Let’s talk about AI for a minute. And no, not in the “it’s going to take over the world” way. In the practical sense, here’s what’s actually working.
For the past few years, there’s been chatter about AI taking our jobs, and in my opinion, it’s just noise. Most of what’s out there isn’t written for female founders running real businesses with real constraints. So I want to share with you how I’m using AI, and what the research is starting to confirm about how women approach AI differently than men do.
The Way Women Use AI is Worth Paying Attention To
A growing body of research shows that female founders aren’t adopting AI indiscriminately. They’re making deliberate choices about where it delivers real value. According to a Pew Research Center study, women are more likely than men to approach AI with caution. It might sound like a disadvantage until you realize that caution, plus intention, equals smarter implementation.
Women also recognize the value of soft skills. Things like creativity, critical thinking, judgement, and care. They integrate AI in ways that support those skills rather than replace them. And the result is a more purposeful use of AI. Women don’t use AI for everything, but they do use AI when it will actually help them.
That’s exactly how I use it, so I wanted to share the five ways I’m using it so you can see what it looks like in practice.
Backing Up SOPs (so Nothing Ever Gets Lost)
My standard operating procedures are the backbone of my business. Every process, every workflow, and every step is all documented in ClickUp. And with AI, I’ve built a system that backs those documents up automatically. Nothing lives in my head or in one place, so if anything crashes, it won’t get lost.
For a business built on operations, this is a non-negotiable. Your processes are some of the most valuable things you’ve built, and if they’re not documented or they get lost, you’ll be feeling like you’re back at square one. Protecting what you’ve documented shouldn’t be an afterthought.
Solving Complex Issues Faster
I’m a WordPress girl, but every once in a while, it doesn’t work the way I want it to. When I’m working on a client’s website, I can spend hours troubleshooting something because of this. So when I hit a wall, I bring in AI to help. Not because I know it will have the perfect answer, but because I know it can narrow the problem down fast. Plus, it gives me a starting point that could have taken me significantly longer to find on my own.
This is one of the most underrated ways AI saves time. It doesn’t have to do the work for you, even though it can. But having it shorten the diagnostic process allows me to use my expertise and still serve my client well by figuring out the problem faster.
Creating First Drafts that Get Ideas Out of My Head
This one is personal for me. As someone who lives with ADHD, I have a lot of ideas. Sometimes getting them from my brain in a usable way is like pulling teeth with no anesthesia. AI helps me get a first draft quickly—whether it’s a blog post, a proposal, a newsletter, or a new offer concept.
It’s not about outsourcing my thinking; it’s about removing the blank page problem. The ideas are still mine, and the writing is always mine, because I’m not about copying and pasting. But having a starting point is much easier than me looking at a blinking cursor for hours. And research backs this up. Women are using AI heavily for content creation and communication tasks. Because it removes the friction, but still lets your creative work come to life.
Doing Research Faster Without Bouncing Between a Dozen Tabs
I love research! It’s one of my favorite things to do, but it can take hours to do. I often have 10+ tabs open, cross-referencing sources, and am trying to analyze the information I find from multiple sources with a fine-tooth comb. AI makes this so much easier. I can ask a well-framed question, get solid information, and then verify what matters rather than starting with nothing.
The prompt you give AI matters more than people think, too. Without a clearly articulated prompt, you may not get the information you’re actually looking for. The time spent gathering the information on your own is cut down tremendously—sometimes even by half. This can have a real impact, and ultimately dictates how much I get done in a day.
Brainstorming Offers and Thinking Through Proposals Strategically
After a Discovery Call with a potential client, I used to sit down and piece together a proposal from memory and instinct. I still do that, but AI is now my thinking partner. I share what I learned about the client, what they need, and what I’m considering, but take it one step further—I give it my transcript from Fathom. Doing this gives AI my thoughts, but helps me realize if I’ve missed something in our conversation. It fills in the gaps and makes sure I’m not leaving any stone unturned. My proposals are fully mine, but they’re always clear, concise, and have gone through the spelling and grammar check before I’ve ever sent them.
I do the same thing when I’m coming up with new offers. I’ll use AI to help me brainstorm the concept, map out the logic behind the process, and work through the details before I start advertising anything. As a solopreneur, it’s like having a team member right by my side, available at any hour of the day, who asks the right questions and helps me think more clearly.
The Bigger Picture
Women are already using AI in their business. Stats show 82% of women entrepreneurs are using it, with 84% reporting a positive impact. But the women getting the most out of AI aren’t using it for everything. Instead, they’re using it with intention.
Women identify where time is lost, where decisions feel slow, and where the friction is before adopting AI. That’s strategic thinking that can’t be left out. And that’s the approach I encourage. It’s not about using AI more, but about where using AI would actually make your day better.
AI isn’t going to replace what you bring to the table. Or your business, for that matter. None of your judgement, relationships, or expertise can be automated. But the hours you spend on things that don’t require you at all? That’s where AI can help.
If you’re considering using AI, or you’re already using it but it’s not working for you, I can help. I offer an AI Agent Setup where we build and customize your ChatGPT or Claude Project to work for you from the moment you start using it. If you want more info on this, schedule a Discovery Call, and we can chat more about it.
