Breaking the AI Double Standard for Women in STEM - 043

Adaeze Iloeje-Udeogalanya⁠⁠ addresses the double standard women in STEM face when adopting AI. While AI has the potential to be a great equalizer, research shows that women are penalized and judged as less competent for using the same AI tools that earn men praise. Adaeze encourages listeners to stop second-guessing themselves and instead use strategic framing to control the narrative. By tracking metrics, teaching AI to peers, and finding internal advocates, women can overcome deeply woven unconscious bias and position themselves as forward-thinking leaders.Who is this for? This episode is primarily for women in STEM, particularly senior leaders or those stepping into senior leadership, who want to overcome workplace bias, expand their influence, and confidently build their AI fluency.Key MomentsThe Unfair Reality: Adaeze shares a personal story of how her boss completely ignored an exceptional tool she created, yet heavily praised a male colleague's basic, low-impact tool.The Statistical Double Standard: She highlights a study showing that female engineers are rated 9% less competent when using AI to produce identical work to male peers. Furthermore, only 21% of entry-level women are encouraged to use AI by managers, compared to 33% of men.The Root Cause: Adaeze clarifies that this penalty has nothing to do with women's actual competence, but stems from deeply rooted unconscious bias in performance evaluations.FAQsQ: Is it wrong or "cheating" for me to use AI if it isn't explicitly approved for my role?A: No. You should ignore the unhelpful voice making you question yourself. Adaeze stresses that the double standard is the real enemy, and you should not shrink back or stop upskilling.Q: Why am I penalized while male colleagues are praised for identical work using AI?A: This happens because of unconscious bias that is deeply woven into how performance gets evaluated in STEM industries, not because of your actual capabilities.Q: What should I do if my manager doesn't encourage me to use AI?A: You are part of the 79% of women experiencing this. You need to actively initiate a conversation with your manager or another advocate to demonstrate your AI skills, the impact you're creating, and your potential.Action Steps from Adaeze Iloeje-UdeogalanyaUse AI Intentionally: Do not just use AI for the sake of it. Focus on high ROI and track clear metrics (like increased efficiency or reduced costs) to tell a strong, data-driven story of your value.Teach AI: One of the fastest ways to shift perception is to become an expert resource. Write internal notes or walk your team through an AI tool that is producing results.Find Your Advocate: Have a conversation with your manager or another key leader. Ensure the right people know what you are building and understand the impact of your AI skills.Take the Free Diagnostic: Use the "Leadership Edge Diagnostic" (linked in the show notes) to identify your "visibility gaps" and learn how to better show your organization what you bring to the table.Book a Strategy Call: Senior women in STEM are invited to book a complimentary "Authority Shift Strategy Call" with Adaeze to stop second-guessing and start strategizing their career growth.Resources⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Leadership Edge Diagnostic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Book a Strategy Call with ⁠⁠Adaeze Iloeje-Udeogalanya⁠⁠⁠Follow Adaeze Iloeje-Udeogalanya on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow African Women in STEM on LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow African Women in STEM on Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the African Women in STEM Membership⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit the African Women in STEM Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch Adaeze Iloeje-Udeogalanya's ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TEDX Talk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