Who Gets Ahead in the Age of AI? EQUALS and ChangeTheFace Convene Women Leaders at MWC Doha
Doha, Qatar – 10 November 2026
As artificial intelligence (AI) transforms the world of work, a critical question is emerging: who will benefit from the opportunities it creates, and who risks being left behind?
On 10 November, the EQUALS Global Partnership for Gender Equality in the Digital Age and the ChangeTheFace Alliance brought together senior women leaders from the mobile industry and public sector for a closed-door roundtable at MWC Doha 2026, held as the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference (PP-26) opened in Doha.
Under the theme "Who Gets Ahead in the Age of AI? Rethinking Career Risk and Inclusion," the roundtable explored how AI-driven transformation is reshaping career opportunities, professional development and pathways to leadership, and what organizations can do to ensure that technological progress benefits everyone.
The discussion opened with remarks from Louise Easterbrook, Chief Financial Officer of the GSMA, and Sylvia Poll, Senior Gender and Youth Advisor to the ITU Secretary-General, who also delivered the closing reflections.
Ensuring women can shape the AI revolution
While AI creates new opportunities for innovation and economic growth, its benefits are not automatically shared equally.
Women represent only 22–30% of the global AI workforce and hold fewer than 14% of senior leadership positions in the AI sector. At the same time, research from the International Labour Organization indicates that 29% of female-dominated occupations are exposed to generative AI, compared with 16% of male-dominated occupations.
These figures underscore the importance of ensuring that women are not only equipped to adapt to AI-driven change but are also empowered to lead it.
During the roundtable, participants explored two central questions: where do career risks emerge as AI adoption accelerates, and how can organizations ensure more inclusive career progression?
The exchange focused on the importance of looking beyond job displacement to consider access to AI-related skills, high-visibility projects, mentorship, sponsorship and leadership opportunities.
Turning dialogue into action
A key consideration was the need to move beyond commitments and assess whether AI is translating into tangible career opportunities for women.
Findings from the EQUALS Gender Inclusivity Index pilot reinforce this challenge: while 93% of participating organizations reported having gender-equality goals and metrics, only one reported conducting an independent evaluation of its efforts.
Insights from the roundtable will inform the ChangeTheFace Alliance's 2026 flagship research report on AI, Inclusion and the Future of Work, due to be launched at MWC Barcelona 2027. The report will include practical recommendations to help organisations build more inclusive workplaces.
The initiative also supports EQUALS' Emerging Tech for Inclusion workstream, reflecting the partnership's renewed commitment to ensuring that women and girls can meaningfully participate in, shape and benefit from emerging technologies.
As EQUALS celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2026, the discussion reinforces an essential message: the future of AI must not only create opportunities for women, but empower them to shape and lead the technological transformation.
