Originally published September 21, 2022 , updated on January 17, 2023

It’s no secret that the tech industry has long been dominated by men. But in recent years, there’s been a growing movement to increase diversity in the tech sector. And it looks like those efforts are starting to pay off. 

According to a recent report by Tech in Motion, the total number of women in tech has grown by 2.9% since 2018. This growth is primarily due to the efforts of companies and organisations committed to increasing diversity in the industry. 

Many women are now pursuing careers in tech, and there’s increasing potential for career progression in this industry. While there is still room for improvement, the number of women working in tech is slowly but surely rising. And as more women enter the tech workforce, they’ll help to close the gender gap and bring greater diversity to the industry.

Why Women Leadership Is Important

Today’s organisations are increasingly aware of the business benefits of having a diverse workforce. Diverse teams have been shown to outperform homogenous teams in a variety of ways. They include being more innovative and better able to solve complex problems. 

In addition, a diverse workforce helps to reflect the demographic reality of the customer base. This can result in improved customer satisfaction and loyalty. Given the clear advantages of diversity, it’s no surprise that many organisations are actively working to promote diversity in their workforce.

Technology is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, and many businesses are struggling to find tech-skilled professionals who can keep up with demand. One way to ease the tech skills shortage is to encourage more women to enter the field. This brings several benefits to the industry and businesses that hire women. 

One of the many benefits for businesses is that women tend to be more empathetic than men. This trait translates into better communication and collaboration within a team. They’re also more likely to approach a problem from a customer’s perspective, which can be invaluable in creating successful products and services. 

Having a diverse team also means having access to diverse perspectives, which is another excellent benefit for businesses. Studies have shown that companies with gender-diverse teams are more successful than those without. So not only is it important to have more women in IT, but it’s also essential for businesses to thrive. Encouraging women to enter the STEM field can create a more equitable and successful economic environment for everyone involved.

The Current Situation of Women in Tech

A report by McKinsey & Company suggests that organisations with a more diverse workforce are more likely to experience higher financial returns. The report looked at data from 366 public companies and found that those with higher levels of racial and ethnic diversity were 35 per cent more likely to have financial returns above their industry mean. 

Regarding gender diversity, companies were 15 per cent more likely to have financial returns above the industry mean. Apple Inc.’s latest diversity report reflects the significance of having a more diverse and inclusive workforce across the business board. As of July 2020, 56 per cent of Apple’s U.S. workforce is female, while 38 per cent identify as people of colour. 

Apple has also focused on increasing women’s representation in leadership positions. Currently, women make up 32 per cent of Apple’s senior leadership team. Apple’s commitment to building a more diverse workforce is an essential step in ensuring that the company continues to experience strong financial returns.

Rising Women in Tech 2022

The tech sector is the world’s leading industry, and women who have entered the field are making waves. From mentors, employees, and leaders to authoritative figures, supporters, and innovators, women in tech are dispelling stereotypes and carving out a new path of reality. 

While there is still much to be done, we can confidently say that each and every initiative and project composed by women in tech is breaking the bias. It’s steering the global society in the right direction of equality and inclusion. 

Below are eight women in tech who have captured the world’s attention. 

Susan Wojciki, CEO of YouTube

Susan Diane Wojcicki is the chief executive officer of YouTube. She has been in the tech industry for over 20 years and has helped to grow some of the most successful companies in the world. 

Wojcicki was born in Poland and immigrated to the United States with her family when she was a young child. She attended Stanford University, where she studied economics and history. After graduation, she worked as a research associate at Intel and later as a product manager at Google. 

Wojcicki played a pivotal role in Google’s early days, helping launch several of its most successful products, including Google AdWords and Google Analytics. In 2014, she became the CEO of YouTube, which is now one of the most popular search engines in the world. 

Under her leadership, YouTube has continued to grow and evolve, becoming an essential part of our daily lives. Thanks to Susan Diane Wojcicki, we can all share our videos with the world.

Reshma Saujani, Founder of Girls Who Code

Reshma Saujani became the first Indian-American woman to run for U.S. Congress in 2010. During her time as a Deputy Public Advocate for the City of New York, she launched a successful campaign to increase the number of girls enrolled in computer science classes in the city’s public schools. 

Her brainchild is Girls Who Code, a non-profit organisation in New York. This initiative is purposed to support and bolster the number of women in tech.

In 2012, she was named one of Fortune Magazine’s “40 Under 40.”

Also, in 2013, she was named one of Forbes’ “100 Most Powerful Women.”

In addition to her work with Girls Who Code, Saujani is also the author of two books: “Women Who Don’t Wait in Line” and “Braving the World.”

