Artificial Intelligence | Generating Real Opportunities for Women
Artificial intelligence is reshaping the world of work, transforming competences, processes, and organizational models. Yet, in this digital revolution, there is a risk that not everyone will advance at the same pace. The latest OECD data speak plainly: only 29% of women use generative AI tools in their professional lives, compared to over 41% of men. This inequality is not merely technical; it is cultural and threatens to entrench a long-term gap in access to opportunity.
It is within this context that AI GROW 2025 was born, the latest edition of the GROW – Generating Real Opportunities for Women initiative by Luiss Business School, led by Professor Irene Finocchi, Computer Science Professor at Luiss Guido Carli. A concrete challenge aimed at developing a new generation of leaders capable of mastering emerging technologies with awareness, critical thinking, and an inclusive vision.
“New technologies hold great potential to enhance human creativity, but only when they are employed with adequate training, awareness, and a strong commitment to inclusivity,” highlights Irene Finocchi.
Originally launched to foster the personal and professional growth of female students at Luiss Business School and facilitate their access to leadership roles, GROW has now evolved into an ecosystem of initiatives encompassing advanced education, mentorship, networking, and direct engagement with the business world.
The 2025 edition focused on generative artificial intelligence, posing a central question: How can AI become not only a technical tool, but also a lever for building more collaborative, inclusive, and forward-thinking workplaces?
To answer that question, AI GROW engaged multidisciplinary teams of both male and female students in a real challenge: to develop innovative, AI-powered solutions in response to three real business cases proposed by Amplifon, Intellera, and Philip Morris.
AI as an Ally
Through their collaboration with partner companies, the teams tackled complex issues: from the future of work and data management to internal collaboration and the use of AI to improve both customer experience and knowledge sharing.
“It’s often unclear what it really means to ‘use artificial intelligence’,” states Carlo De Santis, student in the Master in Financial Management. “This challenge helped us understand it hands-on. We even developed a predictive chatbot, Sal, capable of supporting customers with best practices, scheduling appointments, and reading medical reports.”
For Flavia Thi Luu Trivoli and her team, AI became a key ally for efficiency and planning: “We used it to organize, structure, and plan our challenge, which allowed us to focus more on the content itself. It was a strategic resource.”
Caterina Santi highlighted the role of AI in team management: “It helped us define the roadmap, optimizing time and workflow,” while Davide Graziani noted that “AI offers a way to prepare for a job market that will be as stimulating as it is complex.”
Roberto Di Bella, student in the Master in Marketing Management, particularly valued the ability to
“improve collaborative dynamics among colleagues by using AI as an engine for knowledge sharing,” while Carla Lillirose Catania chose to participate because of its human focus: “I was drawn to this project because it aims to help people work together in the most cohesive way possible.”
The Perspective of Corporate Partners
It wasn’t just the students who benefited from AI GROW. Involved companies also recognized the value of the initiative as a tool for open innovation and positive cross-contamination.
“Collaboration with universities is essential to enable research activities and introduce AI and data science specialists capable of tackling market evolution,” explains Sonny Merla, Global Data Science & AI Manager at Amplifon. “AI GROW gave us the chance to gather new perspectives and ideas that are directly applicable to our domain.”
Melania Valleca, IT Manager at Philip Morris, emphasized a crucial aspect: “Faced with innovation, we have three options: ignore it, observe it, or take immediate action. We believe it’s essential to lead it with awareness, starting from a context as pivotal as diversity.”
“During the challenge, original ideas and fresh perspectives arose, often unbound by corporate constraints or conventional frameworks,” adds Giampaolo Termini. “This generates a genuine win-win dynamic: students have the opportunity to experiment in real-world scenarios, while companies can gather original input and brilliant ideas.”
“AI GROW fits into a challenging context,” notes Martina Zaccari. “Artificial intelligence today must support the digital transformation of all sectors, both public and private. But for innovation to be truly effective, it must also be inclusive.”
“There’s still a long road ahead, but we’re on the right track. AI can become a powerful tool not only for technological advancement, but for cultural and social growth as well.”
AI GROW 2025: More than a Training Program
AI GROW 2025 was not just an educational experiment, but a model of advanced training that integrates technology, soft skills, teamwork, and dialogue with the business world. A laboratory to prepare professionals capable of interpreting the complexity of the present and contributing to the construction of a more equitable future.
A project that demonstrates how artificial intelligence, when used thoughtfully, can amplify talent, vision, and collaboration, rather than replace them.
