Women in Tech See Generative AI as Crucial for Career Growth, but Face Readiness Gap

90% Of Indian Women-In-Tech See GenAI As Key To Career Growth, But Majority Lack Readiness: Report - News18

While GenAI will act as an equaliser for women in tech, only 35% of surveyed women respondents feel completely prepared by their employers Women make up 36% of India's tech workforce, however, they remain underrepresented in executive roles. The advent of Gen AI is set to revolutionise the tech industry, offering a unique opportunity to foster gender diversity by enabling women to overcome traditional barriers and excel in their careers, revealed a new report. Nasscom unveiled its 'GenAI: The Diversity Game Changer We Can't Ignore' report along with BCG, to analyse the adoption of AI/Gen AI amongst women and outline actionable steps to cultivate an inclusive environment and drive sustainable growth. The report was launched on the sidelines of Nasscom Global Inclusion Summit at Bengaluru. The report revealed that women rate their professional ambitions as very high, demonstrating greater ambition across all levels. It further highlighted the importance of diversity in reducing bias and enhancing ethical outcomes in AI, indicating that diverse teams are better at detecting ethical issues and making decisions that consider others' well-being. GenAI On A Rising Trend As GenAI is projected to dominate 33% of the global AI landscape by 2027, the AI market is expected to reach $320-380 billion, growing at a CAGR of 25-35%, the report said. Women Adopting GenAI The report underscored that women are willing to go the extra mile for success in AI/Gen AI, with 95% of junior, 96% of mid-management and 100% of senior management women (based on survey findings) ready to invest more time to achieve professional success in GenAI. The report showed that women view Gen AI tools as a significant boost to their perceived competence, with 45% of the surveyed women in tech roles experiencing higher confidence compared to their non-tech peers. Additionally, it outlined that Gen AI adoption is driven by efficiency and innovation, acknowledging its transformative potential. Survey findings revealed that 1 in 5 women use GenAI tools almost daily with nearly 35% of senior management women reporting daily usage. Challenges Despite the progression, the lower adoption and usage of GenAI tools among some women at senior management levels can be attributed to several challenges, including limited knowledge, lack of trust, restricted access to these tools, and fear of competence scrutiny. From entry-level roles to the C-suite, women consistently point to knowledge gaps as the primary challenge in adopting Gen AI. The report outlined that addressing these knowledge gaps and other barriers is crucial to increasing GenAI adoption among women. Sangeeta Gupta, SVP and Chief Strategy Officer, Nasscom, said, "Despite significant progress in diversity and AI/Gen AI adoption, substantial gaps still limit women's full potential in the tech industry. With Gen AI set to dominate the tech industry, it is critical to address key challenges such as knowledge gaps and lack of support, to empower women, particularly in these roles." "By addressing these obstacles and cultivating an inclusive environment, businesses can not only enhance their own success but also contribute to a more equitable and dynamic tech landscape. We believe that embracing these changes is both a moral imperative and a strategic advantage that will shape the future of the industry," Gupta added. "Globally, senior women lead in GenAI adoption, yet India lags with a 64% gender disparity in AI leadership. To capture the USD 320 billion AI market, India's tech sector needs diversity. This will ensure effective systems by eliminating biases and incorporating varying ethical perspectives," Sreyssha George, MD and Partner, Boston Consulting Group, added. Way Forward While GenAI will act as an equaliser for women in tech, only 35% of surveyed women respondents feel completely prepared by their employers, leading to barriers in adoption. To bridge this gap, organisations need to play a pivotal role in driving GenAI adoption by creating environments that support and encourage these technologies. The report recommends key actions to boost women's success in these technologies: defining clear career pathways; guiding through formal and informal mentorship programs; enabling flexible work arrangements; offering ethical training; building a culture of empowerment, diversity, and inclusion; and fostering networking opportunities. Addressing these needs will empower women to embrace GenAI technologies and drive greater diversity and innovation in the industry.

