As a child growing up in Morvant, Agnes Cato never saw many opportunities for girls to pursue leadership positions - especially in fields dominated by men. Today, at 39, the Assistant Manager is happy that strides are being made to close the gender gap as more women are afforded opportunities to follow their professional passions.

Cato was one of over 400 women from Trinidad and Tobago who participated in the 2024 Tech4Girls: EmpowHERing Leadership Through AI Workshop. Held on April 20, the hybrid event was a collaborative effort between The Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago, bmobile, CANTO, GSMA, Verizon, Equals Global Partnership, Restore A Sense of I Can (RSC), the Ministry of Digital Transformation (MDT), Tobago Information Technologies Limited and other telecom providers. The initiative attracted an additional 100 women and girls from across the Caribbean including Dominica, The Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, St Lucia, and Anguilla. It was geared towards empowering young women aged 15 and older to embrace the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and elevate their leadership skills to new heights. Despite advancements in the field of AI, women remain underrepresented in AI-related roles. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, women make up only 22 percent of AI professionals globally.

“I didn’t know what AI was but I wanted to learn. It was a very interactive and fun session. We’re really living what we see on TV. Who knows what will happen ten years from now?” said Cato who attended the workshop via the Carenage ICT Access Center. “I would love to see more classes for girls because they need to know there’s a forum for them to reach where they want to reach in fields where women are in the minority.” TSTT’s Chief Executive Officer Kent Western visited the Carenage venue during the workshop to lend his support and encouraged the participants to capitalise on opportunities available to break through barriers, challenge the status quo and be the pioneers who drive technological advancements. As a strategic partner, bmobile continues to do its part to equip women and girls with the necessary tools to enhance their digital skills.

Addressing participants virtually was TSTT’s Acting Senior Manager Network Operations, Dayne Job who stressed the importance for girls to not merely be seen as users but creators and leaders of AI technology. “We aim to inspire and equip young girls with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. As an AI leader, I believe that girls have a unique perspective and a contribution to make in the field of Information and communications technology (ICT). Their creativity, empathy and collaborative spirit can bring about innovative solutions to the most complex challenges,” Job added.

Secretary General of CANTO, Teresa Wankin shared similar sentiments, saying, “as AI continues to permeate every aspect of our lives, initiatives like the Tech4Girls workshop play a crucial role in equipping women with the tools and resources they need to thrive in an increasingly digital world. By fostering a community of empowered and confident women leaders, we can drive positive change and shape a brighter future for generations to come.”

The Ministry of Digital Transformation facilitated 13 ICT-Access Training Centres in several locations throughout the country including Carenage, Cumana, Guayaguayare and Maracas. Speaking on behalf of the Ministry, iGovTT’s Director Dr. Nadine Sangster underscored the transformative power of AI which “equips us with the ability to harness large amounts of data and to extract meaningful patterns and trends.” She added that "AI is revolutionising the way we live, work, and interact with the world around us. By empowering young women with the knowledge and skills to harness the power of AI, we can unlock new pathways to success and create a more inclusive and equitable future for all."

Girls in ICT Day is a globally recognised observance first held in 2011 by the International Telecommunications Union. Its aim is to encourage more female participation in careers in ICT. This year’s theme is ‘Leadership’.