Women’s Equality Day 2020: Women in Tech Talk About Gender Gap

On the occasion of Women’s Equality Day, Toolbox spoke to seven women tech leaders about their journeys and challenges. Apart from the issue of the gender gap that’s prevalent in the industry, tech executives explain the importance of gender diversity in technology and the urgent need to empower women from all backgrounds to enter STEM.  

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment which granted American women the right to vote in the United States. Despite the recent efforts to strive for gender equality in tech, the narrative hasn’t changed much over the last decade. Some of the most inherent issues such as bias in hiring, promotion, and pay parity continue to plague women in technology.  

In addition, the lack of diversity in the U.S. tech sector has been a considerable challenge for tech companies over the last few years. Business leaders across sectors grapple with the tech skills shortage. And as companies look to grow their capabilities, the competition for talent will only increase. To stay ahead, the tech sector needs to expand its talent pool and take effective measures to attract and hire more women.

On Women’s Equality Day, seven tech executives share their experiences and challenges, along with best practices that organizations can adopt to promote gender equality.

1. Gender Gap in Tech Industry Continues To Exist — Wendy Meyers, Director of Global Operations, DatadobiOpens a new window

“Women’s Equality Day serves to remind us that while technology is still a predominantly male profession, it should be viewed and promoted as a profession for all. Despite some progress over the past few decades, the gender gap in technology continues to exist. From early on in childhood, girls need to be encouraged and know it is okay to ask challenging questions, disagree and debate, and dig-in and be hands-on. Above all, it must be made known to women that they also have the power to be trailblazers in the technology field, and they should relentlessly follow their dreams.” 

2. Women Are Still Fighting for Equality — Sofia Kaufman, CPO, ZertoOpens a new window

“On August 18, 1920, women in the U.S. gained the right to vote with the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. It took more than 70 years of protesting and combined efforts from both women and men to gain this right, which we celebrate today on Women’s Equality Day.

Even though 100 years have passed since the 19th Amendment was signed into law, there are many areas in which women are still fighting for equality. While topics like equal pay and the lack of women in male-dominated industries still need to be addressed, I want to encourage women across the world to use this year’s Women’s Equality Day as a reminder of their worth. Women achieve amazing things every day, and we need to be celebrated in our success as much as our male counterparts are. It’s no longer time to be humble; it’s time to speak up, move up, and be proud of what we achieve.”

3. We Need To Get More Women in Tech — Marilou van Doorn, COO, Leaseweb GlobalOpens a new window

“This year, Women’s Equality Day is an opportunity to remind ourselves that we need to get more women in tech. Just because an organization currently doesn’t have an equal ratio of men to women shouldn’t be a reason not to apply for a role; in fact, it should be the opposite. When I first joined the tech industry, I was the only woman. After a while, my CEO confessed that he had noticed a positive change in the team, atmosphere, and overall working environment. My advice is to apply – don’t feel intimidated, be the cultural change the organization needs.

It starts by focusing on quality recruitment. Through the right search, screening, and hiring methods, organizations can expand their talent pool and increase their inclusiveness. The key to this is to take away the unconscious bias when it comes to advertising job vacancies and the selection process. For example, use more gender-neutral terminology, allowing women to feel encouraged in applying for a role in tech. Organizations also need to ensure they are not just increasing the number of women they hire to fill the so-called ‘pink quota’, check that the people you hire, of all genders and diverse backgrounds, are being hired because they are the best fit for the role. 

An organization’s leadership team also plays a significant role in future talent wanting to grow and develop themselves in tech. We, as a generation, need to see more female role models come forward and show both the current and next-generation that women can and will succeed in tech. It’s not just a man’s game. Women can also be the next CTO, COO, or CEO.”

4. Leaders Should Extend Opportunities To Women of All Backgrounds — Samina Subedar, VP, Marketing, StorCentricOpens a new window

“Research shows that companies with a diverse workforceOpens a new window are more innovative, better prepared for decision-making, and perform better financially than their homogeneous counterparts. Armed with that knowledge, it’s important to take stock of our accomplishments this Women’s Equality Day and reflect on where we can improve by recognizing who gets left behind. When we speak of women’s equality, we must factor in the race, socioeconomic status, ability, religious beliefs, and much more. 

