The technology and digital sectors urgently require prominent female figures to inspire and attract more women and girls into the industry. While notable figures like Anne-Marie Imafidon MBE, Belinda Parmar OBE, and Sheryl Sandberg exist, their visibility in mainstream media is limited compared to male counterparts such as Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, and Elon Musk. This disparity impacts the recruitment and retention of women in tech.
There is a pressing need for female role models in the tech industry who are as influential and visible as characters like Ally McBeal were for the legal profession. Anecdotal evidence suggests that such media portrayals have a significant impact on career choices. Yet, the public’s recognition of female tech icons remains minimal.
Career paths into digital and tech professions are often unclear, compounded by insufficient guidance from educational institutions. This lack of clarity exacerbates the existing digital skills shortage. Although initiatives exist to address these gaps, they are not widespread enough to inspire young women to join the technology revolution.
The media has a crucial role in reshaping perceptions of the tech industry. Featuring female coders in popular television shows or having UK female tech figures participate in high-visibility programmes could significantly change public perception. Such representation would highlight the creative and dynamic nature of tech careers, which are often misconstrued as tedious and male-dominated.
There are successful examples of tech professionals enjoying vibrant and fulfilling careers. For instance, a tech professional relocating to Oregon for a position at a major company, or another flying globally for paid speaking engagements, showcases the global opportunities available in tech.
Leeds serves as an exemplary tech hub, with a mix of start-ups, established tech firms, and public sector tech arms. Its vibrant grassroots tech community, supported by numerous meetups and events, plays a significant role in fostering knowledge sharing and networking opportunities.
The ‘Empowering Women with Science and Tech’ initiative in Leeds exemplifies efforts to rebrand the tech industry and make it more appealing to women. By showcasing diverse role models and emphasising the creative aspects of tech, the initiative aims to change prevailing negative perceptions among young women.
A critical aspect of addressing the gender imbalance in tech is recognising the importance of ‘soft skills’ alongside technical expertise. Skills such as problem-solving, communication, stakeholder management, and empathy are invaluable in tech roles. The industry must adopt more inclusive hiring practices to attract candidates from varied backgrounds, including those with transferable skills from other sectors.
There are notable programmes such as Sky’s ‘Get into Tech’, which offer women coding skills to transition into tech careers. Such opportunities are crucial, given that women constitute only 17 per cent of the tech workforce. Expanding these initiatives across more businesses is essential to address the gender gap.
The upcoming ‘Empowering Women with Science and Tech’ event in Leeds, coinciding with Ada Lovelace Day, further underscores the growing interest and commitment to bringing more women into the tech industry.
The tech industry’s future success hinges on its ability to attract a diverse workforce, including more women. Visible female role models and inclusive hiring practices are critical to achieving this goal.