90% women view GenAI as crucial for career growth, yet only one-third feel prepared to use it: nasscom-BCG report

The report outlines that women consistently exhibit professional ambition and are willing to put in extra effort to achieve professional success. Women across tech and non-tech roles see mentorship as a key to success in the AI/Gen AI field Today women make up 36% of India's tech workforce, however, they remain underrepresented in executive roles. The advent of Gen AI is set to revolutionize the tech industry, offering a unique opportunity to foster gender diversity by enabling women to overcome traditional barriers and excel in their careers. nasscom unveiled its GenAI: The Diversity Game Changer We Can't Ignore report along with BCG, to analyze the adoption of AI/Gen AI amongst women and outline actionable steps to cultivate an inclusive environment and drive sustainable growth. The report was launched on the sidelines of nasscom Global Inclusion Summit at Bengaluru. The report, based on extensive surveys and interviews with industry leaders (1), reveals that women rate their professional ambitions as very high, demonstrating greater ambition across all levels. It further highlights the importance of diversity in reducing bias and enhancing ethical outcomes in AI, indicating that diverse teams are better at detecting ethical issues and making decisions that consider others' well-being. As GenAI is projected to dominate 33% of the global AI landscape by 2027, the AI market is expected to reach $320-380 billion, growing at a CAGR of 25-35%. The report underscored that women are willing to go the extra mile for success in AI/Gen AI, with 95% of junior,96% of mid-management and 100% of the senior management women (based on survey findings) are ready to invest more time to achieve professional success in GenAI. The report shows that women view Gen AI tools as a significant boost to their perceived competence, with 45% of the surveyed women in tech roles experiencing higher confidence compared to their non-tech peers. Additionally, it outlines that Gen AI adoption is driven by efficiency and innovation, acknowledging its transformative potential. Survey findings reveal that 1 in 5 women use GenAI tools almost daily with nearly 35% of senior management women reporting daily usage. Despite the progression, the lower adoption and usage of GenAI tools among some women at senior management levels can be attributed to several challenges, including limited knowledge, lack of trust, restricted access to these tools, and fear of competence scrutiny. From entry-level roles to the C-suite, women consistently point to knowledge gaps as the primary challenge in adopting Gen AI. The report outlines that addressing these knowledge gaps and other barriers is crucial to increasing GenAI adoption among women. Commenting on the report, Sangeeta Gupta, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, nasscom, said, "Despite significant progress in diversity and AI/Gen AI adoption, substantial gaps still limit women's full potential in the tech industry. With Gen AI set to dominate the tech industry, it is critical to address key challenges such as knowledge gaps and lack of support, to empower women, particularly in these roles. By addressing these obstacles and cultivating an inclusive environment, businesses can not only enhance their own success but also contribute to a more equitable and dynamic tech landscape. We believe that embracing these changes is both a moral imperative and a strategic advantage that will shape the future of the industry." "Globally, senior women lead in GenAI adoption, yet India lags with a 64% gender disparity in AI leadership. To capture the USD 320 billion AI market, India's tech sector needs diversity. This will ensure effective systems by eliminating biases and incorporating varying ethical perspectives. Let's seize this significant opportunity to rectify the gender imbalance in the tech industry.", says Sreyssha George, Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group. While GenAI will act as an equalizer for women in tech, only 35% of surveyed women respondents feel completely prepared by their employers, leading to barriers in adoption. To bridge this gap, organizations need to play a pivotal role in driving GenAI adoption by creating environments that support and encourage these technologies. The report recommends key actions to boost women's success in these technologies: defining clear career pathways; guiding through formal and informal mentorship programs; enabling flexible work arrangements; offering ethical training; building a culture of empowerment, diversity, and inclusion; and fostering networking opportunities. Addressing these needs will empower women to embrace GenAI technologies and drive greater diversity and innovation in the industry. Committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion, on the sidelines of the Global Inclusion Summit 2024, nasscom also unveiled the DE&I Organization Assessment Framework that can help organizations map their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion progress. This platform will enable organizations to receive a comprehensive report highlighting their DE&I strengths and areas for improvement. Additionally, it will provide valuable insights to guide their DE&I journey. Link to download the GenAI: The Diversity Game Changer We Can't Ignore report: https://www.nasscom.in/knowledge-center/publications/gen-ai-diversity-game-changer-we-cant-ignore About nasscom nasscom represents the voice of over $250 billion technology industry in India with the vision to establish the nation as the world's leading technology ecosystem. Boasting a diverse and influential community of over 3000 member companies our network spans the entire spectrum of the industry from DeepTech and AI start-ups to multinationals and from products to services, Global Capability Centres to Engineering firms. Guided by our vision, our strategic imperatives are to accelerate skilling at scale for future-ready talent, strengthen the innovation quotient across industry verticals, create new market opportunities - both international and domestic, drive policy advocacy to advance innovation and ease of doing business, and build the industry narrative with a focus on Trust, and Innovation. And, in everything we do, we will continue to champion the need for diversity and equal opportunity.

