Shattering Silicon Ceilings: Women Reboot Tech from Arkansas to AI

This is your Women in Business podcast. Welcome back to Women in Business. Today, let’s talk about what it really takes for women to not just survive, but thrive in the current tech-driven economy. The numbers tell a powerful story. According to AIPRM’s 2025 survey, just 27% of the US tech workforce is made up of women, and globally that number sits a little lower. Leadership is tougher still: only around 14% of tech leaders worldwide are women, a number that has barely budged in the past year. Despite decades of progress, the tech sector continues to feel like an all-boys club—but that’s changing, and women are driving that change in real time. When we look closer, some of the fastest wage growth for women in tech isn’t just happening in Silicon Valley. Emerging hubs like Little Rock, Arkansas and Columbia, South Carolina are proving that new locations offer fertile ground for women’s advancement and better earnings, sometimes rivaling traditional hotspots like San Jose. The lesson? Where you work can matter as much as what you do, so seeking out cities and companies that actively promote gender diversity is a smart strategic move. But let’s talk about the pressure cooker: the double-bind that women face when climbing the tech career ladder. StrongDM reports that over half of women believe it’s harder to land senior level promotions in tech than in other industries. Lack of mentorship, exclusion from networks, and persistent stereotypes are real hurdles. The path narrows even further for women of color, who remain deeply underrepresented–Black and Latina women account for just a fraction of tech roles in the US. Yet even in this landscape, we’re seeing dynamic women like Kimberly Bryant, founder of Black Girls Code, and Reshma Saujani, of Girls Who Code, who are creating pipelines and encouraging young women to leap into this space. Now, consider the impact of economic shocks like the recent wave of tech sector layoffs. Women have felt these effects sharply. StrongDM notes that during pandemic recovery, female representation in tech actually dipped before rebounding, and many women reported burnout from juggling remote work and caregiving. This highlights why flexible work isn’t just a perk—it’s a necessity for retention. Companies that want to keep talented women must adapt workplace structures, especially to support those mid-career, when attrition rates spike. A powerful opportunity is emerging with artificial intelligence. Skillsoft’s 2024 Women in Tech Report found that while only 40% of women are currently using AI on the job, those who do are not only more productive but also more likely to feel empowered. As three-quarters of businesses look to expand AI adoption by 2028, women have a new door to kick open—one that can reshape not just their roles, but the entire industry. To every listener—you are part of this story. Whether you’re coding at a startup, managing IT at a Fortune 500, or teaching the next generation to think digitall This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.