women's Roles AI is reshaping our job market, and experts are predicting a deeper impact on roles held by women. According to Mercer's 2024 Global Talent Trends Study, industries where women thrive—like administration, healthcare, education, and social services—are already facing major disruptions. Instead of seeing this as a setback, women can take this opportunity to lead in AI. Here’s how: 1. Stay in the know and pursue education in AI: Take courses or bootcamps in AI, get certifications, subscribe to newsletters and podcasts. Online platforms make it easier than ever to gain these essential skills. 2. Seek Mentorship and Sponsorship: Find mentors and sponsors who can offer guidance, support, and advocate for your growth in this era of AI. They can provide valuable insights and ideas on how to get started or how to start integrating AI into your everyday work to elevate productivity and ingenuity. 3. Build a Strong Portfolio: Work on real-world projects, contribute to open-source initiatives, or undertake freelance work related to AI. A solid portfolio showcases your skills and practical experience. ✨👉🏼Bonus: Follow Empressa AI for the latest trends, tools, and research on all things #AIForWomen. We’ll be launching a newsletter soon! By increasing our involvement in AI, we can ensure the technology remains inclusive and equitable. Let's lead in this new era! 🦾👑 #AIForWomen #WomenInTech #AI #FutureOfWork #Empowerment #Innovation #Empressa