International Women’s Day: Shaping the future of work and AI with inclusion and diversity
In a year shaped by rapid Artificial Intelligence (AI) advancement, shifting workforce expectations, and constant change, leadership is tested in new ways. In celebration of International Women’s Day, female leaders share what it takes to shape the future of work, drive results and create clarity amidst the complexity, while expanding access and advocacy in ways that create real impact.
Technology innovation and equity – Bel Lloyd (pictured above), Amperity
Today’s tech landscape, from AI and automation to digital transformation, is rapidly reshaping how we work, solve problems and innovate. But technologies like AI also have the potential to embed and amplify bias if diverse voices aren’t included in their design and deployment. IWD reminds me that gender equity isn’t just a social goal, it’s a business and innovation imperative.
When women are at the table, designing systems, leading projects, building teams, we get technology and products that are more ethical, more empathetic, and more reflective of the world they serve. It’s about ensuring that AI, data and emerging tech work for everyone and that women aren’t just users of technology but creators and leaders of it. IWD gives all of us in this space a chance to reflect on how far we’ve come and to focus on what still needs to be done to accelerate meaningful, equitable progress.
International Women’s Day is vital in tech because it brings to the forefront critical stories of women who have historically been underrepresented in this industry. Seeing women thrive in tech inspires the next generation and shifts perceptions about who “belongs” in tech. It helps bring to light great role models, making it easier for girls and young women to see themselves in tech roles they might not have considered otherwise.
Be Curious. Leadership Is About Setting Conditions, Not Carrying Everything – Susan Hill (pictured above), Amperity
The biggest opportunity for women leaders in AI is in how it shows up in people’s everyday work lives. Women leaders are uniquely positioned to make sure AI expands opportunity, not just efficiency. That means redesigning roles thoughtfully, keeping ethics and empathy front and centre, and building systems that work for humans. AI will transform how we work, but the question is how intentionally we shape that transformation.
When people ask me what leadership lesson I carry with me every day, it’s always a tie between “Be Curious” and recognizing that leadership doesn’t mean knowing all the answers or being indispensable.
For a long time, I thought being a strong leader meant carrying it all. Many of us, especially women, fall into the trap and feel pressure to carry the entire emotional and operational load to be effective. But that kind of leadership isn’t sustainable; it’s exhausting. Over time, I have come to view leadership as less about being the engine and more about creating the conditions for momentum. That means being clear about what matters, removing friction, and creating space for people to be humans.
True leadership is about making the path easier, fairer, and more sustainable for everyone.
