Empowering Women in the Age of AI: Opportunities, Challenges, and Change

Hi everyone, let me properly introduce myself, I am Tarnia Gonzo, Founder of T&S Consulting, and my mission is to help companies navigate the ever-changing digital landscape with ease. With a background in business change management and an MSc in Organisational & Business Psychology, I've always been fascinated by how technology impacts people and organisations.

My work as an AI Change Manager for a global marketing company, advising on strategies to increase user adoption of AI applications, has given me a front-row seat to the transformative power of AI. My focus is always on creating a people-centric approach to AI implementation, ensuring users feel supported and empowered throughout the process. This experience has made me particularly interested in the potential impact of AI on women in the workplace.

Throughout history, society has adapted to significant technological changes. Take, for example, the first televised football game on September 16th, 1937. Many were concerned about live attendance and pitch conditions. But we know the outcome, ultimately football on TV has made it even more popular, increased revenue and made it into an industry worth USD 3.1 billion in 2023. That’s all to say, when change is happening to you, it often feels overwhelming, and sometimes big changes can bring in even bigger opportunity.

Now, let's look at what the future could look like, it’s key to understand we don’t really know what will happen, we can only make reasonable guesses. The future could have Agentic AI. This type of AI is goal-orientated, autonomous, adaptive, persistent, planning and execution. Essentially, it turns AI from just a support tool into a powerful partner that helps businesses run more smoothly and efficiently.

Agentic AI can analyse vast amounts of customer data to provide personalised recommendations and insights, helping sales teams tailor their strategies to individual clients. Additionally, it can autonomously manage pipelines, forecast sales, and identify potential risks, ensuring that the sales process is both efficient and effective. According to McKinsey, companies that embrace Agentic AI can expect to cut costs by up to 40%, boost revenues by 20-30%, and improve compliance and risk management.

But it's not all smooth sailing. Agentic AI is also shaking up job roles, especially for women and those in entry-level positions. The World Economic Forum highlights three key ways AI can disrupt jobs:

• Augment (More Men): AI enhances jobs in male-dominated STEM fields, boosting their productivity and value.

• Disrupt (More Women): AI replaces jobs in female-dominated administrative and customer service roles, leading to job losses.

• Insulate (More Men): "AI-proof" jobs (leadership, specialized tech) may still favour men already in those roles.

PwC reports women have a less clear understanding of AI, and how it will impact roles. This is a critical issue that needs to be addressed.

As a business change consultant, I often turn to Kotter's 8-Step Change Model to navigate change. The first step is to create a sense of urgency, and that's what I'm hoping to do by sharing this information. Next, we need to build a guiding coalition – a team of people passionate about what this means- hopefully you will become one of them. The third step is to have a clear vision for the future.

Reskilling and upskilling are crucial for preparing the female workforce for future challenges. Companies, governments, and society must collaborate to implement effective programs. The World Economic Forum predicts that 44% of workers' skills will be disrupted in the next five years, and six in ten staff members will require upskilling and reskilling by 2027. Additionally, women have fewer opportunities to develop AI-related competencies, which could have long-term implications for career progression and economic mobility. Investing in these initiatives can foster resilience and innovation, ensuring a future-proofed workforce.

Sharing knowledge with small businesses on how to grow with AI is crucial, especially since 19.1% of active UK companies are female-led. Women-led businesses contribute significantly to the sharing economy and provide non-GDP benefits such as community support, social innovation, and environmental sustainability. These roles not only support the nation's health but also alleviate pressures on public services and contribute to social cohesion.

According to the House of Commons Library, around 60% of informal carers in the UK are women. Informal care provided by women is estimated to save the UK economy billions of pounds annually by reducing the need for formal care services. Despite their vital contributions, informal carers often face financial challenges, with many left out of pocket by an average of £207 each month. By providing more training opportunities and resources, we can empower women to continue making these invaluable contributions while also thriving in the AI-driven future.

The rise of Agentic AI presents both challenges and opportunities for women. By acknowledging the potential for disruption and proactively investing in reskilling and upskilling initiatives, we can ensure that women are not left behind in the AI revolution. Instead, we can empower them to harness the power of AI and thrive in the future of work.

Interested to know what we can do, or at least some of my ideas, stay tuned for my part two blog post here.