Dive Brief:
- Generative AI skills are helping boost women in tech as many look to switch jobs, according to Ensono’s Speak Up survey published earlier this month.
- Nearly 90% of respondents said generative AI know-how has accelerated their career by enhancing performance and unlocking new opportunities, the survey of 1,500 female-identifying full-time tech pros found. The proportion of respondents who ranked their skills as expert-level doubled year over year.
- Around 1 in 5 women in tech plan to leave their current companies, a share of respondents unchanged from last year and a similar rate to 2022’s great resignation. Workplace flexibility, desire for influence in decision making and better work-life balance were the top three reasons driving the decision to change employers, the survey found.
Dive Insight:
While the experience for women in tech is not monolithic, many are leaning into emerging technologies like AI to enhance their professional lives.
“As women embrace generative AI, they are not only advancing their careers but also playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of technology and fostering an inclusive workplace culture,” Ensono’s Chief People Officer Meredith Graham said in an email to CIO Dive.
Many women are taking active roles in training and mentoring their colleagues on the technology, Graham said, which is reinforcing their leadership presence within organizations. More than three-quarters of respondents to Ensono’s survey said they aspired to advance into management roles, though just 13% held a managerial title.
Women in tech are eyeing the C-suite, too. More than 4 in 5 said they want to be in an executive leadership position, citing the ability to take on new challenges and increased earning potential as driving factors.
“Their proficiency in these technologies also allows them to spearhead projects, demonstrating their ability to integrate AI-driven solutions into business strategies effectively,” said Graham. “To stay at the forefront of technology and the evolving workplace, it is imperative for women to adopt and understand the latest advancements.”
Women in tech have also been impacted by the growing push to bring workers back in offices — for better and worse. Respondents to Ensono’s survey pointed to collaboration with colleagues and productivity boosts as the top benefits accompanying the shift, while work-related stress and a lack of flexibility were commonly cited drawbacks.
