Expert Shares How AI Is Helping Women Shatter The Glass Ceiling

• Viveka von Rosen emphasizes the need for seamless integration of personal and professional lives, highlighting the importance of maintaining flexible but clear boundaries for balance, especially for female entrepreneurs.
• Despite fears and a learning curve, AI presents significant opportunities for entrepreneurs. Von Rosen views AI as a tool that accelerates business processes while maintaining the irreplaceable value of human connection and empathy.
• The glass ceiling remains a prevalent issue, with von Rosen noting that structural changes in business environments can help address these barriers effectively.

This article is based on the Allwork.Space Future of Work Podcast episode featuring LinkedIn expert, author, and entrepreneur Viveka von Rosen. Click here to listen to the full episode.

About 40% of small businesses in the United States are women-owned, reflecting a significant change in the entrepreneurial landscape over the past decades. 

This surge in female entrepreneurship underscores the impact of digital platforms, which offer unprecedented access and opportunities for women globally. 

On The Allwork.Space Future of Work podcast Viveka von Rosen, a renowned LinkedIn expert, author, and entrepreneur discussed the rise of female entrepreneurship and the evolution of remote work. Her career journey exemplifies the seamless intertwining of entrepreneurship, technology, and flexibility. Von Rosen shared her experiences and perspectives on how women are leveraging digital platforms to redefine the workspace.

Von Rosen’s reflections take us back to a time when the concept of executive centers was groundbreaking, offering people the chance to access office resources for a few hours — a stark contrast to today’s digital ease. 

The modern era of laptops and smartphones has truly redefined flexibility, allowing work from virtually anywhere. This change has empowered entrepreneurs to integrate various aspects of their lives, from family to health, into a seamless, continuous flow.

Striking Balance and Imposing Boundaries

Von Rosen spoke about the myth of a perfect balance and instead proposes integration. For many, the distinction between work and personal life has blurred, making integration essential. 

Yet, while integration enhances freedom, it can encroach on personal time, making boundary-setting crucial. Von Rosen emphasizes the importance of maintaining flexible yet integral boundaries, especially for entrepreneurs juggling multiple roles, ensuring neither family nor professional commitments suffer.

“I think it’s important for entrepreneurs and for female entrepreneurs, especially those who still have families…that you do have some firm boundaries,” she said on the podcast. 

AI Might Be The Entrepreneurial Equalizer 

As the conversation shifted toward technology, she underscored AI’s pivotal role in her entrepreneurial journey and that of many others. AI has accelerated business processes, particularly in brand and content creation. 

Despite AI’s capabilities, the human touch remains irreplaceable, she notes, especially in crafting niche marketing voices and delivering exceptional customer service. She feels like AI serves as a tool, but it cannot substitute the nuanced empathy and connection humans provide.

Von Rosen spoke about the learning curve and the initial hesitation when embracing these technologies. This trepidation often stems from the unknown, but she encourages open-mindedness, viewing AI as a pathway to eliminate menial tasks and unlock new opportunities. 

“People who are afraid of AI and aren’t using it in their businesses, in my world, they’re falling so quickly behind,” she said. 

Confronting Imposter Syndrome in New Frontiers

Imposter syndrome is particularly prevalent among women in their middle professional years. Von Rosen acknowledges this pervasive self-doubt amidst career pivots, where traditional expertise meets new, uncharted territories. Despite this, there’s hope; newer generations might not carry the same burdens of doubt, creating an environment where claiming new spaces in innovative fields is a mark of courage rather than audacity.

Von Rosen emphasizes the importance of claiming your space, especially in emerging domains. Whether it’s technology or entrepreneurship, the essence lies in believing in oneself amidst change. 

The Glass Ceiling Still Hasn’t Cracked

Her story also shines a light on a poignant reality — that the glass ceiling is a persistent barrier, despite decades of progress.

“Most of my women, especially those who have stepped out of corporate, have horrendous stories about the glass ceiling, and not just from the seventies or eighties or nineties, you know, from two weeks [ago],” von Rosen said.

She recounts her decision to leave a corporate role, confronting a ceiling she couldn’t break. Her narrative echoes the experiences of many women who face entrenched limitations, reflecting that, unfortunately, the glass ceiling is not a relic of the past but an ongoing reality. 

Although more awareness and diversity training exist today, the impediment still prevails. 

It’s also not solely a gendered barrier; both men and women can perpetuate this issue, maintaining the status quo.

Von Rosen has observed varied business structures and their influence on the glass ceiling. Traditional hierarchical organizations often preserve this constraint. In contrast, decentralized or non-hierarchical companies, emerging “from the middle out,” present fewer structural obstacles. 

These environments provide a new option for people who want to avoid traditional, restrictive systems. This change allows individuals to leave oppressive systems and pursue entrepreneurial paths that match their values and goals.

Technological Advancements Help Push Down Barriers

Advancements in technology have played a critical role in dismantling barriers. Von Rosen highlights how digital tools, from AI to mobile devices, democratize access, empowering women globally — including those in developing countries. 

“Technology, whether it’s AI, whether it’s computers and cell phones — there’s so much more opportunity for those women in third world countries to participate, to start their own businesses,” von Rosen said. “I contribute to a nonprofit called I Give Global that works with women in second and third world countries with their businesses.“

Through initiatives which support female entrepreneurs in these regions, technology facilitates unprecedented participatory opportunities. She shares plans for a Zoom session with women in Ukraine, underscoring how virtual connectivity can unleash potential previously stifled by geographical and socio-economic constraints.

While significant progress has been made, von Rosen acknowledges that much work remains. The confluence of technology and entrepreneurship offers a hopeful trajectory toward equity, suggesting that as awareness grows and structural reimagination continues, the glass ceiling could eventually become a distant memory. 

By embracing technological advancements and cultivating inclusive, flexible business models, we move closer to a future where opportunity is truly universal.