Upskilling won't fix the gender gap-but mentorship might

"The headlines are clear: AI is disrupting entry-level jobs across industries, including consulting and professional services. There's just one problem. Eliminating these roles overlooks a critical business need-your pipeline of next generation leaders. The rush from pyramid to diamond workforce models is short-sighted. In the pyramid model, you grow leaders from the ground up. In the diamond model, you cut the base and bet on later-stage talent to carry the weight."

"It may look efficient now, but it comes at the expense of long-term leadership development. If we don't shift the trajectory, it's likely to worsen the leadership gender gap. Despite women outpacing men in college graduation rates, recent Russell Reynolds data finds men are still 2.5 times more likely to be executives than women, and 10 times more likely to be CEOs at S&P 100 organizations. Yet, women remain underrepresented in feeder roles to the top job."

"The solution isn't some new, fancy workplace tech platform or another mandatory training program. It's intentional mentorship that directly addresses barriers women experience in advancing their careers. So why are companies still betting on upskilling programs? They look great on slides and earnings calls. They're measurable, seemingly fair, and relatively simple to implement. They're also not moving the needle. The problem lies in traditional delivery. Put simply, classroom or lecture settings without immediate practice opportunities fall short."

AI-driven disruption of entry-level jobs is shrinking the base of traditional pyramid workforce models, replacing them with diamond structures that cut early-career roles. Removing entry-level positions harms the pipeline that develops future leaders. The shift threatens to exacerbate the leadership gender gap because women remain underrepresented in feeder roles despite higher college graduation rates. Upskilling programs often fail because classroom or online training lacks immediate practice and does not address representation and confidence barriers. Intentional mentorship that provides role models and practical, practiced opportunities is necessary to develop diverse next-generation leaders.

Read at Fast Company