Katrine Bach: Building a Movement with Connected Women in AI
When Katrine Bach co-founded Connected Women in AI (CWAI), she wasn’t just starting another professional network. She was launching a movement. Within just over a year, CWAI has grown into a thriving ecosystem with more than 6,000 women engaged, united by a shared mission: to ensure women are part of the artificial intelligence revolution from the very beginning.
From Digital Transformation to AI Advocacy
Bach’s career spans 25 years in digital transformation within the pharmaceutical industry. Her journey culminated in the launch of an AI product in 2023, which sparked her curiosity to “double-click” on the technology. Fascinated by the power of communities, she partnered with Barbara to create CWAI—a space where women could connect, learn, and lead in AI.
“For the first time in history, women have the chance to be included at the start of a technological revolution. There’s no good reason why they shouldn’t be,” Bach explains.
Why Diversity Matters in AI
The statistics are sobering: only 21% of professionals working in AI are women, and just 14–15% hold leadership roles. Research shows women also use AI tools 30–40% less than men. This gap, Bach argues, is not just about representation—it’s about innovation and fairness.
- Innovation thrives on diversity. Studies consistently show diverse teams produce better, more creative solutions.
- Bias in AI is real. From facial recognition systems that misidentify women and people of color, to healthcare algorithms that fail to recognize female symptoms, the consequences of underrepresentation are already visible.
- Talent is wasted. With half the population underrepresented, industries are missing out on critical skills and perspectives.
“It’s not a competence gap—it’s a confidence gap,” Bach emphasizes. “Women often ask: Am I allowed to use AI? Is it cheating? Can I figure it out? That hesitation holds them back.”
A Platform for Learning and Belonging
CWAI’s rapid growth demanded more than events and meetups. In late 2025, the team launched a digital platform designed to combine community and learning:
- Curated learning modules in short, flexible formats tailored to women’s learning profiles.
- Inspirational stories highlighting female role models in AI.
- Speaker catalogues to increase visibility of women experts.
- Career development tools, including mentorship programs and a job bank.
- Events and workshops, both physical and online, fostering hands-on skills and networking.
Remarkably, the platform was built in just six weeks by two young women using low-code/no-code tools—proof that AI and modern tech can empower without requiring advanced programming skills.
Beyond Gender: Towards Broader Inclusion
Although CWAI focuses on women as the largest minority in AI, Bach stresses that the movement is not exclusive:
“Diversity is about more than gender. It’s about background, culture, neurodiversity. But we had to start somewhere, and women were the obvious place. Once women are included, others tend to follow more easily.”
Men, too, are welcomed as partners in the mission. With many leaders in technology still male, their support is crucial. CWAI’s approach avoids framing diversity as a battle of the sexes, instead positioning it as a collective opportunity.
Looking Ahead
Bach envisions exponential growth. The goal: 20,000 women in the community within two years. CWAI is already collaborating with private companies, trade associations, unions, and educational institutions to embed diversity into AI development and adoption.
“Artificial intelligence is not just another technology—it’s transformative, maybe even a renaissance. We can’t afford to build it without diversity. The time to act is now.”
Conclusion
Katrine Bach’s work with Connected Women in AI is more than advocacy—it’s infrastructure for change. By creating a safe, supportive space for women to learn, experiment, and lead, CWAI is helping to close the confidence gap and ensure that the AI revolution is built on inclusive foundations.
As Bach puts it: “This is not about exclusion. It’s about making AI an inclusive celebration—a fest for everyone.”
