6 min
What does it mean to be a woman in the tech industry?
To celebrate International Women’s Day, we will talk about Women in Tech. Despite challenges, women in tech are making their mark and are playing an increasing role in shaping the future of technology. We do as much as possible at Domotz to advance Women in Tech and have a workplace that supports them.
In this blog post, we will explore some of the challenges women face in the tech industry and the progress made to address them. We’ll also share the challenges and experiences of the Women in Tech at Domotz on our team.
Women in Tech Challenges
One of the most significant challenges women face in the tech industry is the gender gap. According to the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT), women hold only 25% of professional computing jobs. Women often meet significant challenges, with fewer opportunities for advancement and lower pay.
However, since 2008, the number of women declaring computing as their major has increased more than eight-fold. Despite these challenges, women in tech are making progress and breaking through the glass ceiling. Organizations like Women Who Code are working to increase the number of women and girls in tech by providing training and mentorship opportunities. Companies like Salesforce, Google, and Microsoft invest in initiatives to increase diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.
Women are also taking matters into their own hands by starting their own companies and founding organizations that support women in tech. For example, Reshma Saujani founded Girls Who Code to close the gender gap in technology and to inspire and equip girls with computing skills to pursue more opportunities.
In addition, more women are in leadership roles in tech companies than ever. For instance, Anu Bharadwaj, the President of Atlassian, Aruna Ravichandran, Chief Marketing and Customer Officer, SVP at Cisco, Alvina Antar, CIO at Okta, and Safra Catz the CEO of Oracle. These women are not only breaking the glass ceiling themselves, but they are also inspiring the next generation of women in tech to do the same.
Read more on the women who changed the tech world.
Women in Tech – Experiences from our Team
We asked our employees to share their thoughts to gain insight into what being Women in Tech is like. Their responses offer valuable perspectives on the challenges, opportunities, and rewards of working in such a dynamic and innovative industry. Here are thoughts from our team on the challenges for Women in Tech.
“I love working with innovative technology. I love learning about new and exciting technology and challenging myself to understand and communicate the benefits. When you work in technology, it feels like you’re part of something bigger shaping the future.”
Violet, Senior Community Manager
“I like being a woman in tech because I believe bringing diversity and balance to product development is important to ensure a larger consumer base and, ultimately, a better product. It is no secret that women have excellent problem-solving, organizational, creative, and multi-tasking skills, to name a few, and this is why many women who work in tech thrive. ”
Katie, Product Manager
“My curiosity has always pushed me to accept different challenges, learn new things, and dive deeper into unfamiliar areas. That’s the motivation behind my decision to enter the world of technology. Being a woman in tech, creating things, and bringing value to these products has been a really positive journey for me, one that I sometimes find pretty challenging yet rewarding. We need different ways of thinking to move forward, excel, and innovate. Women in tech could have a significant role in keeping the balance and speeding up the industry because of how we function, think, act, and feel.”
Kristin, Frontend Software Engineer
“When I was 25, I met one of the coolest people in the world. A girl who was working as a programmer for a big US company in Bulgaria. She said she started right after she finished secondary school. I was amazed, but she said, “Well, it’s not a big deal, my grandma was also a programmer.” Then, I got to know some of her colleagues, the things they develop, and I was amazed.
I realized tech people are interested in any topic since technology is everywhere. Along with being smart, the tech community is among the most supportive I’ve ever seen. Plus, it’s never boring, tech people are creative and positive, work and party hard.”
Vanya, Marketing Specialist
“I like being a woman in tech because you can always express your professionalism and attitude without hiding your true self. Our positivity, courage, zeal, curiosity, problem-solving, and proactivity allow us to give our best to improve the working environment without ever neglecting our personal life. I am excited to make my contribution to the tech world”
Monica, Office Manager
“Being a woman in tech can offer many advantages, such as the opportunity to work on innovative projects, be part of a dynamic and diverse community, and positively impact society.”
