Most people would agree that the level of inequality in the workforce is a major injustice. Women make up approximately 43% percent, almost half, of the working population, and yet many are not given positions in management or senior roles. This is particularly true in technology-focused jobs.
Worse, women are often discouraged from going into high-level jobs or starting their own companies. This is mostly due to the prevailing belief that a woman’s place is in the home, that her skills should revolve around cooking and child-care, and that she must serve her husband first. Thankfully, the number of people who hold this belief is constantly decreasing, but vast swathes of society are still feeling the effects of it.
Why We Need More Women In Tech Industries
Studies consistently show that increasing diversity in a workplace can skyrocket the success of a company. This is true for racial diversity as well as gender equality. In 2012, a study found that having females in top management could majorly increase company success, by as much as $42 million in just over 10 years.
“Obviously increasing the number of women in tech industries is good for the industry as well as for the women. We need to put energy into encouraging girls to take an interest in science and mathematics early on in their lives, and destroy the belief that the logical subjects are geared towards the boys,” says Emma Brent, a tech writer at Gum Essays.
The Women We’re Wowed By
1) Ghela Boskovich: Initially an economist, Boskovich launched FemTechGlobal in 2015. This foundation seeks to increase the belief in diversity and encourage men and women to work together to improve technology.
2) Susanne Chishti: She has a full 14 years of experience in the finance industry, and in 2015 she was one of the European Digital Financial Services “Power in 50.” She started FINTECH Circle the previous year, which looks for the best FinTech startups to get involved with.
3) Ana Baraldi: Working in a very male-dominated environment in Vérios, Baraldi has had to deal with difficult customers who do not believe she belongs in the industry. She has kept powering through, offering the best possible customer service as Head of Customer Experience, and inspiring young women everywhere.
4) Seema Hingorani: An amazing woman who started out as an equity analyst, Hingorani rose quickly through the financial world and began her own company, SevenStep Capital. In 2015, she also began a nonprofit called Girls Who Invest, which has successfully helped over 500 women get a foot in the door of the financial world. If more people like Hingorani were around, our problems of equality would soon disappear.
5) Abby Johnson: A woman whose family have been in the tech industry since 1946, she is considered the seventh most powerful woman in the entire world. Her firm, Fidelity Investments, was started by her grandfather, and today is in her capable hands. She is constantly pushing her company forward, and took a strong stance against sexual harassment issues within the company.
6) Banco Neon: This woman thinks that the industry is finally starting to see some change in terms of equality. She believes the startup environment is more open to diversity and new ideas than an established business, so innovative new tech companies are a good foothold for women seeking to enter the industry. She says that men are still frequently favored over her, but that the tendency is reducing now, as old players in the industry are starting to respect the presence of women.
Tech companies are slowly waking up to the fact that women will make them better and brighter, but it’s a long process. Many women attempting to enter this industry face prejudice and a lack of faith from their colleagues, and they often have to work harder just to earn the respect that male workers are given automatically.
Thankfully, powerful women in the industry are fighting for the rights of other females, and studies are pointing to the benefits which companies can reap. If we continue the current trends, perhaps one day we will see a fair representation of gender balance in the tech industry. Until then, let’s keep applauding those who are making the effort to realize this future!