Empowering Women in AI Careers

What does it take to build a career in AI? That was the question on everyone's mind at SG Women in Tech's Empowering Women in AI Careers panel on 30 March 2026 in Singapore 💡

I joined the panel organised by IMDA in conjunction with International Women's Day month. Alongside fellow panelists Siti Nuruljannah Baharudin and Beatrice Yap, brilliantly moderated by Soo-Lin Lee from Sponsors In Tech, we got into the real stuff - the challenges, the breakthroughs, and the support from the community and one another.

The conversations that unfolded reminded me why this work matters. We're not just talking about representation for its own sake. We're talking about building AI systems that serve everyone - and that starts with who gets to build them.

The Momentum Is Real

Here's something that landed with me: women make up 28% of AI professionals in Singapore, slightly above the global average of 26%. That's progress, but it's not enough.

What gives me hope? Female enrolment in GenAI courses surged 253% in 2024, outpacing 168% among men. Women aren't just entering the field - they're leaning in hard, upskilling fast, and claiming their space in the most transformative technology of our time.

And Singapore is leading the way in another dimension: we have 936 women-owned startups, far ahead of Jakarta (173), Kuala Lumpur (107), Bangkok (67), and Metro Manila (62). That entrepreneurial energy? It was palpable in the room.

The Energy in the Room

What stood out to me most was the energy ✨ Everyone showing up with curiosity and courage.

The speed mentoring sessions were a highlight, with leaders from AI Singapore, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Workato, ServiceNow, and TwinMatrix Technologies (tmt) sharing real, practical advice. These weren't abstract career tips - they were grounded in the day-to-day realities of building in AI.

I sat across from women at different stages of their journeys - some just starting to explore AI, others pivoting from adjacent fields, a few already deep in the work but looking for their next move. What united them was a hunger to learn and a willingness to be vulnerable about what they didn't yet know.

That vulnerability? That's where growth lives.

Give to Gain

The theme of the afternoon was 'Give to Gain,' and I felt that spirit in every conversation 💛

When we invest in lifting others, we all rise. It's not just a nice sentiment - it's how real communities are built. The women in that room weren't just looking for advice; they were ready to pay it forward.

This mindset matters especially now. The SG100 Women in Tech 2023 received 800 nominations, an increase of nearly one-third from 2021. Visibility is growing. Recognition is expanding. But visibility without community is just a spotlight - it's the network, the mentorship, the doors held open that turn recognition into real opportunity.

And policy is catching up too. After new diversity rules, 36% of new board appointments in Singapore went to women in 2022. Structural change is happening. But it only sticks when we pair it with cultural change - the kind that happens one conversation, one mentorship session, one opened door at a time.

Gratitude for the Builders

A huge thank you to Dorcas Tan and the SGWIT, AISG, AWS and partner teams - Grace Zeng, Ting Fu, Dorothy Tan, Ging N, Stephanie Chua, Damian Lien, Lennie Leong, Malcolm Koh, Arlene Koh, and Karan Jhaveri - for making this happen 👏

Events like this don't just happen. They're the result of people who care deeply about opening doors and creating space for others to step through.

Behind every panel, every speed mentoring session, every name tag and every conversation facilitated, there are hours of planning, coordination, and care. That invisible labor is what makes visible change possible.

Opening Doors

I'm proud to be part of a community that's opening doors for women in tech and AI 🚀

What's one moment where someone opened a door for you? I'd love to hear your story. Because when we share those moments, we remind each other what's possible - and we inspire the next person to do the same.

The future of AI isn't just about the technology we build. It's about who gets to build it, whose perspectives shape it, and whose voices are in the room when decisions are made. When we invest in women in AI, we're investing in AI that works for everyone.

Together, we rise. More soon 🙏

#AlwaysDay1 #WomenInTech #WomenInAI #AIcareers #DiversityInTech #GiveToGain #Mentorship #TechCommunity