90% women see GenAI as pivotal for career growth, but only a third feel ready to use it: Report

The report, titled 'GenAI: The Diversity Game Changer We Can't Ignore', was launched on the sidelines of the Nasscom Global Inclusion Summit in Bengaluru. It analyses the adoption of AI/GenAI among women and proposes actionable steps to foster an inclusive environment and promote sustainable growth.With the increasing proliferation of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools, 90% of women acknowledge the technology as pivotal for career growth, but only a third feel prepared to use them, said a Nasscom-Boston Consulting Group (BCG) report released on Thursday. The report, titled 'GenAI: The Diversity Game Changer We Can't Ignore', was launched on the sidelines of the Nasscom Global Inclusion Summit in Bengaluru. It analyses the adoption of AI/GenAI among women and proposes actionable steps to foster an inclusive environment and promote sustainable growth. Based on surveys and interviews, the report said that women demonstrate greater ambition than men across all levels, except in senior management in tech roles. It underscored that women are willing to put in extra effort for success in AI/GenAI, with 95% of junior, 96% of mid-management and 100% of women in senior management ready to invest more time to achieve professional success in GenAI. According to the report, 65% of men and women believe that GenAI will equalise women's inclusion in tech. The overall adoption of GenAI across Indian men (76%) and women (80%) outstrips global figures, where 66% of men and 68% of women use GenAI. However, even as senior tech women exceed their male peers in GenAI adoption by 12% globally, in India the tables are reversed, with senior women lagging their male peers by 9%. Women at junior and mid-management levels lead men by 7 and 8 percentage points, respectively. "Globally, senior women lead in GenAI adoption, yet India lags with a 64% gender disparity in AI leadership. To capture the $320 billion AI market, India's tech sector needs diversity. This will ensure effective systems by eliminating biases and incorporating varying ethical perspectives," said Sreyssha George, managing director, Boston Consulting Group. Obstacles contributing to the lower adoption and usage among women include limited knowledge (38%), fear of competence scrutiny by managers or peers (28%), limited access to approved GenAI tools (22%), lack of trust in GenAI tools to produce accurate or useful content (14%) and company policy not allowing the use of GenAI (13%). Sangeeta Gupta, chief strategy officer, Nasscom, said, "With Gen AI set to dominate the tech industry, it is critical to address key challenges such as knowledge gaps and lack of support, to empower women, particularly in these roles. By addressing these obstacles and cultivating an inclusive environment, businesses can not only enhance their own success but also contribute to a more equitable and dynamic tech landscape." The report said that 72% of women and 66% of men see GenAI as an efficiency booster. Among women, about 70% in tech industries and 83% in non-tech fields view GenAI tools as enhancing efficiency. It said that 40% of women also believe that using GenAI tools will significantly enhance their perceived competence. The survey found that one in five women use these tools almost daily, with nearly 35% of senior management women reporting daily use. Interestingly, women in non-tech functions lead with 31% reporting daily usage, compared to 25% in tech roles. Despite this, 37% of women in tech roles said they felt prepared to use the technology, compared to 31% in non-tech roles. Asked about specific tools, 93% of women reported using ChatGPT, followed by Microsoft Copilot (52%) and Google Bard (34%). The study analysed gender diversity in the GenAI sector through a survey of 485 participants across roles, functions and industries. It also drew from BCG's Global GenAI Tech Survey of about 6,500 women and men employees in tech companies across seniority levels and functions. In addition, about 20 industry leaders were interviewed.

