GAIA’s ChatGPShe Movement : Emirates Reporter’s EXCLUSIVE Conversation with Marisa Kamall, Founder of GAIA
As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes the way we work, lead, and create, questions around inclusion and representation have never been more critical. In this EXCLUSIVE interview, Marisa Kamall, founder of GAIA, shares the inspiration behind ChatGPShe—a community-led initiative designed to empower women to actively shape the future of AI. She discusses the gender gap in AI engagement, the importance of ethical and inclusive innovation, and how ChatGPShe is building confidence, capability, and leadership for women in the UAE and beyond.
ER- Marisa, what inspired the launch of ChatGPShe by GAIA?
Marisa – ChatGPShe was born from a simple but urgent question: whose voices are shaping the future of AI? Artificial intelligence is transforming work, leadership, and creativity, yet data shows that in the early days, up to 80% of ChatGPT users were male, and another report put that figure at 84.5%. If men are shaping most prompts, they’re shaping most outputs—and that creates a technological echo chamber. With ChatGPShe, I wanted to ensure that women are not only part of the AI conversation but are actively shaping it, with inclusivity and ethics at the core.
ER- Why is there such a gender gap in AI engagement, and is it changing?
Marisa – Historically, AI adoption has skewed male—especially in the early months of ChatGPT, when usage was overwhelmingly dominated by men. That imbalance limits the perspectives AI learns from. The good news is that recent reports suggest the trend is shifting, with women now using ChatGPT slightly more than men. ChatGPShe builds on this momentum by giving women a space to learn together, experiment, and grow in confidence.
ER- What makes ChatGPShe different from traditional AI workshops or seminars?
Marisa – ChatGPShe is not a training session—it’s a movement. Instead of top-down teaching, we use a collective learning model powered by GAIA’s women’s leadership principles. A GAIA-trained facilitator sets the stage, but the real magic comes from peer-to-peer learning and community storytelling. Women share real experiences—successes, mistakes, breakthroughs—and walk away with practical skills, ethical frameworks, and a supportive network navigating AI together.
ER- Can you walk us through how a typical ChatGPShe session works?
Marisa – Each session begins with structure and guidance from a facilitator. From there, it becomes a collaborative space where women exchange prompting techniques, troubleshoot challenges, and build confidence hands-on. A marketing manager might share AI-driven campaign ideas, while a healthcare professional explains how AI supports patient engagement. These cross-industry stories accelerate learning in a way no textbook or course ever could.
ER- Why is it so important for women in the UAE and beyond to engage with AI now?
Marisa – AI adoption is no longer optional—it’s becoming a core professional skill. But if women don’t have representation in shaping the tools, we risk reinforcing existing inequities. ChatGPShe ensures women are leading, questioning, influencing, and redefining the language and ethics of AI. It’s about shifting from passive users to active creators and decision-makers.
ER- What benefits do participants gain from joining ChatGPShe by GAIA?
Marisa – They gain both technical fluency and leadership presence. Women build confidence using AI tools, deepen their critical thinking, develop ethical AI frameworks, and walk away with prompting mastery. Importantly, they become part of a community—one that strengthens their voice, perspective, and potential in the AI era.
ER- What’s next for ChatGPShe and GAIA?
Marisa – This is just the beginning. We are developing workshops, leadership programmes, and creative community-led initiatives across the UAE and globally. The goal is to amplify women’s voices in AI and ensure they’re shaping not only how technology is used—but why and for whom.
ER- Tell us more about GAIA and its mission.
Marisa – GAIA is a women’s leadership community based in Dubai with a global footprint. We offer two tiers: GAIA Elevate, a self-paced online platform, and GAIA Leader, an intimate in-person leadership network. Both share a single mission—to empower women to lead with authenticity, vulnerability, and growth.
ER- And finally, a little about your own journey—what led you to this work?
Marisa – My career spans over two decades across Europe, the UK, Latin America, and the Middle East, including leadership roles in FTSE 100 organisations where I led teams of more than 1,000 people and managed multimillion-dollar P&Ls. Alongside that corporate path, I’ve coached over 50 CEOs and more than 100 senior executives as an ICF-certified coach. My focus has always been helping leaders stay strategic yet deeply human—something that’s especially important in the age of AI.
