On April 12, twenty women leaders from various industries including Grab, GE Vernova, Databricks, Bondee, Google, and AI start up founders gathered at Isabel Bar in Singapore for AI & She: Exclusive Roundtable High Tea, a private gathering hosted in collaboration with GoGlobal.
Building on the momentum of the AI & She International Women’s Day Summit 2025—which featured keynote speakers and structured panel discussions—this event offered a deliberate shift in format. The setting was more intimate, the tone more conversational, and the insights no less profound.
Rather than formal speeches or presentations, the afternoon centered on peer-level dialogue—anchored by three guiding questions that surfaced both immediate insights and long-term imperatives.
AI in Practice – How is AI Driving Real Change Across Industries?
Across sectors, AI has moved beyond experimentation. It is now a core driver of innovation, operations, and product development.
At Grab, a company-wide generative AI sprint replaced business-as-usual operations for eight weeks, with teams focused entirely on upskilling and integration. Despite this dedicated effort, leaders acknowledged the steep and evolving learning curve that continues to challenge even the most tech-forward organizations. The conclusion: AI readiness is not a destination—it is an ongoing process.
In creative and marketing functions, participants noted how AI is redefining workflows. Content and campaign generation can now occur at a fraction of the time it once took, prompting professionals to re-evaluate how they create value. In this context, speed alone is not a competitive edge—perspective, authenticity, and relevance remain crucial.
Ethics & Impact – How Do We Balance Innovation with Responsibility?
Innovation cannot come at the expense of inclusivity or accountability. A voice assistant project designed specifically for the visually impaired and elderly underscored the importance of user-centered AI—where accessibility, not just functionality, is the primary goal.
The conversation also examined the importance of cultural and contextual awareness. In Singapore, language and pronunciation present unique challenges for AI-powered voice recognition. One organization partnered with elderly communities to gather localized voice data—an approach that ensured the AI tool was both accurate and inclusive.
The consensus was clear: ethical AI cannot be developed in isolation. Collaboration with public institutions, community stakeholders, and local users is essential. These partnerships anchor AI in real-world impact and help ensure the technology serves broader societal goals.
Leadership & Careers – How is AI Reshaping Leadership and Career Paths?
AI is redefining leadership—not just by changing what leaders do, but by shifting the skills and mindsets required to lead effectively.
While younger professionals are often quick to adopt AI tools, participants emphasized that real value lies in critical thinking and domain mastery. Knowing how to question AI-generated results, interpret outputs, and apply judgment will differentiate future leaders.
Several practical methods for integrating AI into leadership practice emerged from the table. One attendee shared how she uses AI to simulate stakeholder dynamics—rehearsing pitches, anticipating objections, and managing conflicting priorities. Another suggested prompting AI tools for “Monday morning feedback”—a technique that yields sharper, more candid critiques when clarity is essential.
As AI redefines roles across functions, especially in content-driven professions, the role of human insight becomes more—not less—important. Originality, credibility, and the ability to synthesize complexity are increasingly essential skills.
Conclusion and Reflection
As conversations tapered off and tea cups were set down, AI & She: Exclusive Roundtable High Tea in Singapore drew to a close—not with definitive answers, but with a renewed sense of clarity and purpose.
What the afternoon offered was more than insight. It was a rare moment of cross-functional exchange among women leaders at the forefront of technological change—grounded in real-world applications, ethical considerations, and long-term strategy.
A shared conviction emerged across the table: AI is not just a technological shift. It is a leadership challenge—one that demands intentional design, thoughtful governance, and human-centered vision.
In a time when AI capabilities evolve by the week, spaces like this remain essential. Not to simply catch up with the pace of change, but to pause, reflect, and align. Because the future of AI won’t be built by code alone—it will be shaped by the people who ask the right questions, apply sound judgment, and lead with purpose.
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