By MaryLou Costa, Business reporter
Gabriela Capote asserts that acquiring an AI certification set her apart from other job candidates.
In the wake of being laid off from her marketing position last year, Gabriela Capote, residing in Miami, recognized the necessity of delving into AI to enhance her prospects in securing her next job. “After getting laid off from a job that I thought was so perfect and secure, it really woke me up,” says Ms. Capote. “It taught me something important about how nothing is actually permanent, and that I don’t want to get complacent. I’d heard the big, bad, scary conversation about AI for a while, and I’ve always been interested in how I could utilize it.”
Instead of solely pursuing another marketing role, Ms. Capote opted to enroll in a six-week online AI training program offered by Mission Impact Academy (Mia), a global training organization tailored for women to increase their involvement in AI-related work.
The certification she obtained proved instrumental in securing a new communications position at an insurance company. Ms. Capote emphasizes, “Saying that I was certified in AI made me stand out from all the other applicants, and I think was a big reason as to why I was offered the role. And my new company is very open to hearing about anything I think would be good from a tech perspective.”
Moreover, her enhanced understanding of AI facilitated her job search process. Ms. Capote reveals that she utilized popular AI chatbots, ChatGPT and Bard, to explore potential vacancies, resulting in a list of 50 job opportunities.
Statistics reveal a gender disparity in AI engagement, with 54% of men incorporating technology in their professional or personal lives, compared to only 35% of women. However, an increasing number of women are upskilling themselves to bridge this gap. Platforms like Coursera witness a significant rise in female enrollment for courses such as “AI for Everyone.”
Heather Black, the founder of Supermums, an organization offering tech training for women re-entering the workforce after childbirth, underscores the importance of women enhancing their AI skills. She stresses the necessity for tailored learning avenues to address the evolving technological landscape.
In a UN study highlighting the susceptibility of women’s roles to AI-induced obsolescence, the imperative of equipping women with AI competencies is underscored by Georgina Cosma, an AI and data science professor at Loughborough University. She advocates for inclusive and rigorous training programs to empower women in the technology sector.
Prof. Cosma emphasizes the need for mentorship initiatives, networking opportunities, and unbiased hiring practices to foster gender parity in AI-related fields. She asserts that promoting inclusion and career advancement for qualified women necessitates a shift in attitudes and policies within the industry.
Janna Salokangas, co-founder of Mia, accentuates that their AI course not only imparts technical skills but also fosters a sense of community and support among female learners. “It’s all about the energy, the inclusion and belonging they get being part of a community, and learning with other women,” she affirms.
