A latest PwC examine discovered {that a} profession within the tech trade was a primary alternative for simply 3% of feminine college students, and girls solely make up for 22% of AI professionals. With the most recent wave of firms scaling again on variety, fairness and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, girls in tech discover themselves at a crossroads.
Does this sign the tip of progress made thus far or a name to motion? This yr, the Worldwide Ladies’s Day (March 8, 2025) theme is ‘Speed up motion for gender equality’. And we’re inspecting what’s at stake for girls in tech, how they’re pushing ahead regardless of shifting company priorities, and why true inclusion can’t be handled as a development.
Difficult the tech house
“I entered the tech trade to problem the outdated notion that it wasn’t an area for girls,” says Kate Shaw, senior product supervisor at IPaaS firm SnapLogic. Shaw firmly believes in making a aware effort to interrupt down the boundaries she confronted. “Actual progress comes from actively creating alternatives, difficult biases, and guaranteeing expertise is accessible to everybody. Worldwide Ladies’s Day serves as a robust reminder that we should take decisive motion to empower girls to guide, innovate, and form the way forward for expertise. There’s nonetheless work to be achieved, and we should proceed pushing ahead to safe a seat on the desk — not only for ourselves, however for future generations.”
Stephanie Albertina-Wright, principal guide on the world cybersecurity agency Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42 shares an analogous story. “All through my journey as a lady in tech I’ve confronted challenges, from imposter syndrome to unconscious bias from a small variety of people, the place I felt I used to be being pre-judged or not taken significantly. However I’ve additionally had unimaginable help from colleagues who recognise the worth individuals carry to this area — no matter their gender.”
Main by instance
Whereas expressing her concern on the anti-DEI motion within the US, Simone Mink, product operations lead at low-code software improvement platform Mendix, referred to as the EU Pay Transparency Directive a step in the best path. She emphasised the significance of taking swift and decisive steps. “We’d like extra girls in tech, and leaders should lead by instance to deal with gender imbalances. We should act now to forestall setbacks and guarantee gender equality progresses. Due to this fact, it’s essential to carry our firms and governments accountable for advancing and safeguarding gender equality.”
Kams Narayan, director of product administration for APIM at SnapLogic agrees. She seems at IWD as a chance to have fun the resilience, expertise, and management of ladies who proceed to interrupt boundaries in industries historically seen as male-dominated. “It’s additionally a name to motion — to help, join, encourage and uplift the following technology whereas honouring the ladies who’ve regularly confirmed that expertise and management are usually not outlined by gender. The place expertise shortages persist, all of us should take an lively position in mentoring and empowering extra girls to step ahead with confidence. As Mahatma Gandhi stated: ‘Be the change you wish to see on this planet.’”
Creating inclusive workplaces and breaking boundaries
CFO on the workforce administration platform Deputy, Emma Seymour, pushes for making a office the place everybody can succeed. “IWD is a celebration of progress fuelled by purpose-driven management. As CFO right here at Deputy, I’m proud to have performed a job in main our firm to unicorn standing – not simply via monetary technique, however by championing numerous voices, fostering innovation, and shaping a tradition that empowers each group member,” says Seymour. “What makes me even prouder is being a part of a management group that’s 80% girls and is keen about laying the foundations for the following technology of leaders in tech and finance. That basis is constructed via motion: embedding monetary literacy and profession improvement at each degree, and guaranteeing our investments – in individuals, expertise, and packages are making a office the place everybody has the chance to develop, thrive, and succeed.”
To encourage extra younger girls into expertise and cybersecurity, we want seen mentorship and trade engagement in colleges, says Seymour.
She provides: “It’s additionally helpful to speak concerning the nice reward schemes and packages which might be usually out there for a profession inside expertise and cybersecurity particularly, as these are sometimes excellent in an effort to entice expertise and deal with the trade’s vital expertise hole. Applications like CyberFirst from the Nationwide Cyber Safety Centre, which incorporates the CyberFirst ladies competitors, are nice stepping stones for sparking that curiosity. This can be a massively rewarding and attention-grabbing profession path with loads of alternatives, and there are organisations who will help a path to management and respect the significance of a piece life/household life steadiness. Feminine leaders on this trade, though restricted in numbers, are testomony to that.”
It’s all concerning the steadiness
It’s essential to speed up motion whereas additionally recognising the significance of steadiness and self-care, reminds Charlotte Lucy Corridor, co-founder and CMO at Zinc, a platform offering background examine providers for expertise and HR groups. “Ladies carry so many obligations, for me it was main an organization, a primary time funding spherical, and navigating a tough being pregnant journey all of sudden – and discovering time for myself was important to succeeding via all of that”, says Corridor. “Taking small moments for your self can assist to reset mentally and emotionally, guaranteeing that we are able to proceed to indicate up as our greatest selves, whether or not we’re leaders, companions, dad and mom, colleagues or multi function.”
On her journey balancing skilled success and motherhood, Grace Ensell, gross sales supervisor at Western Digital UK says: “I’m fortunate to have discovered a steadiness between my job and being a mom due to supportive teammates, buddies, and household.
“To me, true equality is about creating an equitable setting the place everybody has the identical alternatives and obligations of their careers and private lives. This isn’t to disregard the nonetheless current challenges confronted by girls within the expertise trade, particularly these balancing skilled success with motherhood. We nonetheless have an extended method to go to realize full gender equality, however I wish to encourage everybody to participate in it.”
Franziska Ferraz, VP of Media Proprietor Growth EMEA at Criteo, the digital promoting firm, echoes this sentiment. “Fierce prioritisation has change into essential, and that is the place robust firm values and management could make an actual distinction,” she explains. “With the pliability and belief to carry out on each fronts, this tradition has enabled me to unlock alternatives and proceed to develop in my position.
“For me, inclusive cultures aren’t simply ‘good to have’ for organisations – they’re very important catalysts for fulfillment. When everybody’s voice is really heard, all the organisation thrives. My recommendation? Construct a strong help community, each inside and outdoors your organization, and don’t be afraid to personal your experience and achievements. You’ve earned your seat on the desk – now declare it.”
Picture by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash
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