5 Tips for Women in Technology to Help Close Today’s Gender Gap
Why the technology industry needs more women
Technology is undeniably one of the fastest growing industries. The COVID-19 pandemic proved the importance and need for tech by accelerating advancements in technology such as virus detection and virtual meeting tools. The progress made in tech and innovation today will affect every industry on some level.
And yet with all of tech’s advancements there is one important area where the industry is lagging behind — the gender gap.
Everyone knows that diversity leads to better ideas and innovation. Since men and women think differently it makes sense that businesses focusing on gender equality are more successful.
In fact, Fortune 500 companies that have at least three women in leadership positions had a 66 percent increase on their return on investments, according to a Forbes article on the “Top Three Reasons We Need More Women In Tech.”
And even though the percentage of women in the U.S. workforce grew to 46 percent, the percentage of women in technology is still much lower.
Even with all the progress women have made in the workforce, the tech world is a good old boys club with what feels like a big 🛑NO GIRLS ALLOWED sign on the door.
Everyone knows who Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg are. But do you know Ada Lovelace? Grace Hopper? Mary Wilkes?
Can you name any famous women in technology?
This alone should be enough to scare you. Especially if you’re a woman in tech or a woman thinking about going into the technology industry.
What does it mean to be a woman in tech?
I grew up with a full-time working mother in the information technology field. She divorced my dad when I began middle school, so she was also a single working mother. She did the day-to-day work that comes with running a house, raised two growing children, and all while trying to build a career alone.
Growing up, I watched her struggle to get learning opportunities and advancements at work. She was often talked over in meetings and — worse yet — asked to take notes. Why? Because she was the only woman on her team.
Even with having more experience and seniority than her male colleagues, my mother was reduced to administrative tasks. It was expected of her.
Simply because she was a woman.
My mom is the definition of a strong independent woman. I know I’m lucky to have had a strong female role model like her growing up. Many of my friends did not.
Being a woman in technology takes determination. Perseverance. There are many stories like my mother’s, of women feeling alone and out of place. Of women being discriminated against. Of women without mentors. Of women without a voice.
So, what exactly does it mean to be a woman in technology?
It means you must not only find but use your voice. You must stand up for yourself. Pave your own path forward no matter what roadblocks stand in your way.
Top women in technology
Many incredible women throughout history did just that. These top women in technology fought gender discrimination and went on to pioneer the technologies we know and use today. Their perseverance serves as a model for future generations of women in tech.
It’s past time to give these women the recognition and celebration they deserve!
Ada Lovelace
Recognized as the first computer programmer. Ada Lovelace is celebrated yearly every second Tuesday in October for her discovery that computers can perform complex calculations through a series of simple instructions — aka the first computer program.
The ENIAC Girls
The ENIAC Girls were the U.S. Army’s most skilled ‘human computers’ during World War II. Their work revolutionized computer programming by calculating ballistics so the military could figure out the best firing angles. The ENIAC Girls were: Kathleen McNulty, Betty Jean Jennings, Frances Bilas, Elizabeth Snyder Holberton, Marlyn Wescoff and Ruth Lichterman.
Admiral Dr. Grace Hopper
One of the most influential computer scientists of all time, she created the first English language data processing compiler. She received several awards before she retired, one of them from Barack Obama as the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016.
Annie Easley
Annie Easley developed and implemented code that led to the development for the batteries used in early hybrid cars. She was only one of four African Americans who worked at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics in the 1950s and later worked as a computer programmer for NASA.
Hedy Lamarr
As an inventor and actress, Hedy Lamarr is known for inspiring the modern Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology that we use today. She developed an idea in 1942 for a secret communication system that set radio-guided torpedoes off course.
Mary Wilkes
A computer programmer who designed one of the first personal computers. In 1965 she was also the first person to use a computer at home. All of us working remotely from the comfort of our own homes have her to thank for pioneering the concept of a home office.
Adele Goldberg
Adele Goldberg developed a programming language — Smalltalk-80 — that inspired the first Apple computer. Although it’s rumored that she was reluctant to speak with Steve Jobs initially, she finally did.
Who could say no to Apple?
Anita Borg
Dedicated to creating opportunities for women in tech, Anita Borg launched the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing conference in 1994. She also founded the Institute for Women and Technology, which focuses on connecting women with opportunities in tech still today.
What can we learn from these inspiring women?
Determination is everything. Each of these women heard ‘NO’ more times than they heard yes. Each of these women faced gender discrimination. But each of these women also never gave up.
Today’s technology gender gap
Jumping forward to today — according to a report by The World Bank women make up less than a third of the world’s workforce in technology-related fields. Yikes!
Take it from one of the top women in technology right now, YouTube CEO and Google’s first marketing manager Susan Wojcicki.
“Tech is an incredible force that will change our world in ways we can’t anticipate. If that force is only 20 to 30% women, that is a problem,” Susan Wojcicki said in a Forbes article.
By Susan Wojcicki’s standards, we clearly have a problem.
Of the women in technology that we do have, we’re at risk of losing women in leadership positions.
According to the 2022 Women in Workplace study released by McKinsey & Co in partnership with LeanIn.Org, for every woman at a director level who gets promoted, two women directors are leaving.
This is the highest rate we’ve ever seen for women leaders leaving their companies!
Why are they leaving?
One of the reasons is a lack of recognition for their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. 40 percent of women leaders say their DEI work isn’t acknowledged at all in performance reviews, according to the 2022 Women in Workplace study. Women leaders are stretching themselves thin with work that is considered extracurricular. This is causing women leaders to burn out faster than men — a 43 percent burnout rate for women compared to only 31 percent for men.
So, what can we do to fix the problem?
Closing the technology gender gap one woman at a time
Now for the good stuff. Here are five tips for women in technology to help close the gender gap today:
1. Join a mentoring network
A few good ones are:
Women in Tech — the world’s leading organization that fosters inclusion, diversity, and equity in STEAM
WomenTech Network — one of the world’s leading women in tech communities with over 7,000 ambassadors across 170+ countries
Girls Who Code — focused on building the world’s biggest pipeline of future female engineers
2. Mentor the next generation
No matter your level or age your experience is worth sharing with the next generation. Find a female on your team or within your company who is already in tech. Or volunteer at a middle school or high school to share your favorite things about being a woman in technology. We currently have more jobs open than tech graduates in the U.S., so we need more women getting degrees in tech.
3. Advocate for other women
Beyond the ‘if you see something, say something’ motto we’re always hearing — make sure to actively reach out to women in your network. Be their cheerleader. Praise them openly. And always always always encourage your female connections to lift them up.
4. Create a safe environment
Be open and honest with your team and colleagues on any issues. This will help women feel like they’re in good company and safe. They will more easily report sexual harassment or discrimination. This will allow women to have a voice.
5. Lead with inclusion
Don’t only focus on women; include all genders, backgrounds and viewpoints. When you show that everyone is welcome, people can let down their defenses by knowing they’re included. Part of the team. Then they begin to model this same behavior. Remember that the best ideas come from the most diverse teams.
Closing the technology gender gap will take approximately 136 years at the rate we’re going.
It’s up to all of us to work on closing the gap today to pave a better path for tomorrow.
