Girls at the Brink of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

We live in an interconnected world where the way we work and communicate with each other is strongly shaped by technology. The speed at which communication and information technologies are progressing makes it hard to envision what the future will look like for new generations. What will the world of work look like 15 years from now?

We might not have the answer to that question, but we are certain that the speed of current technological innovation has no historical precedent in terms of complexity, speed and scope. This revolution is rapidly transforming every industry around the globe — in terms of production, management and governance.

Thus, our role as leaders is to pave the way for new generations so they are able to acquire the knowledge, skills and capacity to face the challenges that lie ahead, and succeed. The good news is that the mobile devices and the enormous processing we now have access to have also opened new paths to access knowledge — learning is also becoming unlimited. How does this help us build a fairer, more equal world?

It is essential for girls and young women to be fully aware that most professions to be created in the following 15 to 20 years will have a strong technology component. This might be a great opportunity for them to take new career paths. It is vital to continue inspiring girls to pursue careers in traditionally male dominated areas and to eradicate false assumptions regarding girls not being capable of pursuing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) — related professions.

New generations have enormous opportunities as well as challenges ahead: demand will most likely increase for highly skilled labor, especially for the types of jobs that machines cannot take over. However, girls face an additional trial: they need to bridge the gender divide. Many jobs which are currently dominated by women run the risk of remaining undervalued or of disappearing. This scenario could sharpen inequality, posing new difficulties for women to succeed professionally in the future.

For all the above reasons, it is essential to encourage youth, particularly girls and women, to use technology and to develop financial and entrepreneurial skills to create economic opportunities. As a society we must continue fostering a culture of scientific and technological education for girls.

On the other hand, this technological revolution will help advance gender equality in several ways. Increased opportunities for remote work will provide both parents with time flexibility to share family responsibilities more equally, while advancing their careers. Companies will need to adapt to remote work modalities, but these changes will allow more women to balance their roles as professionals and mothers without having to put their careers on hold while raising children.

Opening opportunities for girls and women to develop their full potential can lead to greater overall economic growth and sustainable development. Join me in this effort to inspire new role models where collective intelligence becomes the catalyst for global prosperity and gender equality.