Women have carved out a spot for themselves in the tech industry today. The percentage of women succeeding in the business is increasing. The numbers, however, are still uneven.
Women’s under representation in the tech industry is not new; nonetheless, it appears that all discussions about diversity are merely gospels with no substance.
It is undeniable that a diverse staff fosters innovation by providing a unique perspective. If you are a woman eager to push the actual force of diversity, this is for you.
Here are ten (10) reasons why we need more women in tech. We hope these reasons will motivate you even further to pursue your ambitions.
1. WOMEN ARE TRAILBLAZERS
A lengthy list of women has paved the way for us in earlier times. The reality is that women have created the most significant advancements in technology. Even though they are not as famous as male pioneers in tech.
These women contributed to programming languages and guided the male-dominated discipline, from Ada Love in the 18th century to Karen Sparck Jones in the 20th century.
We know what you’re thinking: “How does this address the current technological gaps?”
If these women could snowball patriarchy in their time while still delivering enormous talents and knowledge. It means that more than half of the sharpest and brightest people are missing in the industry’s male-dominated workforce.
2. WE ARE THE CONSUMERS!
Women make up half of the world’s population, which means they consume as many tech products/services as men. We quickly adapt to new technology.
Let’s take a look at it from this angle. Women are more likely to use their laptops and mobile devices for various purposes. To perform everyday errands, a mother, for example, uses mobile phone voice, mobile phone location-based services, text messaging, GPS, and other applications. And, as the primary caregiver, she is in charge of the children’s electronic devices. She decides how long they spend on the device and what gadget they should buy? So, she influences the young consumers too.
In other words, given the market’s competitiveness, tech companies should not overlook women as clients and end consumers. Employing women to design and develop products/services that cater to their needs is the best way to convert these end-users to customers.
3. MORE WOMEN ENCOURAGE CREATIVITY WITH DIVERSITY
Companies that are unoriginal and regressive face a difficult time in today’s market. As a result, the majority of tech firms reconsider their services, ethics, customer service, connections, and the company’s core goals.
Organizations must choose between creativity or suffer the consequences of being inauthentic.
Companies must “think outside the box” to preserve its place in a market that continues to develop, evolve, and change. Thinking outside the box necessitates the participation of people with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. In this situation, changing the status quo means employing more women.
4. WE THINK DIFFERENTLY
Diversity fosters creativity, and this includes collaborating with a unique group of people to introduce a distinct and different point of view. With their fresh perspective, women’s engagement in the workplace inspires intense brainstorming.
This is because men and women possess different perspectives on things. As a matter of fact, it promotes employee motivation and healthy competitiveness.
A healthy competition improves problem-solving abilities, which will enhance production quality at a tech unit or company. A firm may achieve success by blending genders. This will strengthen its position and attract both consumers and recruits.
5. Bridging the Pay Gap
Women continue to face substantial barriers in the tech industry. In engineering and IT roles in general, there is a significant gender divide. Only 25% of tech employees are women, and more women must be hired to close the gender gap in the workplace.
Organizations and individuals must reject the concept that women will not perform as expected or that certain technical professions are not fit for women. Bias is minimized as a result, and the hiring process is enhanced.
As the hiring process is enhanced, more women get recruited. Since tech jobs pay a lucrative amount, the annual wages of women increase that bridges the pay gap.
6. WOMEN INCREASE STOCK MARKET PERFORMANCE
In its “Gender 3000” report, the Credit Suisse Research Institute (CSRI) found that companies with more female employees had higher stock market shares.
According to reports from 2019, shares of companies with more than 20% female management surpassed those with less than 15% female management by 5%.
The ramifications are obvious. When companies perform well, it means overall business growth and profit. Thus, more companies need to hire more women in leadership roles to tap into this new trend.
7. ROLE MODELS LEADING A NEW GENERATION
The five (5) senses play a significant role in human behavior. That is, our mind consumes everything we see and hear.
However, as adults, our minds are more trained at filtering, and we treat every piece of information with caution. Yet, this is not the case for the younger generations, as information influences their decisions and attitudes–both positive and negative.
Thus, seeing more women in the STEM field will make a huge impact on young girls. In particular, women of Black, Asian and Ethnic minorities. Young women will feel at ease in a field that includes women they recognize.
8. RESETTING THE TECH INDUSTRY
The natural order of life allows for events to unfold and evolve. There will be a need for continuous development as long as people are the brains behind revolutionary tech products and services.
Before the computer boom, women built the foundation of programming and technology, and they delivered good jobs.
We need to restructure and broaden the landscapes so that women have more opportunities. The reality is that the IT industry hasn’t always been kind to women, and it’s often toxic.
Companies are better prepared to fulfill the growing demand for talent if more women have an inclusive environment in which they learn and work. Increasing the number of women in the workforce will also help to alleviate issues like algorithmic or product design bias.
Despite its advances, the rebranding of the tech sector must incorporate human values and empathy.
9. WOMEN ARE NATURAL LEADERS
Women are generally better leaders than males, according to studies undertaken by strengths-based leadership consultancy Zenger Folkman. The findings were based on a survey of over 7,000 executives from high-performing firms.
In information technology, where women obtained a percentile score of 52.1 compared to 42.0 for men, differences in leadership effectiveness between men and women were particularly noticeable.
Women were ranked higher in 12 of the top 16 occupational functions surveyed.
Female leaders received a higher ranking than male leaders. This was also true in terms of positional leadership effectiveness and top skills.
Females outperform men on 36 of 49 competency survey items, compared to two things for men. The remaining survey questions were all unbiased.
10. HUNDREDS OF COMPANIES AWAIT YOU
Inconsistencies and difficulties in the tech industry are similar to bad roads. Despite its challenges, cars will drive to reach their destination. Hence, there are empty positions awaiting you in the tech industry. Some companies understand the value of diversity and innovation and are willing to improve.
Companies make hundreds of thousands of opportunities available each year. In the tech industry, there’s no oversaturation since the competition is tremendous.
Technology represents the future. The offers are vast even across the seven continents.
If the other nine (9) reasons weren’t convincing enough for you. The reason above may have got you thinking. And trust us; it is a yes to all those tech ambitions in your head.
If you have no clue on what career path to choose in tech, we have a special event lined up for you; the BLack DisruptHER Summit Upskill Expo!
Learn more about the event here.
No more hesitation, the industry awaits your talents and diligence!