How Relationships Supercharge Women’s Careers in the Age of AI

Introhive’s Chief Financial Officer, Saeideh Fard, will be speaking at the upcoming Women in Tech Global Conference on how relationships continue to be a powerful catalyst for career growth as AI reshapes the workplace. She’ll be joined by Leyla Samiee, Chief Product and Technology Officer, whose career spans over 15 years leading innovative teams at companies like Reuters, Meta, and Mozilla. Leyla brings a deep perspective on the intersection of technology, AI, and human connection—underscoring how social capital remains a critical driver of success in today’s fast-evolving professional landscape.

In this exclusive preview, Saeideh shares key insights from her upcoming talk, exploring the essential role of strategic networking, mentorship, and collaboration in accelerating women’s careers. She emphasizes that social capital, built through meaningful relationships, is more important than ever—and shares how AI-powered relationship intelligence can help professionals navigate, strengthen, and expand their networks in a rapidly changing work environment.

Q: Why are relationships more critical than ever for women’s careers in the age of AI and digital transformation?

Saeideh: Today’s work environment is relying much more on remote or hybrid settings, which means we no longer benefit to the same extent from spontaneous face-to-face relationship-building moments in person. Without conscious effort, this shift can result in smaller networks and fewer career opportunities, especially for women, who already tend to have access to smaller networks of influence, such as C-level decision makers who are critical for mentoring, advocacy, and career sponsorship.

But this new environment doesn’t have to be a disadvantage. In fact, technology can help us equalize access to networks and opportunities that systemic barriers have historically limited. Relationships have always played a crucial role in career success, providing both education for and exposure to opportunities. By leveraging AI-driven tools (particularly those that support relationship intelligence) we can strengthen and expand our networks, even across virtual boundaries. It’s about being intentional, strategic, and open to new ways of connecting.

In the past, social capital was built primarily through in-person interactions. Now, AI-driven tools allow us to maintain and even grow our existing networks in more efficient and impactful ways. Instead of relying on high-effort approaches (for example, attending countless events in hopes of sparking one or two meaningful connections), we can now use data to uncover who in our networks knows who. This allows us to be more intentional about both first- and second-degree relationships—leveraging our existing network to uncover and access valuable second-degree connections. It’s a strategy the best networkers have always relied on: using trusted first-degree contacts as bridges to new opportunities. The difference now is that clean, actionable data makes this process more efficient, targeted, and scalable.

Clean relationship data helps surface second-degree connections through our existing contacts, making it easier to identify high-impact opportunities for relationship building. Platforms like LinkedIn help us build a personal brand, while relationship intelligence tools provide deeper insights into our networks, allowing us to optimize and deepen our networks.  By strategically using these tools, we can not only maintain, but also expand the power of relationships in our professional outcomes.

Q: What are some of the biggest challenges and opportunities women face in building influential networks and social capital in today’s AI-driven workplace?

Saeideh: One of the biggest challenges I think women face is that many jobs being replaced by AI are traditionally female-dominated. While this shift presents obstacles, it also opens up significant opportunities for women to leverage strengths traditionally associated with them (like communication, adaptability, and problem-solving) to thrive in AI-driven workplaces. Strong communication skills are essential for articulating complex ideas, navigating workplace changes, and collaborating effectively internally and with external stakeholders. Adaptability ensures that women can quickly embrace new technologies and workflows, while problem-solving abilities allow them to bridge the gap between human insight and AI-generated solutions. By leveraging these capabilities, women can not only stay at the forefront of change, but also lead in the spaces where adaptability and human-centered skills are increasingly critical; places where they may already feel confident and equipped to take on that leadership role as the future of work accelerates.

Key opportunities include:

• Leveraging communication skills: AI adoption depends on clear, effective communication. The ability to define problems, explain solutions, and collaborate effectively makes women valuable in this landscape.
• Developing data skills: Understanding how data works and how AI makes decisions is crucial. Women who upskill in data literacy will remain competitive and relevant.
• Recognizing AI bias: AI tools are only as good as the data they’re trained on, which means they can inherit biases. Women who approach AI with a critical eye and question its outputs will be better equipped to navigate the workplace effectively.

Q: How can women strategically leverage AI and relationship intelligence to strengthen their professional connections?

Saeideh: AI-driven relationship intelligence tools can help us analyze our professional interactions such as meetings, emails, and connections to identify gaps and opportunities. AI-powered insights don’t just show us who we know—they help us understand who knows who, unlocking second-degree connections that can quickly become first-degree with the right engagement.

These insights allow us to be more strategic, ensuring we’re maximizing our social capital by focusing on the most impactful relationships. For example:

• Identifying where key relationships are missing or underdeveloped.
• Revealing second-degree connections through trusted contacts who can open new doors.
• Prioritizing efforts toward relationships most likely to drive career growth and opportunity.

As the pace of change accelerates in the workplace, AI is becoming a force multiplier: amplifying the value of our networks when paired with intentional, human-centered relationship-building. Marrying technology with a deep understanding of our connections allows us to expand access, deepen influence, and drive more meaningful professional outcomes.

Q: How can women cultivate a strong personal brand and presence in a digital, AI-enhanced work environment?

Saeideh: A strong personal brand is now a career necessity, and women can establish themselves as thought leaders by:

• Proactively engaging with new technologies: Staying informed about emerging AI tools and understanding how they impact work and leadership.
• Deepening their education: Learning about the promises and limitations of new AI tools to use them effectively.
• Experimenting with innovation: Trying out AI-powered platforms and tools to stay ahead of the curve.
• Aligning with industry innovators: Connecting with leading thinkers and organizations that are driving digital transformation.

Individuals who prioritize adaptability and continuous learning will remain highly sought after in the ever-changing workplace. Women who actively engage with innovation, explore emerging technologies, and view AI as a tool for growth will be better equipped to navigate shifts in their industries. By staying informed, building digital fluency, and integrating AI in ways that enhance their skills and relationships, they can position themselves as leaders in this evolving professional landscape.

Final thoughts

Women have always relied on strong relationships and social capital to advance their careers and now, AI offers new tools to do that more efficiently and at greater scale. Too often, we assume our networks stop at first-degree connections — and yet, the right technology can reveal not only who we know, but also who they know, unlocking powerful second-degree relationships with far less effort than ever before.

Technology-driven insights act as a force multiplier, expanding the value of our existing networks and helping us be more intentional and efficient in how we build and sustain relationships. As we look to the future, network reach will rely not just on human connection, but on the smart use of technology to fast-track access to it. Relationships will never be replaced; however, with the right tools, they can be accelerated.

Want to hear more? 

Register for Saeideh’s session ‘How Relationships Supercharge Women’s Careers in the Age of AI’ during the Women in Tech Global Conference here.

Curious about Introhive’s Relationship Intelligence Platform?

Book a demo with our team.