Female leaders outpace men in using GenAI, says BCG study

Female technology leaders are leading the way in the adoption of Generative AI (GenAI), according to a report by Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The study indicates that 68% of women in the industry use a GenAI tool more than once a week in their roles, compared to 66% of men.

The report, titled 'Women Leaders Are Paving the Way in GenAI', analysed data from a global survey of more than 6,500 female and male employees across Germany, India, Japan, the US, and the UK. Participants in the survey spanned four seniority levels and eight functions within the technology industry.

Findings showed that women in technical functions, such as engineering, IT, and customer support, are using GenAI more than their male counterparts; however, women senior managers in non-technical functions, including human resources, legal, and finance, slightly lag behind their male counterparts.

Despite improvements in diversity and inclusion initiatives, achieving gender parity in the tech sector is still a challenge, with fewer than 30% of middle managers and senior leaders being women. However, GenAI presents new opportunities to bridge the gender gap.

Sai Bendi, Software Development Manager at Encompass Corporation, highlighted the potential of GenAI in addressing gender disparity in tech. She commented: "The gender gap in technology is an issue that is urgently in need of action. The evolution of technologies like GenAI could act as a major catalyst for positive change as women use these tools to boost their skills and confidence."

In light of an increasingly digital landscape, Bendi stressed that the opportunities afforded by technology such as AI are perfect for women to enhance their learning and development, positioning themselves as contributors to critical innovation. She affirmed, "Women must believe in themselves and embrace their skills to be at the forefront of the AI revolution."

Companies must support employees by investing in training courses and support networks for AI and wider technology skills. Bendi stated, "This is essential for businesses and individuals to keep pace with technological advancements, allowing industry professionals to progress while attracting a new generation of talent that can impact the overall gender gap."

On the organization's role, Neveen Awad, Managing Director and Partner at BCG and a co-author of the report, emphasised, "Companies must be hyper-focused on enacting measures that increase equity in GenAI's adoption and also support all employees' adoption of GenAI. They can begin to reduce gender gaps and generate outsize impact by targeting their actions to individual cohorts."