Women in the technology industry are making strides within their own companies, but not stopping there

Despite gender diversity being an ethical standard, research shows that there are still not nearly enough women occupying C-suite seats. The same shows true in the world of technology  — but what about those women in tech who currently occupy C-suite seats?

A recent analysis conducted by consulting firm Korn and Ferry finds that approximately 18% of CTOs/CIOs are women. While 18% is far from parity, trends show a slow but steady growth of women entering the tech industry within the past few years, each bringing with them a unique set of leadership skills and business benefits.

For instance, an analysis conducted by Deloitte cites varying surveys showing that female tech leaders have a clear advantage in areas such as project organization, team building, empathy, and emotional intelligence.

Research continues to prove that female leadership positions are beneficial for companies economically as well.

“Having a more diverse workforce is financially beneficial for companies, and having diverse perspectives and role models that match your customer base are also becoming increasingly important,” said Sheila Jordan, chief information officer at cybersecurity tools company Symantec Corp.

Currently, the world is in the midst of the “Fourth Industrial Revolution.” Technology is spreading at an unprecedented pace, especially within the everyday functions of companies.

“As more and more organizations move to the cloud, the demand for cloud-certified technical talent is going to continue to increase,” said Jennifer Didier, President at Directions Training Center.

Didier is a woman in the technology industry not only excelling in her profession but also opening doors for the future women of tech and helping to grow that population. Didier started The WiT CloudPower Scholarship Program in April 2020 that “helps women seize an opportunity to skill-up and position themselves for advancement by getting them the training and resources they need,” according to Didier.

While the gender gap in tech is far from closed–one thing is apparent– the current women in tech positions are ready to smash through the glass ceiling.

For instance, Catherine Bessant, a Chief Operations and Technology Officer at Bank of America ranked number 1 in the “25 Most Powerful Women in Banking” three years in a row.

Bessant has made great strides in her field, such as improving the infrastructure of Bank of America, and as a result, bringing company costs down by a quarter as of 2020.

Bank of America’s most powerful tech initiative “Erica” (a virtual assistant) was launched under Bessant’s leadership and continues to be impactful to this day.

Bessant sees the need for more women in the tech world and is involved in the Women in Technology and Operations– a group that supports the professional growth of women in tech.

Technology leader Anna Radulovski is another example of a woman in tech that is passionate about innovation and diversity in tech and has taken strides in her career to do just that. Radulovski is the founder and CEO of two companies– Coding Girls, a global award-winning platform focused on closing the gender gap for women of technology, and WomenTech Network, a community whose goal is to support women in the technology field.

“To create a more diverse and inclusive tech world, we need to inspire and empower the next generation of female role models to pursue and develop their career in technology and become innovators, leaders, and entrepreneurs. It’s a process and it’s not always straightforward. It takes time, action, and support” stated Anna Radulovski.

It is clear that the women in the technology industry are making strides within their own companies, but not stopping there. These women are focused on supporting each other, closing the gender gap, and bringing hope to the future women of tech– so that they may have a voice and a place to grow in their career.