Poet Audre Lorde captured this sentiment when she said, ‘I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own.’ Protests and conversations in support of equality have reinforced the importance of promoting a voice for all. As leaders, we have the opportunity to extend access to opportunities to women of all backgrounds. Diversity is good for business, but it’s also important to embrace our differences, fight prejudice, and actively promote inclusivity and equality in the workplace, now and in the future.”

5. Organizations Should Support Programs That Encourage Women —  Sam Humphries, Security Strategist, ExabeamOpens a new window

“For the first time, there are more than 1 million women working in core STEM roles across the UK. This is an outstanding achievement, but we still have a long way to go. If you want to see new ideas and innovation and spark positive change, then you need different individuals who think, speak and act in different ways; otherwise, you’ll fundamentally end up with more of the same.

For the last three years, I’ve been involved in The Diana Initiative, which is one of the many conferences that take place at ‘Hacker Summer Camp.’  They’ve done an amazing job of creating a safe space focused on diversity and inclusion in cybersecurity, where participants feel comfortable to network and learn, and be inspired by speakers at a conference that embraces everyone. I’m also proud to be part of the ExaGals program, which looks to support and empower the women of Exabeam, as well as women in the technology community at large, with career development, education and personal growth opportunities.

As more and more companies turn to a distributed workforce, it will also create more opportunities for women with family commitments to return to the industry. My hope is that, by supporting programs that expose and encourage women and girls to the possibilities of education and career in tech and creating more remote work opportunities, we can help address the skills shortage and lack of diversity by introducing new perspectives and problem-solving skills to the industry.”

6. Women in Tech Need To Build Their Network — Yumi Nishiyama, Director of Global Service Alliances, ExabeamOpens a new window

“Young women in tech need to build their network. When we talk about being a strong woman in the field, we need to focus on not just hard work and a solid sense of self, but also the importance of relationships. Throughout my career, I have been able to surround myself with a strong support system. This Women’s Equality Day, I encourage young women to start building their network immediately by finding a mentor to help them advance professionally and personally. 

Some of the best mentoring moments happen when we least expect it. I recommend asking potential mentors questions about work, how they’ve handled specific situations, and how they have built their own networks. It doesn’t have to be formal; it could be a simple conversation over coffee. Asking an established person to be your mentor can seem daunting, but just think about how thankful they would be that you perceive them in that light. At the end of the day, it will be a gift to both of you.” 

7. Women Are Achieving Leadership Positions at an Accelerated Pace — Nicole Sahin, CEO and Founder, Globalization PartnersOpens a new window  

“Women’s Equality Day is rooted in celebration of the day that American women were officially granted the vote in 1920, and when the 19th Amendment was added to the U.S. Constitution. It is now an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come to achieve greater equality, with great men, as well as women, championing gender equality in business.
 

Women are achieving leadership positions at an accelerated pace. Within my own organization, 50% of my team are women – proof that diverse teams render better results. Also promising is that, according to McKinseyOpens a new window , today, 44% of companies have three or more women in their C-suite, up from 29% of companies in 2015. This is a reminder of everything that women can achieve, especially if they are in an environment that supports and encourages their success. 

However, despite this progress, women continue to be underrepresented at every level: for every 100 men promoted and hired to manager, only 72 women are promoted and hired. From recruitment to development, to women-friendly policies, Women’s Equality Day reminds us about the importance of prioritizing equality across every aspect of the organization, to ensure women’s progress is accelerated further.

After all, there is so much to gain from companies focusing on creating a diverse, inclusive culture that attracts talent of all genders, ages, sexualities, and ethnicities. Time and again, research showsOpens a new window that organizations that have a high percentage of diversity financially outperform their competitors. I’ve seen first-hand the powerful results that occur when people with different perspectives work together. By striving for equal, inclusive, and diverse organizations, we can make Women’s Equality Day an event to be truly proud of.”  

It is evident that the technology industry has made tremendous progress when it comes to embracing equality. However, the day when women really feel heard still seems far. Supporting programs that create a safe learning space for women, extending opportunities to women from all backgrounds, and prioritizing equality across every aspect of the organization will further accelerate women’s progress in the coming years.

Also Read: Celebrating 5 Women Who Are Changing the Face of Tech

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