“Seeing is believing” is an expression used to emphasise that people are more likely to believe something when they see it with their own eyes. This expression can be applied to various situations, but I will apply this expression to the representation of Women in STEM.
“I wish I had more awareness of my female predecessors prior to entering college. I stumbled into this field.”
Shannon Loftis, Former VP of Microsoft Xbox Games Studios
We’re fortunate to live in a time where events like Women In Technology, Women in Data and Women of Silicon Roundabout serve as significant platforms for women in the technology sector to share their insights. These events, accessible both online and in-person, attract attendees from diverse backgrounds, countries, ethnicities, and expertise levels. I recently attended Big Data London, where I had the opportunity to connect with women from diverse backgrounds, each at different stages in their tech careers. Engaging with so many talented women and participating in diversity and inclusion seminars was an eye-opener—it made me realise that there are far more of us in the field than I had initially imagined. Events like Data Science Festival and Big Data London not only foster a sense of community but also offer students and recent graduates’ invaluable insights and guidance from experienced professionals. Seeing others who resemble themselves and have encountered similar challenges helps boost their confidence and in other cases alleviate impostor syndrome. Drawing inspiration from their stories empowers women to assert themselves and pave the way for future generations.
“I am so proud to see Minecraft: Education Edition engaging both boys and girls and teaching STEM subjects like coding and Chemistry in a wildly different way than they’ve been taught in the past 25 years.”
Deirdre Quarnstrom, VP of Microsoft Education
Notions suggesting that girls are less intelligent than boys or that it’s uncommon for girls to pursue STEM subjects have long persisted. From primary school through to university, some girls have grappled with the notion of being an outlier in their classes. While there has been notable improvement in gender balance, disparities still exist. However, the efforts of organizations like Girls Who Code, aimed at narrowing the gender gap by empowering girls to defy stereotypes, are significant. Guided by values of Bravery, Sisterhood, and Activism, they’ve garnered 14.6 billion engagements globally. Their initiatives, including summer immersion programmes, in-person classes, and clubs, have spurred 580,000 girls, women, and non-binary individuals to embark on their coding journeys, with 50% coming from underrepresented groups. This year, a dedicated group from Snap Analytics took on the Three Peaks Challenge, raising funds to support Hayesfield Girls’ School in upgrading their IT suite. Looking ahead, Snap plans to engage further by hosting sessions with the students, aiming to inspire and encourage them to explore careers in STEM. These sessions will also provide valuable insights into what it’s like to be a woman in tech, empowering the next generation of female leaders in the industry.
“Young girls are digital natives with the creativity and confidence to use STEM to drive positive change, yet we are failing to keep them engaged and excited about the possibilities.”
Mary Snapp, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Microsoft Corporate External & Legal Affairs
In 2019, the UK Department of Education reported a 25% increase in the number of women accepted onto full-time STEM undergraduate courses since 2010, with women constituting 54% of UK STEM postgraduates (Department of Education, 2019). Despite this progress, women continue to face challenges in applying for and securing STEM-related jobs. Research indicates that women occupy only 22% of all tech roles across European companies. Furthermore, a 2022 analysis by McKinsey revealed a projected tech talent gap of 1.4 million to 3.9 million people by 2027 in 27 EU countries (McKinsey Digital, 2023). While Google achieved its Racial Equity Commitment of increasing leadership representation of Black+, Latinx+, and Native American+ employees by 30% (Blumberg et al., 2023), achieving fair representation in the tech industry remains a distant goal. Despite these advancements, there is still a considerable journey ahead to achieve equitable representation for women and underrepresented groups. Employee retention goes beyond financial compensation, company culture plays a major role in this. One of the females at Snap commented “At Snap I feel like I am making a difference and that I am part of a team. There is not one day where I feel like I don’t have people to go to when I am struggling, but more importantly there are always people to support you and cheer for you when you are succeeding. I am constantly learning by observing the people around me and they inspire me everyday.”
“I think we need to mentor young girls and women to help show them what they can achieve with technology – not just what technology is, but what they can create with technology.”
Bonnie Ross, Corporate Vice President at Microsoft, Head of 343 Industries, Halo
Starting from a young age, parents can enrol their children in clubs, similar to those offered by Girls Who Code, to cultivate an early interest in technology. Teachers play a crucial role by intentionally sparking young girls’ interest in subjects like maths, physics, and chemistry. Furthermore, encouraging collaboration between young boys and girls fosters a comfortable environment for future teamwork. As they progress to high school and university, attending events like Women In Technology and Women in Data offers opportunities to connect with peers and seek mentorship from experienced women. Mentorship experiences often inspire recipients to pay it forward, creating a cycle of support for future generations of women. The goal is to empower young women to envision themselves succeeding in the tech industry by interacting with those who are currently in those positions.
Sources
Choney, S.(2019, March 13). Why do girls lose interest in STEM? Microsoft. Why do girls lose interest in STEM? New research has some answers — and what we can do about it – Stories (microsoft.com)
Girls Who Code. (n.d.). We’re on a mission to close the gender gap in tech. Girls Who Code | About Us
Department of Education. (2019). Minister calls to dispel girls’ misconception of STEM subjects. GOV.UK. Minister calls to dispel girls’ misconceptions of STEM subjects – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Blumberg, S., Krawina, M., Makela, E., & Soller, H. (2029, January 24). Women in tech: The best bet to solve Europe’s talent shortage. McKinsey Digital. Women in tech in Europe | McKinsey
Google. (2023). Strengthening our culture of respect for all. Diversity Annual Report – Google Diversity Equity & Inclusion (about.google)
