Celebrating International Women's Day (IWD): Inspiring Inclusivity in Technology Organisations & Roles

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day, “Inspiring Inclusivity”, highlights the need for spaces where women of all backgrounds feel valued and empowered. As a woman who’s worked in data and technology roles for the last 10 years, I feel passionately about the role female inclusivity plays in the future success of my industry.

The Definition of Inclusivity

Diversity and inclusion can often be conflated, but diversity is a by-product of a truly inclusive culture. Diversity refers to the traits and characteristics that make us unique while inclusion refers to the behaviours and social norms that allow us to we feel welcome, valued and respected.

Women in Technology

The technology industry is among many that would benefit from greater strides towards female diversity. In fact, it would take us nearly 300 years to close the gender gap in tech without further intervention (BCS).

Female Representation – 26% of women make up the tech workforce, with just 10% of leadership and CEO positions held by women in the sector.
The Retention Gap – 56% of women leave the sector when they are between 10 and 20 years into their career. This is double the rate of men (and no, it’s not just maternity leave).
Technology Pay Gap – Female tech workers experience the highest pay gap in Europe at 22% compared with a UK national average across all industries of 14.9%.
Technology Education for Girls & Young Women – PwC reported that 16% of females have had a career in technology suggested to them, vs. 33% of males.

Why Technology Needs Women

Resolving inclusivity issues in this sector to fuel diversity is not just a moral imperative; it’s also essential for innovation, growth and sustainability.

Innovation – Inclusivity in the design and development processes creates more innovative solutions to ensure technology serves everyone equitably.
Future Proofing for Industry Demand – If technology is to keep up, it needs more women. A report from Korn Ferry predicted that by 2030, there could be a global talent shortage of more than 85.2 million people in the tech sector, leading to a potential loss of $8.5 trillion in unrealised annual revenue.
Business Profitability – In a 2023 UK study by McKinsey, it was found that companies in the top quartile for gender diversity are, on average, 15% more likely to have above average financial returns.

Nurturing Inclusive Business Cultures

While policies play a crucial role in cultivating inclusivity, addressing the nuanced nature of the issue requires cultural shifts, individual awareness, and ongoing efforts beyond the confines of policy frameworks.

In honour of IWD and to inspire meaningful action on female inclusivity, consider one of the following areas that could be targeted within your organisation. What can you do today, to inspire a more inclusive culture?

Recruitment and Hiring
Implement strategies to attract more women into traditionally male-dominated fields such a technology. Is there more you can do to provide equal access to opportunities and address barriers to entry?
Employee Development and Training
Do training plans need to be tailored better to the needs and challenges faced by women in the workplace, such as leadership development and female mentorship opportunities?
Team Dynamics and Collaboration
Consider whether your team environment contains exclusive social circles or informal decision-making, which may exclude women and other underrepresented groups. Could these issues be unconscious or accidental, making awareness building key? Don’t avoid the difficult conversations here.
Leadership and Management
Are you remembering to promote the (often, quietly) high performing women into leadership roles and considering their representation at all levels of the organisation?
Policies and Practices
Review your policies and practices. Do they address issues such as pay equity, parental leave, maternity, flexible work arrangements, and harassment prevention to support the needs of female employees?
Community Engagement and Social Responsibility
Think about how your community engagement and social responsibility work could support women’s organisations and initiatives that promote gender equality and female safety. What organisations can you align with, to support your organisation and the broader community?

The Bigger Picture on Inclusivity

As we commemorate International Women’s Day (IWD), it’s crucial to recognise that the theme of inclusivity extends far beyond gender alone. Inclusivity encompasses not only gender but also race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, age, disability, and more. It’s about creating environments where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed. This means recognising and addressing systemic barriers that prevent certain groups from fully participating and thriving in society.

No business is getting everything right and there’s no tickbox fix, but lets commit ourselves to moving the needle on inclusivity this year.