Tsveta Slavcheva, Web Designer
“Women frequently experience gender discrimination, unequal pay, and plenty of challenges at work. You may be referred to as frigid if you are professional and precise. You are too emotional if something goes wrong and you don’t feel great. You’ll probably be considered not good enough if you are pretty. “For sure, you’ve reached that position for a “specific” reason; Everybody knows it, it’s so clear”.
As a woman, you often must prove how much you’re worth: you must be smart, fast, professional, prepared, friendly, funny, empathetic, precise, creative, and positive. And even if you have all these skills, you may not be enough anyway ‘cause you’re a woman. In the tech industry, you can express yourself professionally without being judged just because you are a woman.
People’s minds are open, they look for real diversity, and they respect gender (and not only) differences without letting them result in discrimination. You are just a person and a professional; Nothing else matters. This is why I find working in tech so rewarding, exciting, and fulfilling.”
Viola, HR Manager
“We all grew up with the “tech industry is a boys’ club” mindset. I always tell myself, “Remember that sometimes you succeed, and sometimes you learn!” whenever I push myself to get out of my comfort zone to learn how to be a successful woman in tech. Those who never stop learning will have a bright future!”
Sahar, Support Team
“I have always considered myself an interesting girl excited about nerdy and uncommon topics. I love technology and everything around it and am always attentive to new trends.
Because I work at Domotz, I can learn exciting new things every day, and I try to convey my passion. Being a woman who works in tech can be challenging. Today you are confronted with a thousand prejudices and the fact that “you will never be good enough compared to a man”, but we are here to change that thought.”
Giulia, Social Media and Marketing Specialist
“Women in tech are growing stronger and stronger. The sphere is very competitive and demands constant improvement, but this makes it so interesting and challenging. The working environment is very professional, which is another reason I enjoy working in a tech company.”
Veneta, Finance and Admin
“For a woman, working in the tech world should not be utopian and should not be the exception to the rule. Women are as capable as men: we are precise, organized, and great at multitasking, all essential qualities in this field. Working in this area has allowed me to put my skills into practice, making me immune to prejudices and stereotypes. ”
Francesca, Web Designer
“You may wonder if I prefer to be a woman in technology because it allows me to wear my fave nerdy t-shirts every day without being judged. Who says you can’t be both fashionable and smart? Plus, I enjoy being the only person in the workplace who can fix the printer or connect to the Wi-Fi. That makes me feel like a superhero, swooping in with my tech skills to save the day.
Most importantly, being a woman in technology allows me to put my programming skills to use to create some truly cool stuff. I don’t have a cape but can code objects to fly, move, and talk.”
Newsha, DevOps Engineer
Why do we need more women in tech?
Did you know that as of 2022, women hold only 26.7% of technology jobs? There are several reasons why we need more women in tech.
Firstly, to increase “diversity” in this specific industry. More women in tech bring more diverse ideas, perspectives, and solutions.
“Inclusivity” is also hugely important. Having more women in tech helps ensure that technology is designed with inclusivity.
Last but not least, it is worth mentioning that more women in tech also have economic benefits. The tech industry is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. By encouraging more women to pursue careers in tech, we can increase the size of the workforce and boost economic growth.
Overall, having more women in tech benefits not only women but also the industry and society. If you want to know why including more women in the tech industry is an excellent way to succeed, read this Forbes’ article.
Final thoughts about challenges for women in tech
The Women in Tech on our team have stories and experiences that are both exciting and inspirational. We love supporting Women in Tech at Domotz.
The tech industry has a long way to go regarding diversity and inclusion, but we are seeing progress. Women in tech are making their mark on the industry. They are inspiring the next generation of women to pursue careers in technology and showing the world that women have the skills, knowledge, and talent to succeed in this field.
If you’re a woman in tech, keep pushing forward. Your contributions to the industry are invaluable, and your work is helping to create a more diverse and inclusive tech community. If you’re an ally, do your part to support women in tech and to help break down the barriers that prevent them from reaching their full potential.
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