Having More Women in the Tech Industry: The Need of the Hour?

There is a lack of women in information technology. There are statistics to prove it. 

Consider this. A report from ‘The World Bank’ suggests women make up less than 40% of the total global workforce. Accenture shockingly highlights that the number of women in the US computing field will shrink in the next 10 years unless we do something about it now. 

These statistics are good. They are proof that we care about the issue. At least enough to know that we need to do something about it. 

Having more women in high tech isn’t about having the ideal ratio of women to men. It’s about:

• Realizing that women have potential too
• Harnessing their knowledge the right way
• Knowing what they bring to the table matters

“Do We Need More Women in IT?”. Most definitely, we do! Here are a few reasons why. 

Read on to also know answers to some of the most pertinent questions surrounding the role of women in IT.

It can impact revenue for the better

Companies that are more gender diverse and have equal women in power deliver returns in a slightly better way. In fact, on average, they have performed better than less diverse companies. After all, it’s the coming together of different ideas and suggestions that make a product/service stand out, isn’t it? 

Women are usually accustomed to making most of the household spending decisions that take place. They also represent another part of the population so it would be unwise to ignore their perspectives at the workplace especially since their insights can bring about a better product design that can prove effective for the company. 

How?

Challenging each other to do better sparks healthy competition

When building a new product, it’s important to take a lot of things into account. How can you do that? By challenging each other of course! With a diverse team of professionals that include men and women in innovation and technology, there is a give and take of different perspectives making the entire experience a lot more balanced and even enjoyable. You can challenge one another and that shouldn’t be a bad thing.  Women can offer a more balanced take on female gender and technology sector issues too. 

• Men gain an understanding that women also have insights they can bring to the table.
• Women gain the confidence they require to move forward and believe that they have something valuable to offer.

All in all, it promotes healthy competition that isn’t specific to a particular gender which works to create an environment of inclusivity. 

It improves performance and problem-solving

It is a well-known fact that today, you can only stand out from your competition and innovate successfully with the help of a diverse team of professionals. We all think differently. With more women choosing IT careers, there can be alternate viewpoints and differences in opinion, so you are forced to put your best foot forward. This makes sure the best ideas come to life. 

When there are new ideas during brainstorming sessions from women and men from different ethnicities and backgrounds, it improves problem-solving and enhances performance from a business point of view. 

Multitasking is easier

For instance, in problem-solving, women tend to be more adaptive to situations, which enables out-of-the-box thinking. Even when it comes to working with people, creating bonds, and multitasking, women in innovation and technology can prove immensely productive. In the field of IT, there are issues aplenty and when they arrive, it’s like an overcrowded street. The unique thinking that women in technology bring to the table ensures a different perspective which enables a unique approach.

Ways IT companies can include more women on their team

• Be part of the change and try to make a positive impact.
• Create opportunities for individuals with fewer changes to obtain experience
• Have a recruitment strategy that does not favor men over women.
• Train people to become better developers so they can improve their skills

 We asked one of our software engineers at SJ Innovation on her take:

Did you always want to be a software engineer?

While my initial dream was to become a doctor, I moved towards software development owing to the training in my university. I was unsure about getting into development because initially, I thought that programming and development are very complex and may not be my cup of tea. However, I’ve learned that if you have your heart set on it, nothing is impossible. I don’t know whether I’m a good role model or play the female leadership role well but I do have to mentor team members under me in terms of how to handle workload and responsibilities. I try to set a good example for aspiring women in innovation. There were very few women in IT industry when I joined and I hope things change for the better.

What was the process of getting into this field like?

During my university days, I joined a program in an IT company through which I gained a lot of exposure. Following this, I decided to be a part of women in technology careers. While I could choose to become either a front-end developer or back-end developer, I joined as a back-end developer as I had an inclination for the logical side of things, and wasn’t that interested in design. 

How did it feel when you joined SJ Innovation?

It was great as there weren’t many women when I initially started working so I felt a little out of place but at SJ Innovation, there were women on the team too. There was diversity and I found the environment supportive, whether it was personal or professional. More women power on the team can help new members feel like they belong so it’s refreshing when women onboard. It feels like you have someone in your corner, someone who understands. Someone I can count on, and someone who can count on me.

Did you have role models? Any female leader you looked up to?

While I didn’t have specific women in technology and science that I drew inspiration from, my entire career is a learning curve. I learned from my mistakes as well as the mistakes of my team members. It’s important to not misbehave with people but to reach out to people. SJ Innovation offered me challenges that I loved. I had team members I could look up to for their experience and dedication and I strived to be knowledgeable like them. 

How can women contribute to taking a tech company forward?

We need more women in technology. However, we tend to face many issues when joining the IT industry. For instance, we do not always get help in the development field and during training. This is why it’s important to begin thinking about a career in IT from the university level. It’s in this way, you can truly contribute and play the role of women in technology well. From then onwards, you can only grow and it becomes easy. After graduation, you need to consider a career in development and IT. Moreover, you need to gain as much knowledge as possible before joining an IT company or else they will hire women and say they do not contribute to the revenue. 

Could there be more women in IT?

For sure, after all, the IT industry is very much a man’s domain. If you go to see, there are not many established mentors and important women in technology that aspiring women can look up to. Another major reason could be that women are not given the same opportunities in STEM jobs. Women also do not have a lot of hands-on experience with STEM subjects. Since women do not think of pursuing a career in engineering or programming, they lose valuable years in the bargain. Years that they can spend imbibing knowledge. This is why, it’s so important for women in technology and science to be aware of these positions and career opportunities, to realize that nothing is off-limits, and to start pursuing a career and education in this field early on in their life.