Around 95% of women are willing to consider moving into AI-focused positions if provided with appropriate organizational backing, as per a report released on Tuesday. The report emphasizes AI as a key tool in bridging the gender gap, citing that India produces 43% of the world’s female STEM graduates but they occupy only 29% of entry-level tech positions and 14% of C-suite roles. It challenges the notion of a talent shortage, attributing the gap to systemic issues and asserts that AI adoption is fast-tracking women’s advancement in the tech industry.
The study reveals that 64% of participants believe that AI integration has hastened their progression to senior positions. Notably, possessing AI skills is now seen as a more significant career differentiator than experience or traditional performance measures, the report highlights. Moreover, 65% of respondents express optimism about AI prospects, with 36% displaying high levels of optimism, indicating a workforce eager to spearhead the upcoming tech revolution.
The report stresses the need for structural support like mentorship and accessible training to help women capitalize on AI opportunities and translate their aspirations into reality. It notes that 69% of women feel that AI has paved the way for new career avenues, particularly in fields like product strategy, AI governance, and leadership in transformation initiatives. AI has enabled women to free up time for pursuing more valuable professional and personal endeavors, the report points out.
While India’s Global Capability Centers (GCCs) exhibit relatively better gender representation, with women occupying around 16–17% of nearly 6,500 leadership roles, there is still a substantial gap, with a 40% decline in female representation from entry-level to senior leadership positions. Smitha Hemmigae, Managing Director at ANSR, underscores the critical role of embedding equity into AI transformations for future leaders.