90% women consider generative AI crucial for career growth: report

As per a report by Nasscom and BCG, women want to put in effort to learn AI and GenAI technology to further career growth. The survey findings revealed that one in five women use GenAI tools almost daily with about 35% of senior management women reporting daily usage.As many as 90% of women view generative AI as crucial for career growth, even as only one-third feel prepared to use it, according to a report by Nasscom and BCG. The report found that women are willing to put in extra effort for success with AI and GenAI technology. In particular, 95% of junior, 96% of mid-management and 100% of the senior management women are ready to invest more time to achieve professional success in GenAI. "Today women make up 36% of India's tech workforce, however, they remain underrepresented in executive roles. The advent of Gen AI is set to revolutionize the tech industry, offering a unique opportunity to foster gender diversity by enabling women to overcome traditional barriers and excel in their careers," Nasscom said in a statement Thursday. The survey findings revealed that one in five women use GenAI tools almost daily with about 35% of senior management women reporting daily usage. Further, women view GenAI tools as a significant boost to their perceived competence, with 45% of the surveyed women in tech roles experiencing higher confidence compared to their non-tech peers. The report, based on extensive surveys and interviews with industry leaders, was launched on the sidelines of Nasscom Global Inclusion Summit in Bengaluru. It also highlighted the importance of diversity in reducing bias and enhancing ethical outcomes in AI, indicating that diverse teams are better at detecting ethical issues and making decisions that consider others' well-being. There remains lower adoption and usage of GenAI tools among some women at senior management levels, however. This can be attributed to challenges such as limited knowledge, lack of trust, restricted access to these tools, and fear of competence scrutiny, the report said. Addressing knowledge gaps is crucial to increasing GenAI adoption among women from entry level to the C-suite, it added. Sangeeta Gupta, senior vice president and chief strategy officer, Nasscom, said, "Despite significant progress in diversity and AI/Gen AI adoption, substantial gaps still limit women's full potential in the tech industry. With Gen AI set to dominate the tech industry, it is critical to address key challenges such as knowledge gaps and lack of support, to empower women, particularly in these roles." By addressing these obstacles and cultivating an inclusive environment, businesses can not only enhance their own success but also contribute to a more equitable and dynamic tech landscape, Gupta said, adding that embracing these changes is both a moral and strategic imperative. The report said organisations will play a crucial role in boosting women's success with GenAI technologies and driving greater diversity and innovation in the industry. It recommended defining clear career pathways, providing mentorship programs, flexible work arrangements, ethical training, building a culture of empowerment, diversity, and inclusion, and fostering networking opportunities. "Globally, senior women lead in GenAI adoption, yet India lags with a 64% gender disparity in AI leadership," said Sreyssha George, managing director and partner, Boston Consulting Group. "To capture the $320 billion AI market, India's tech sector needs diversity. This will ensure effective systems by eliminating biases and incorporating varying ethical perspectives."

90% women view GenAI as crucial for career growth, says Nasscom-BCG report

Women make up 36 per cent of India's tech workforce; however, they remain underrepresented in executive roles. India lags with a 64 per cent gender disparity in AI leadership compared to global women leaders. As Gen AI adoption increases, the participation of women in the workforce is important for enhancing ethical outcomes in AI, said a report.