Panel Empowering Tech: Celebrating the Breakthroughs of Women in Cutting-Edge ICT Domains

Claudia Goldin, Nobel Prize in Economy 2023, released a working paper called “Why Women Won” that chronicles 155 critical moments in the modern history of women’s rights. Claudia Goldin’s work recognises that gender equity is critical to understanding how economies can flourish. Her achievement is a milestone primarily because she provided the first comprehensive account of women’s earnings and labour market participation through the centuries. In her book “Understanding the Gender Gap: An Economic History of American Women” (1990), Claudia Goldin identified actual trends in women’s employment in the United States that had been obscured by misleading official data1. She found that the beginning of widespread industrialisation in the late 18th century caused women’s employment to decline, and this trend continued through the Industrial Revolution until the early 20th century.

In the 21st century, information and communication technologies (ICT) appear to be the primary drivers of the economy. The potential presented by data and algorithms paves the way for women’s empowerment. Yet, this empowerment and the resulting economic opportunities are not uniformly spread between the global north and south. Moreover, they affect women and men differently. The persistent gender gap continues to hinder women from fully benefiting from IT professions.

Understanding the gender gap and the role of women in promising IT areas requires a multi-faceted approach. Here are some pertinent questions to consider:

Women’s representation in IT promising domains

  • What percentage of women are currently employed in emerging IT fields compared to men?
  • How does this representation change at different levels of seniority?
  • What is the percentage of women enrolling in and completing IT-related courses in educational institutions?
  • Are there programs or incentives specifically designed to encourage women to pursue IT careers?
  • Do women in IT feel that their work environment is inclusive and supportive?
  • Are there mentorship programs or networks available specifically for women?
  • Are there societal or cultural norms that may discourage women from pursuing or excelling in IT careers?
  • How can these norms be addressed or changed?

Career Advancement

  • What is the promotion rate for women compared to men in the IT sector?
  • Are there any barriers or challenges women face in advancing their IT careers?
  • Is there a gender wage gap in the IT industry? If so, how significant is it?
  • Are there measures in place to ensure pay equity between men and women?
  • How many women hold leadership positions in IT companies?
  • Are there initiatives in place to encourage and train women for leadership roles?
  • Are there organisations, networks, or groups specifically designed to support and advocate for women in IT?
  • What resources are available for women to navigate challenges in the IT field?

Work-Life Balance

  • Are flexible working arrangements available for women, especially those with family responsibilities?
  • How can caregiving leave policies be compared within IT companies?
  • What is the attrition rate of women in IT compared to men?
  • Are there specific reasons why women leave the IT industry at higher rates?

By addressing these questions, we can understand the current state of women in IT and work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable IT industry.

Panel objective

Joined by a panel of distinguished women leading the way in burgeoning IT fields such as data, data science, artificial intelligence, security, blockchain, and more, we will delve into their firsthand experiences to shed light on the present status of women in the IT economy. Together, we will explore how to harness their potential and ensure they claim their rightful share of opportunities.

Moderators

Panelists