Where Are the Women in AI? Bridging the Gap for Women Technologists

Despite record investment in artificial intelligence, the gender gap in AI remains staggering. Women make up less than 22% of AI and ML professionals globally (World Economic Forum, 2024) and hold under 15% of technical leadership roles in the field. Only 3% of angel investors in regions like the Pacific Northwest are women, so the earliest capital shaping AI’s future is overwhelmingly male. This session for leaders and managers explores why this workforce imbalance matters and how it’s holding back innovation both across the tech ecosystem and within individual organizations. First, Lana will zoom out to examine how workforce representation and capital flow connect end-to-end. Drawing on data from Rooftop Global, Seattle’s Fueling the Future of Female-Founded Innovation initiative, and leading reports from All Raise, Stanford HAI, and UNESCO, Lana will connect two sides of the same equation: when women build and fund technology, outcomes become more far-reaching, impactful, and profitable. Next, the session will zoom in to equip attendees with three replicable strategies to empower talented women technologists: integrating tested programs into technical teams (peer learning, AI champions, mentorship loops), rethinking capital pipelines for inclusion, and creating visible pathways into AI leadership. These practical approaches, grounded in research and real-world examples, show how organizations can close the gap by making AI more inclusive–and more effective.