As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2024, it’s important to celebrate the achievements made by women across the globe all year round. In the technology industry especially, women have been making significant strides, challenging stereotypes, and reshaping the landscape of innovation.
What is International Women’s Day?
First held in 1911, International Women’s Day is a global celebration held annually on March 8th to recognise the achievements of women around the world. International Women’s Day has its roots in the early 20th century when women’s movements began advocating for better working conditions and equality.
Today, International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate women’s achievements, educate and raise awareness on women’s equality, and call for positive changes that advance women. Each year, the day follows a different theme, and in 2024 we’re all encouraged to ‘Inspire Inclusion’.
The Current Landscape of Women in Technology
Despite significant progress, women remain vastly underrepresented in the technology sector. Women’s representation in tech companies with more than 10,000 workers stands at 26.2%, despite 47.7% of women accounting for the global workforce. Just 10.9% of those holding CEO or senior leadership roles are women, and the industry standard for the percentage of women employed in tech career positions is 26%. These statistics are only a few of many that show that there is more work to be done – and combined with the ever-increasing demand for digital skills, the urgency becomes clear.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
As well as striving toward equality for women in the workplace, embracing diversity and inclusion also makes sense from a business perspective:
- When employees perceive their organisation as supportive of diversity and inclusion, revenue sees a significant boost of 83%.
- Companies ranking in the top quartile for gender diversity are 15% more likely to outperform their competitors. Similarly, those excelling in ethnic diversity in the top quartile are 35% more likely to outperform competitors.
- An inclusive organisation is twice as likely to surpass financial targets, three times more likely to achieve high-performance status, six times more prone to fostering agility and innovation, and eight times more likely to attain superior business outcomes. Everybody’s a winner.
Empowering Women in Technology
Empowering women in the tech industry isn’t just about equality schemes; organisations need to unlock their full potential through innovation, creativity, and technology. Fortunately, there’s a growing movement of businesses dedicated to supporting and uplifting women in technology by leveraging the power of community.
Having started in 2007, Girls in Tech is a non-profit organisation that aims to stop gender inequality in the tech industry by empowering women through access to new skills workshops, a thriving community, and solid career advice. Meanwhile, TechLadies – a community that looks to connect members with potential opportunities through an online network – frequently holds events to help members learn new skills and grow their careers.
By offering tailored resources, mentorship opportunities, and community-based networks, these groups equip women with the necessary tools to not only navigate but also excel in the tech industry.
Looking Forward
It’s important that as we move forward, we continue to advocate for inclusivity and dismantling barriers that decrease women’s involvement in the tech industry. What’s more, we’re now in a better position than ever before to ensure greater inclusion, thanks to the mainstream acceptance of hybrid and remote working, increased opportunities for career development, and transformative technologies.
Ultimately, by helping women achieve, we not only unlock the full potential of teams and businesses across the globe, but also drive innovation and progress in the tech sector. In short, we all succeed when we succeed together. Now that’s something to aspire to.
Want to find out more? Visit International Women’s Day to access more resources and research.