AI Is Reshaping Leadership—Here’s How Women Are Fighting to Stay in Control
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, CommPRO invited communications professionals to reflect on the evolving role of AI and education in shaping women’s leadership. In an era where automation is transforming industries, how can corporate communications professionals ensure human agency remains at the forefront? Education plays a critical role in equipping individuals—especially women leaders—to navigate, understand, and influence technological advancement. How is your organization fostering AI literacy and leadership development to support inclusive innovation?
AI’s Role in Reshaping Leadership and Decision-Making
Melissa McClary Davis, Founder and CEO of Wise Digital Marketing, emphasizes the necessity of closing the gender gap in AI through education. “For women to be ready for the AI-based world, the technology and leadership gap between women and men has to be closed through education,” Davis states. She points to initiatives like Google’s Women in AI and IBM’s AI Ethics Lab as essential in providing mentorship, scholarships, and training to increase women’s participation in AI development.
Davis also stresses the importance of diverse AI governance teams to ensure ethical oversight, advocating for transparency in AI use. “There should be a diverse representation of women leaders in AI ethics committees to oversee the AI decision-making process and address bias,” she asserts. By integrating AI into leadership development, organizations can create a future where women play a decisive role in corporate communications.
Kristen Delphos, VP of Communications and Public Affairs at UL Research Institutes, highlights the profound shift AI is bringing to industries, particularly corporate communications. “AI is enabling data-driven insights, automating content creation, providing real-time analysis, and optimizing messaging across platforms,” Delphos explains. However, she warns against over-reliance on AI, noting that while it enhances efficiency, it lacks the human qualities that make corporate messaging effective. “AI-generated content can often lack nuance, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking. These human skills are irreplaceable, full stop.”
The Role of Education in Preparing Women Leaders for an Automated World
Education remains a powerful tool in preparing women for leadership in an AI-driven landscape. Davis underscores the need for corporate training programs to incorporate both technical and ethical AI education. “Businesses can create a generation of women leaders who will define the future of corporate communications,” she affirms.
Delphos cites research showing that AI is likely to impact women’s jobs disproportionately, making upskilling an urgent priority. “According to a study from the Kenan Institute, 8 out of 10 women work in roles that will be impacted by AI, compared to 6 out of 10 men,” she notes. This, she argues, underscores the need for expanding AI-related educational opportunities, particularly in STEM fields.
Sonia Arroyo, Senior Marketing Executive at Cambridge Advance Online, highlights how educational institutions are already playing a role in fostering AI literacy among women. She shares insights from their Managing Software Architecture course, which has seen an increase in female participation. “In software architecture, women are often underrepresented. I am happy to share that this is the first instance of my course where the majority of participants are women,” says course lead Jasmin Jahić, Director of Studies in Computer Science at Queens’ College.
Strategies to Ensure Human Agency and Ethical AI Adoption
Ensuring human oversight in AI-driven workplaces is a recurring theme among respondents. Davis calls for greater transparency in AI use within corporate communications, advocating for AI-driven analytics to enhance, rather than homogenize, diverse voices. “AI should be explained in external communications where feasible to build trust and accountability,” she advises.
Delphos urges organizations to develop ethical AI governance frameworks. “Companies must establish ethical AI policies that promote transparency, accountability, and fairness. Human oversight should remain central to these governance models,” she states. Rather than seeing AI as a threat, she encourages women to embrace AI tools as a way to elevate their roles. “For communications professionals—particularly women—learning AI isn’t just a necessity; it’s an opportunity to future-proof their careers.”
A Call to Action: AI and Women’s Leadership Beyond International Women’s Day
As businesses and brands celebrate International Women’s Day, Davis insists that action must follow rhetoric. “Corporate communicators cannot continue to issue statements that are little more than empty words and do nothing,” she warns. She urges companies to take tangible steps, from AI education initiatives to promoting women in tech leadership.
Delphos agrees, emphasizing that those who integrate AI into their workflows will lead the industry’s future. “Rather than fearing job displacement, those who embrace AI will be at the forefront of the industry’s evolution, leading the way in crafting authentic, impactful, and ethically responsible communications,” she states.
The future of AI in corporate communications must be inclusive, ethical, and guided by human leadership. On International Women’s Day—and every day—organizations have a responsibility to ensure that AI becomes a tool for empowerment rather than exclusion.
