Women and IT: How does something that actually fits together perfectly come together?

"What changes are needed for more women to consider a career in IT and reach leadership positions?" asks Liselotte Munk, CEO of Fadata. Women and IT: Be confident, believe in yourselves, and form networks – these are some of her proposed solutions. However, companies also have a role to play.

Women are still in the minority in the tech industry. Looking at the executive levels, the numbers thin out even more. Why is that? Experts have been trying to find an answer or a solution to this question for years.

"Be confident and refuse to make the coffee!" This statement is one of my core messages that I impart to female students at the IT University of Copenhagen. It's quite shocking, considering it's already 2023. Nonetheless, the number of women in the tech industry remains disheartening, even though the sector is desperately seeking experts.

I avoid arguing with common stereotypes – being pigeonholed always bothers me personally. For example, the assumption that as a woman, I'm naturally an empathetic leader. Yet, more or less subconscious gender roles ensure that women are professionally overlooked and often lag behind their male colleagues on the career ladder.

The problem: Women are less visible

One reason is that they sacrifice their time for tasks unrelated to their actual job profile. This "self-sacrifice" leads to women being less visible. In contrast, men who prefer to focus on strategically important projects are in the spotlight. Women also demand promotions or pay raises much less frequently. The well-known "gender pay gap" increases the risk of female poverty in old age: Many women have to make do with small pensions even after a long working life. Yet, the tech industry offers a diverse and future-oriented field of work where women can have various career opportunities and benefit from an above-average salary level.

The (simple) solution: Show more confidence

What needs to change for more women to consider a career in IT or reach a leadership position? My first appeal is directly to women: Find out where your interests and passions lie and give it a try! Above all, believe in yourselves! A crucial foundation for advancing in a male-dominated industry is also well-maintained networks, whether in-house or external.

There's always someone with different expertise and perspective who wants to share it. A mentor who instills confidence in your abilities and encourages you to reach for the stars is also beneficial. Likewise, a willingness to learn throughout your life is necessary for the tech industry. After all, the IT world turns every second, and nothing is as old as yesterday's trend.

Equally important: Companies must take responsibility

Companies are challenged to set aside unconscious stereotypes that hinder women's progress and can even exist in a respectful company culture. In addition, they have a wide range of measures available – from special coaching programs to openness to career changers and the classic work-life balance. Training on topics such as communication, for example, I see as a good supplement to traditional further education. In such training, women receive a comprehensive toolkit for negotiation techniques and also learn the rules of the game in male-dominated areas.

It's also important to better support re-entry after family leave and to experiment with job-sharing models even in leadership positions. Fadata, a provider of software solutions for insurers, demonstrates that IT can indeed be an attractive employer: About 45 percent of the employees are women, and the share is even 50 percent at the C-level management team.

Looking to the future: Rapid change is unrealistic, but...

Clearly, an ideal world with gender diversity will not become reality easily or quickly. The world was designed by men for men, and breaking an ancient paradigm doesn't happen overnight. But I am convinced: If we manage to create a work environment with the same opportunities and values for everyone, then change will come.

About the person

Liselotte Munk is the CEO of Fadata, a leading provider of software solutions for insurance companies, and has 25 years of experience in the industry. Before joining Fadata, Munk was the Industry General Manager for Northern and Central Europe at DXC, responsible for further business expansion.

Source: hrjournal.de

Note: The article was automatically translated using ChatGPT-4 by OpenAI