Over the past decade, the technology world has evolved by leaps and bounds, launching multiple game-changing innovations around cloud, artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things and more. The industry is continuously working towards enabling a truly smart and technology-enabled future with the help of forward-thinking individuals. However, like many other industry sectors, the industry is still lagging behind when it comes ensuring gender diversity in the workplace.
Currently, women make up less than 30% of the workforce within the tech industry, and represent an even smaller portion (11%) of senior leadership positions, according to a study by McKinsey.
The study also noted that this role disparity between men and women in tech industry also contributes to the pay gap, as women often find themselves in lower-level positions compared to their male counterparts.
What’s encouraging, however, is that tech companies have already recognised the issue and are increasingly doing their part to address it.
International Women’s Day (IWD) 2021 is urging everyone to do their part to accelerate women’s equality and to champion the social, cultural, economic and political achievements of women around the world. This year, IWD’s theme is #ChooseToChallenge, encouraging everyone to call out gender bias and inequity, drawing on the notion that, from challenge, comes change.
Celebrating #InternationalWomensDay, ITP.net will continue to bring exciting stories from some the most inspiring female forces in the tech industry throughout the week.
We spoke to a number of female leaders in the tech industry and asked them how they are challenging gender inequality and how they are playing a part in championing other women. Here’s what they have to say:
Shahd AlQunaibit, Regional Director, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, North Africa, and Levant at Cisco AppDynamics
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“I am a committed, passionate, hard-working, detail-oriented young professional. I enjoy constant learning and developing new skills. Early in my career I realised that my motivation comes from positively impacting others. I have worked in sales to help unlock hidden potential for customers and bring customer-centric experiences to life.
My life objective is to add more value to others’ lives, as I am passionate about developing people from all backgrounds and supporting them to achieve, and even exceed, their goals. My current role as Regional Director for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, North Africa, and the Levant at Cisco AppDynamics, gives me the platform to make this a reality. Over the next few years, I want to develop my leadership skills further and foster others to become leaders and grow. I will be looking for opportunities to expand my responsibilities, build strong and reliable relationships within the MEA region, and make an impact in my country and beyond.”
Jennifer Odogwu, Global Diversity and Inclusion Manager, Mimecast
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“What first springs to mind is challenging the traditional approach to gender equality, which has typically benefited more ‘privileged’ women and we need to broaden this approach. Historically, we have tended to approach gender inequality as a silo, but it’s important to recognise that there are intersections across diversity that need to be considered. There’s data that shows that a woman of colour, or disabled woman, for example, will have a more challenging experience than a white or non-disabled woman because of their intersectional, underrepresented identities.
In my role, I lead the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives at Mimecast. I have a great opportunity to help broaden people’s perspectives and understanding of this. I will continue to challenge myself and others to ensure we are considering this context in our gender equality efforts and empower one another to create inclusive spaces for all women.”
Cicek Bayulken, Chapter Lead Emerging, Women@Pure and Country Manager, Turkey, Pure Storage
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“I am actively working in a sisterhood community: a large scale mentoring programme for around 1000 girls and young women who are studying at university. Women like me who are in the business world open our network to these students, have conversations with them, serve as guest speakers in their schools and colleges, create and host different events and work together with these girls to support them in their career development.”
Jana Gutierrez Kardum, Senior HR Manager for Central Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa and Turkey, Red Hat
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“My mission as member of People Team (HR) in Red Hat is to make sure we create the best conditions and opportunities for our talent to develop and thrive in our organisation. When it comes to women, my #ChooseToChallenge mission consists from a lot of cheerleading, advocating and encouraging – both our women, who may occasionally need an additional aid in boosting their self-confidence – as well as our male associates to show them how to become real allies for women in their teams. I have been also serving as a mentor for multiple women in Red Hat.
As for my activities focused on women outside of Red Hat, I led various STEM activities in my region focused on attracting women to technology – for grammar school kids as well as university students and young professionals. I also serve as a mentor for women from outside of Red Hat.”
Amel Chadli, Vice President, MEA Business Development and Strategy, Schneider Electric
“As a proud and empowered female leader at Schneider Electric, I am extremely lucky to be working in an environment where women get exposed and promoted as much as men. I have been a promotor of the gender-equality initiatives to strengthen women’s empowerment to unleash their potential and to reach leadership positions across the MEA region. Externally, I had the opportunity to mentor amazing female talents, sponsor and coach young energetic African woman entrepreneurs to deliver their projects.”
Nerys Mutlow, evangelist in the Chief Innovation Office for EMEA, ServiceNow
“I am passionate about debunking the misconception that a career in technology can be drab or requires a high degree of technical skills. And so I want to challenge women, and men for that matter, to think outside the box about what a career in technology might look like.
To that end, I have been writing, as well as speaking at community events such as the learning to work initiative to highlight how creativity and problem solving are critical skills for designing technology solutions that are not only truly innovative but more importantly, solve real-world challenges that can impact everything from our society to the environment.
I am also a member of a women’s networking and business group called PowerWomen. The group provides a fantastic platform to not only network and share ideas but also mentor other women looking for careers in technology. I have met many role models in this group who have shown that it is possible to be a fantastic parent and a successful technologist and businesswoman, at the same time.”
Giuliana Carullo, Research Engineering Manager, Tenable
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“This year’s #ChooseToChallenge theme is perfect. Just like being a leader, being inclusive needs to be a conscious choice. While International Women’s Day is a call to action, it also acts as a reminder to all of us of the pillars – listening, learning and supporting one another – needed to make every job more engaging and inclusive for women across the company. This creates room for the inequalities of the previous day to be challenged and addressed both within the industry and society at large.
By focusing on those simple, yet non-negligible, drivers — irrespective of race, gender, background or perspective – we will all come closer to a brighter, more inclusive, future.”
MORE IWD2021 STORIES | Zain Kamal Masri, Google | Sabine Holl, IBM
