From One Girl Among Forty-Two Boys to AI Advocate: My Journey into the Digital World

In 1991, I made a decision that would unknowingly shape the trajectory of my life. Sponsored to study chemical engineering in the United States, I found myself the only girl among 42 boys. It was a stark and isolating experience. Seeking solidarity and friendship, I made a spontaneous switch to computer science—not because I understood the subject, but because I wanted to be with my two girlfriends. That moment, driven by instinct and camaraderie, marked the beginning of my journey into the digital world.

Three decades later, I’ve had the privilege of leading strategic planning, governance, and enterprise transformation. The last ten years have been especially meaningful as I ventured deeper into Digital, Data, and AI. As a woman in leadership navigating this fast-paced domain, I’ve learned that building trust and networks—especially with male colleagues—was key to growth, visibility, and influence. It wasn’t always easy, but it was always worth it.

Witnessing the Digital Evolution

As a GenX, I’ve lived through every phase of digital transformation. Each era brought innovation, disruption, and new challenges—especially for women.

• Digital Dawn (1992–1999): The internet arrived, emails became common, and businesses began going online. I still remember my first Nokia mobile phone in 1996—a symbol of connectivity and progress.
• Interactive Web (2000–2006): Social platforms emerged. I only started on social platform in 2019 and keeping it private, aware of the risks of a borderless digital world.
• Mobile Internet Age (2007–2011): Smartphones and cloud computing changed everything. I resisted online banking at first, trust was hard-earned.
• Digital Social Era (2012–2016): WhatsApp and Waze became indispensable. Big Data and IoT reshaped how we live and interact.
• Intelligent Automation (2017–2019): AI, chatbots, and smart devices entered our homes. I bought an AI rice cooker—expensive, but a lesson in smart consumer choices.
• Remote Everything (2020–2021): COVID made digital living a necessity. Microsoft Teams and WFH became the new norm.
• Generative AI (2022–2023): ChatGPT stormed the world. AI became more human-like, and ethics took center stage.
• Autonomous AI Agents (2024–2025): AI now augments decisions. I use a Researcher Agent to explore new ideas and am building an AI Agent to manage speaking requests buried in hundreds of emails.

Each phase brought incredible innovation—but also widened the digital gender divide.

Digital Gender Divide Is Real

Despite the progress, women are still being left behind. Globally, only 65% of women use the internet compared to 70% of men. In low- and middle-income countries, women are 19% less likely to use mobile internet. The reasons are layered and systemic:

• Affordability: Women earn less than men and own fewer devices.
• Digital Literacy: Girls are underrepresented in STEM. Less than 1% of 15-year-old girls in OECD countries aspire to ICT careers.
• Cultural Norms: In many homes, men decide who gets access to technology.
• Online Safety: Women face higher risks of cyberbullying and harassment.
• Underrepresentation in Tech: Women hold only 26% of tech jobs and just 11% of senior AI roles.
• Gender-Blind Policies: Many digital policies don’t consider women’s realities.

These gaps affect trust. If women can’t safely engage online, they’re excluded from the digital future. And when they’re excluded, society loses out on their ideas, leadership, and innovation.

Inclusive AI: A Shared Responsibility

Empowering women in digital and AI requires deliberate, coordinated action across all sectors. It’s not just a women’s issue—it’s a societal imperative.

1. Access and Affordability
   Governments must subsidize devices and data. Companies should offer gender-sensitive pricing. Institutions and individuals must support community initiatives that bring tech to women.
2. Digital Literacy
   We need national campaigns to ensure at least one woman or girl in every household is digitally literate. Companies must offer mentorships and inclusive hiring. Schools must embed coding and digital skills early.
3. Cultural Norms
   Harmful beliefs must be challenged. Governments, companies, and communities must normalize women’s digital participation and leadership.
4. Online Safety
   Cyberbullying must be criminalized. Platforms should use AI to detect abuse. Institutions must support survivors. Individuals must promote respectful online behaviour.
5. Representation in Tech
   We need more women in leadership and product development. Governments should set diversity targets. Companies must promote inclusivity. Academia must increase female enrolment in STEM.
6. Gender-Inclusive Policies
   Women must be part of digital governance. Policies must reflect women’s needs. Institutions must monitor impact, and individuals must advocate for change.

Responsible AI: Ethics and Global Standards

AI must be ethical, transparent, and safe. While it enhances online safety, unchecked surveillance can violate privacy and harm marginalized groups. Bias in training data may lead to discrimination, especially against women and girls. These risks require proactive governance. AI systems must be fair and accountable, with bias audits and inclusive design. Developers should ensure explainability and engage diverse voices. Malaysia’s voluntary AI governance framework is a positive step, but global cooperation is vital. Binding international standards must prioritize human rights and gender equity to ensure AI serves all communities justly and inclusively.

A Call to Rise

Empowering women through inclusive AI is not optional—it’s urgent and a shared responsibility. It requires deliberate, coordinated action across governments, academia, institutions, companies, and individuals.

Imagine a world where every woman and girl are safe, empowered, and represented in the AI space. If women are not equipped with digital and AI skills, they risk being sidelined. Not because they lack potential, but because the system fails to include them.

This is not just about technology—it’s about dignity, justice, and opportunity.

Let’s act together:

• Speak up against online abuse.
• Mentor girls in your community.
• Advocate for inclusive policies.
• Support women-led tech initiatives.
• Challenge gender bias in data, hiring, and design.

I continue to be a student in this field, and an advocate for AI for the good of humankind. Every challenge I faced, every innovation I embraced, and every barrier I broke has shaped my mission: to ensure more girls and women are part of this revolution.

As Michelle Bachelet once said, “When women are empowered, they transform societies.”