Women in the workplace have historically been under appreciated. That is a fact, but it is especially true in tech. In the United States, women make up less than 40% of the workforce and only 25% of professional computing jobs. A new report shows that 45% of women in tech say men outnumber them at work at ratios of 4-to-1 or greater.
If you want us to recount our journeys, we are likely to recall both great and not-so-great memories. One of us distinctly remembers being told by an eighth grade math teacher that she wasn't good enough to take algebra. She majored in math and got her first post-grad job as a programmer for a NASA contractor. This would lead to a successful career in tech.
The other remembers serving as the only woman on her company's leadership team, feeling isolated and alone. She used this as a catalyst to build a platform focusing on advancement of women in the workplace, helping to identify and bring more female leaders to the table.
While many organizations and allies are making a more concentrated effort to help women progress in their careers and thrive in a male-dominated tech world, much of the onus on driving change and making improvements rests squarely on women. After being disproportionately affected by the Pandemic, women are showing a fresh perspective, energy and dedication to ensure they rebound and regain influence, power and capital.
Whether you are a woman considering a career in tech or a seasoned professional, we all share in this mission and have a role to play in supporting one another.
There are a few things that have worked for us.
Accept the challenges and face them head on.
If you like country music, you may have heard the song, "Same Boat", where the chorus says, "We're all in the same boat, fishing in the same hole."
Women returning from a career break can bolster existing talent pools, and they are often highly motivated, educated and more qualified to take on a variety of roles.
Women in technical fields face many of the challenges in the workplace that have existed, according to a report by Skillsoft. Lack of equity in pay, work and life balance, lack of opportunities and lack of training are the biggest issues cited by the largest percentage.
In the United States, 34% of men working remotely with children at home received a promotion compared to 9% of women in the same situation, and 26% of men received a pay raise compared to just 13% of women, according to a study by Qualtrics and The Board.
The gender gap faced by women has shown slight signs of improvement in recent years, but this is a reminder that the road to equality is long and winding. It is important to keep your sights on your goals in the face of adversity. If you were an average student, you might find yourself in a meeting and realize you are one of the smartest people there.
When things aren't going your way, learn from your mistakes and find a way that works. In the 1960s, it held true.
Don't be afraid of change.
curve balls are thrown by life. Taking a break from work to have and care for children is something that many women do. It can be difficult to find an employer that will allow women to return to the workforce. Being persistent and willing to change is important.
You should maintain a mindset of curiosity throughout your career. It is important to ensure you are able to pivot in any situation. Maybe after leaving the workforce, your previous position in product marketing is no longer there, or maybe you have reached a certain point in your career and no longer enjoy the work. Do your skills transfer to another role? Are there skills you have learned along the way that can allow you to shift to development?
It can be difficult to change your career, but it can pay dividends in the long run.
This approach is good for businesses. Women returning from a career break can bolster existing talent pools, and they are often highly motivated, educated and more qualified to take on a variety of roles. They want to bring mature and diverse perspectives to the table, many of which they may have gained during their break.
At a time when the tech workforce is in dire need of more skilled individuals, now is the time to empower this motivated group.
Flexibility is the most important skill.
Embracing and adapting to change can open a new world of possibilities. It is important to understand and learn how to thrive in organizational change in order to come out ahead.
A few years ago, one of us led a team that brought a new product to market that was very exciting. Her company bought a business that was already successful in this space. She realized that the company needed help moving customers from the existing product to the acquired one, and that she could have worried about her job. She was assigned to the new team after she raised her hand.
She has been with the company for over 20 years.
If an organization is asking for a drastic change of an employee, they need to provide the tools and resources needed for them to succeed in their new role. Creating a culture of learning in which every employee is given the opportunity to develop new skills and capabilities comes into play.
We all want to find our place in the world. Women's careers are journeys made up of diverse and interwoven learning experiences that build leadership, power, influence, and resilience. We have made some good choices and faced some tough challenges over the course of our combined 70 years in the tech workforce.
What have we learned? What you do with those learning lessons and how you build your story of perseverance, resilience and success as a female in technology is the most important thing.