Deirdre O’Brien, Senior Vice President at Apple

Deirdre O’Brien is Apple’s current senior vice president. She’s considered one of the world’s most influential businesswomen, highlighted in Fortune’s List in 2019. 

She is responsible for Apple’s retail operations, including its retail outlets, online store, and customer service. Under her leadership, Apple has opened many new stores worldwide and launched several new initiatives, such as the Today at Apple program. 

O’Brien is a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion. She has led Apple’s efforts to support LGBTQ+ rights and gender equality. She is also a member of Apple’s executive team, which makes her one of the most powerful women in Silicon Valley.

Krishna Nadiminti, Director of DevOps

Krishna Nadiminti is a top 400 female engineer impacting tech across LA and South Bay. Nadiminti is the founder of CREW, an organisation aiming to uplift women worldwide. As their slogan says, “Contributing to the Rise and Empowerment of Women.” The initiative assists many women in finding jobs, upskilling, and gaining confidence to enter the business world as a woman without fear. 

In her current role as director of DevOps, Nadiminti has led several projects. Nadiminti is passionate about her work and empowering other women in tech. She is an inspiring leader and role model for other women in the industry.

Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer at Facebook

Since 2008, Sheryl Sandberg has served as the Chief Operating Officer of Facebook. In this role, she has been responsible for the company’s business operations, including marketing, sales, human resources, public policy, and communications. 

She has also played a vital role in the development and growth of Facebook’s advertising business. In the fall of 2022, Sandberg will no longer work as the COO. However, she will continue to work on the company’s board of directors. 

In her 14 years with Facebook, Sandberg has been instrumental in the company’s tremendous growth and success. She is widely respected for her business acumen and leadership skills. She will indeed continue to be a valuable asset to Facebook as it enters its next phase of growth.

Odunayo Eweniyi, Co-Founder of Piggybank 

Odunayo Eweniyi is a powerful force in the tech world. She utilises her genius to better both women and society as a whole. In 2016, when she was just 24, she co-founded Piggybank, West Africa’s first-ever online application that assists people with personal savings and investments. Today, it is one of Nigeria’s most successful fintech startups. 

Eweniyi’s dedication to using her talents to make a difference in her community is impressive. While many tech entrepreneurs are content to make a quick buck, Eweniyi is using her platform to help others improve their financial well-being. 

For example, PiggyVest offers users the ability to save money automatically and access credit facilities at fair rates. In this way, Eweniyi is not only making a profit; she’s also helping to empower people financially. This kind of social consciousness makes her a true entrepreneurial powerhouse among women in tech.

Whitney Wolfe Herd

This is a name you’ve probably heard before. Whitney Wolfe Herd is the founder and CEO of Bumble, a social and dating app where women make the first move. Before Bumble, Whitney was a co-founder at Tinder. She helped grow the company from launch to 100 million users. She has been recognised as one of Forbes’ “30 Under 30” in both 2016 and 2017 and was also featured on the cover of Fast Company’s “Most Creative People” issue in 2019. In 2020, Whitney was named one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People.

Whitney’s goal with Bumble is to create a safe and empowering online space for women. The app has been hugely successful, with over 50 million users in over 150 countries. Bumble has also expanded beyond dating, with Bumble BFF (for platonic friends) and Bumble Bizz (for networking). Whitney is a powerful force in the tech industry and an inspiring example of a female founder who has made a significant impact.

Stephanie Lampkin

Stephanie Lampkin is the founder of Blendoor. It’s a data analytics tool that you can use to mitigate stereotypical actions and unconscious bias within the hiring ad recruiting process. She was motivated to create Blendoor after experiencing first-hand the challenges of being a minority in the tech industry, an issue which is all too common. 

With Blendoor, Stephanie hopes to level the playing field by making it easier for companies to find qualified candidates from underrepresented groups. In addition to helping minorities get their foot in the door, Blendoor also provides valuable data analytics. They can help companies track their progress towards achieving diversity goals. 

In today’s increasingly globalised and competitive economy, companies surely need to have a workforce that reflects the diversity of their customers and shareholders. Stephanie Lampkin is leading the charge in making this a reality. 

While the number of women in tech sector has increased in recent years, there is still a significant gender gap. This is due to various factors, including the perception that the tech world is male-dominated and unwelcoming to women. 

As a result, these conditions discourage many women from pursuing a career in tech. To close the gender gap, it is essential to encourage more women to join the tech sector. The best way to do this is through education and career guidance. 

By showing women that they can be successful in the tech world, we can encourage more of them to pursue a career in this rapidly growing industry. Businesses can also enable women to thrive in whichever industry. It happens by offering flexible working opportunities and committing to an inclusive workspace. You can read Goodman Lantern’s efforts to promote workplace inclusion here.

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