As the world marks International Women’s Day, many women in senior leadership positions are raising concerns that progress toward gender equality may be slowing down. A recent survey of participants in a Harvard Business School Executive Education program for senior executive women suggests that many leaders believe there has been little improvement in gender equality in both business and society over the past year.
The survey, conducted in late 2025, asked participants to compare the level of gender equality in their countries with the situation one year earlier. More than 40 percent of respondents said they believed equality had actually decreased, a figure significantly higher than the number who felt it had improved. Only a small percentage believed meaningful progress had been made.
Perceptions of equality in the workplace were even more negative. Fewer women reported improvements in gender equality at work, while many said they believed conditions had worsened. Although respondents were somewhat more positive about equality within their own organizations, more than 30 percent still believed gender equality had declined, while fewer than 20 percent said it had improved.
These views carry particular weight because the respondents themselves hold senior leadership roles. Their experiences suggest that the concerns are not simply personal grievances but reflect broader structural challenges facing women in the workplace. Their pessimistic outlook has raised warnings for organizations hoping to build strong leadership pipelines that include more women in the future.
Broader economic indicators also reflect worrying trends. In the United States, recent labor statistics show that more women than men have been leaving the workforce, while the gender wage gap has grown in some sectors. These developments reinforce the perception among many women leaders that gender equality may not be advancing as quickly as hoped.
The rise of artificial intelligence is another factor shaping concerns about the future of gender equality. Rapid advances in AI technology are transforming many industries and reshaping the nature of work. However, early research suggests that these changes may affect men and women differently.
Some studies indicate that women receive fewer opportunities to train in or use AI technologies in their workplaces. At the same time, women are heavily represented in administrative and clerical roles, which are among the jobs most vulnerable to automation. This combination raises fears that technological change could disproportionately disrupt women’s employment opportunities.
Despite these risks, many women leaders still see positive potential in AI. Most survey respondents said their organizations have already introduced enterprise-level AI tools, and many use AI themselves in their daily work. A majority expect AI to increase efficiency and productivity within their organizations and believe it may support their own professional development.
However, confidence about AI’s broader impact on women’s careers is less certain. When asked whether AI will benefit women overall, only about half of the respondents expressed optimism. Around one-third said they were unsure about its effects, while a smaller number believed it might harm women’s career prospects.
Some leaders noted that automation could help women manage the responsibilities of work alongside family and household duties. By saving time and increasing flexibility, technology may reduce the burden of balancing professional and personal responsibilities.
At the same time, many respondents expressed concerns about potential negative consequences. One concern is that greater reliance on technology could reduce opportunities for mentorship and human interaction in the workplace. These interactions are often essential for career development, and women already report having fewer mentorship opportunities than men.
Another major concern involves the possibility of bias within AI systems. Because AI models are trained on large amounts of existing data, they may reflect and reproduce the inequalities present in society. If these biases are not addressed, automated systems could reinforce discrimination in hiring, promotions, and other workplace processes.
Several respondents highlighted the risk that AI could unintentionally strengthen existing stereotypes or perpetuate historical inequalities. Others raised concerns about online environments where technology can amplify harmful or inappropriate content targeting women.
The relatively small number of women working in the AI sector also contributes to these concerns. Many high-profile technology companies and AI research teams are still dominated by men, which may influence how technologies are designed and implemented.
These concerns reflect a broader reality recognized by many of the women surveyed: technology alone will not automatically eliminate gender inequality. Even if AI improves productivity and efficiency for workers, deeper social and institutional issues may still limit women’s advancement.
The findings suggest that organizations must take a more deliberate approach to ensuring equality as technology transforms the workplace. Without careful attention to bias, training opportunities, and leadership development, technological progress could widen existing gaps rather than close them.
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries, businesses face important choices about how these tools are implemented. Ensuring equal access to technology, promoting diverse leadership, and addressing systemic bias will be critical steps in preventing new forms of inequality.
Women leaders remain optimistic about the potential benefits of innovation, but many are cautious about its broader impact on gender equality. Their views highlight the importance of paying close attention to how emerging technologies affect both work and workers.
At a time when rapid technological change is underway, the challenge for organizations and policymakers will be to ensure that progress in innovation is matched by progress in equality. Without sustained attention to these issues, the promise of technological advancement may fall short of creating a more inclusive and equitable future.
