In 2023, a global developer survey revealed that approximately 75 percent of the developers identified as male, while the share of female developers globally stood at around 23 percent. Statistica
Increasing the proportion of women in the tech workforce to approximately 45% could bridge the talent gap and enhance the EU's GDP by €260 to €600 billion (McKinsey, 2023). Tech needs women.
However, a recent report showed that 95% of employers seeking tech talent face a skills gap. Conventional recruitment methods are no longer sufficient - we need more innovative approaches that tap into talent from non-traditional pathways. Despite the backlash against DEI, there is hope. Numerous advocacy groups and industry leaders actively drive change and hold the tech industry accountable for continued progress towards increased diversity, equity, and inclusivity.
This article, drawing on my extensive experience as a woman in the tech industry, is a guide to resources available for women considering a career in tech and for organisations eager to tap into this diverse talent pool.
Contents
Who's this Tech Inclusion Guide for?
Whether you're embarking on your tech career or seeking to advance your skills, ample support is available. The tech industry encompasses many roles beyond coding; it's not just for the stereotypical "tech bros." From project management and user experience design to data analysis and cybersecurity, there are diverse opportunities.
This guide is for:
Organisations that want to drive inclusive tech.
Parents or teachers who want to support girls to get into STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
Women dreaming about a new career.
Women in tech already want to find a community.
Women who want to pivot their careers.
Why I Care About Inclusive Tech
As a female leader in tech for 30 years, I've experienced first-hand the transformative impact that a tech career can have. I've also experienced the downsides of being the only woman in a tech leadership role, which I discuss in my blog - Women Leaders—Being the Only.
I've walked my path of promoting inclusion, nurturing talent, and coaching many women to get into tech. I started Kinkajou to tackle these issues head-on, and we're on a mission to impact thousands of leaders, their teams and their organisations to drive positive change in tech.
What are Some Career Pathways in Tech?
There are endless pathways. I changed role very two years and travelled the world. I moved from software engineer to quality assurance to product management to software director to digital transformation - and a whole lot of other stuff in between.
Check out this Code First Girls Career Pathways Guide.
Diversity in Tech Statistics
Women make up half the UK population, but only 22% of AI and data professionals and 18% of users across the largest online global data science platform. Alan Turing Institute
The 2024 UK Diversity in Tech Report stats show that;
21% of women are in senior tech roles.
29% of tech employees identify as women or non-binary.
1 in 3 women plan to leave their tech job.
20% of software engineers are women.
50% of neurodivergent women working in tech revealed their neurodivergent status to their manager, while the number is 69% for neurodivergent men.
Kinkajou Limited was a signatory of the UK Tech Talent Charter - a government-supported, industry-led group of 800+ organisations. It promotes diversity and inclusion efforts within its member organisations and publishes its diversity data annually.
Sadly, the UK Tech Talent Charter closed in 2024. However, there is hope with the UK Women Pivoting to Digital Taskforce.
Recent Closures of Women in Tech Organisations
Recent developments in the women in tech landscape have closed some prominent organisations.
This year saw the sudden closure of the charity Women Who Code, a US-based organization with 145,000 members. In June, it announced it was shutting down "due to factors that materially impacted our funding sources."
Meanwhile, the US non-profit Girls in Tech closed in July after 17 years of operation. Founder Adriana Gascoigne told the news site VentureBeat that lack of funding was "the main reason" for the decision.
Additionally, the UK initiative Tech Talent Charter, which aimed to promote greater diversity in the tech sector, shut down in June. The organisation cited tech companies' "quietly quitting" on their commitments to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) as a contributing factor to its closure.
Efforts to Increase Women in Tech
Several approaches are being implemented to attract and retain more women in the technology industry:
Organisational Strategies
Creating women in tech initiatives with coaching, mentoring and training.
Creating support networks and reducing isolation for women in tech roles.
Reskilling and upskilling strategies through non-traditional approaches such as flexible skills pathways. Check out "Building Tomorrow’s Workforce: Inclusive Skills Development in the Age of AI" (Code First Girls) for a head start.
Workplace Improvements
Enhancing work flexibility to address caregiving responsibilities.
Integrating retention goals for women into performance reviews.
Providing more management support and career opportunities.
Educational and Early Career Initiatives
Getting into schools to tackle gender stereotypes about STEM.
Supporting women in university STEM programmes.
Offering more internship opportunities.
Providing mentoring and coaching for women entering the workforce.
Representation and Role Models
Increasing the visibility of women tech leaders with awards such as the Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech 2024 awards, which promote women's achievements in the UK technology industry. The 2024 winner was Sheridan Ash, the Co-CEO of Tech She Can.
Creating women-focused events and conferences such as Women of Silicon Roundabout.
Joint Local Government and Industry Efforts
The City of London Corporation has launched the Women Pivoting to Digital Taskforce to tackle the issue of women's underrepresentation in digital industries.
What is the Women Pivoting to Digital Taskforce?
The Women Pivoting to Digital Taskforce is an initiative launched by the City of London Corporation to address the underrepresentation of women in digital industries. The task force brings together businesses, government, third-sector organisations, and industry groups to support women from non-technical backgrounds in transitioning to digital roles in fields such as AI, data, cyber security, and IT.
How will it work?
Duration: It will run for two years.
Focus: Supporting women with five or more years of workforce experience in non-related fields to transition into digital careers.
Composition: 65 subject matter experts from across the UK with interests in digital and diversity.
Partners: Includes major companies like IBM, Accenture, and Salesforce.
What are the objectives?
Bridge the gender gap in the technology workforce.
Equip women with essential skills for digital careers.
Support employers in upskilling workers and hiring women from non-technical backgrounds.
Address the UK's technology skills gap.
How is it structured?
The taskforce is divided into four workstreams with key partnerships:
Employers: Partnered with Oliver Wyman with over 60 financial and professional services and tech employers focusing on equipping businesses to attract, retain, and upskill women.
Providers: Accenture with over 60 training providers, nonprofits, women’s networks, and local government offering tools to organisations supporting women's reskilling.
Influencing Policy: Partnered with the Alan Turing Institute with over 20 academics and policy experts looking at policy recommendations and government engagement.
Communications and Marketing: Partnered with BNY, amplifying the taskforce's messages and promoting women's equality in tech.
Key Organisations Supporting Women in Tech
Women in tech organisations are critical because they address fundamental industry challenges. These organisations use various approaches, including education, mentorship, networking, skill development, and advocacy, to increase women's representation and success in digital technology fields.
IBM SKills Build
Multiverse
Conclusion
In a time of DEI backlash, these advocacy groups serve as critical safeguards against losing hard-won progress, ensuring that the tech industry continues to move towards greater inclusivity and innovation. If you're starting your tech career or seeking to advance your skills, support is available. Tech has diverse roles and isn't just for the "tech bros." Tech needs women.