Emily enrolled in a computer class in her high school and quickly fell in love with coding. She worked tirelessly to earn her computer science degree, often finding herself one of few, or the only woman, in her advanced classes. Upon entering the tech workforce, Emily quickly realized that her journey would be even more challenging. Despite her qualifications and dedication, she faced persistent biases and a lack of mentorship, leading her to experience imposter syndrome, burnout, and considering leaving the tech workforce altogether. Emily’s story is not unique; it reflects the experiences of many women and nonbinary individuals in tech.
Context Behind the Gender Gap in Tech
Women constitute nearly half of the U.S. labor force, yet they hold only 35% of tech roles. This significant disparity highlights the gender gap in the tech industry that persists across all career stages. While women now outnumber men in the college-educated workforce, they account for only 21% of bachelor’s degrees in computer and information sciences. These figures don’t fully capture the complexity of the issue, as they overlook intersectional factors like race, caregiver status, sexual orientation, and disability. While the vision of a tech industry where creators mirror the societies they serve remains elusive, these challenges fuel the passion of those committed to building a more equitable tech industry.
Despite numerous efforts to address gender inequity, recent societal backlash against DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives has seen the closure of organizations such as Women Who Code and Girls in Tech. Meanwhile, major tech companies like Google and Meta are making cuts to their DEI programs. Recent tech layoffs have disproportionately affected historically excluded groups, with women in tech being 1.6 times more likely to face layoffs than men due to factors such as lower levels of seniority, having been hired more recently, and other general biases (like whether you’re a caregiver or not).
For those women who remain in the industry, the outlook can still be discouraging. Approximately 50% of women in tech leave before age 35, compared to just 20% in other fields. The reasons range from toxic ‘bro culture’, which affects 72% of women in tech, to racial harassment faced by 50% of women technologists. Mid-level women technologists report the highest levels of burnout, underscoring the urgency for change.
These challenges also present opportunities for innovation and growth. Events like the Grace Hopper Celebration, Lesbians Who Tech Summit, and Afrotech exist to inspire and empower. Many mid-career technologists find hope in focusing on what they can control—such as technical upskilling and expanding their networks—and contributing to a future where gender equity in tech is achievable.
Q: Can you guess how much $$$ AnitaB.org provided in scholarships to GHC in 2023? [Answer further down!]
Opportunities and Challenges for Women in Tech at Different Career Stages
Addressing Barriers at Different Parts of the Tech Journey
Academic institutions play a crucial role in setting the stage for diversity and inclusion. Yet, women tech students report higher levels of harassment than those in the workforce. In 2022, 86% of students reported gender-based harassment, 65% faced racial harassment, and 50% experienced sexual harassment, compared to 25% of women in the workforce.
Entry-level women in tech face the worst experiences, dealing with higher levels of sexual harassment and a lower sense of belonging than other career stages. Mid-level women continue to encounter gender, sexual, and parental discrimination, with the greatest decrease in representation occurring between mid and senior levels. This makes mid-career a pivotal stage, as closing the leadership gap depends on investing in mid-level women.
While the journey for women in tech is often challenging, the ability to quantitatively report their experiences marks progress. For nonbinary people in tech, a small but growing community, we have yet to reach a critical mass for effective reporting. Recognizing trailblazers, pioneers, and mentors who pave the way today can inspire future progress. Whether through Abie Awards, Pass It On Awards, PitcHER, or even a LinkedIn thank-you, turning to the community shows how far we’ve come and where we need to go.
Importance of Community and Support
Women tech students cite mentorship, job placement assistance, and peer connections as their top needs. For mid-senior technologists, mentorship, peer connections, and professional coaching are crucial.
Our research underscores mentorship’s importance: women in tech with mentors are 77% more likely to stay in the industry for three years than those without mentors. They’re also more likely to negotiate for promotions and pay raises. According to Tech Republic, women in tech with mentors experience a 20% salary increase.
Despite mentorship’s importance, 63% of women have never had a formal mentor. Whether you’re an entry-level technologist or established in your career, consider becoming a mentor through AnitaB.org Mentorship or by extending informal support within your community.
Resources and Opportunities for Growth
By directly asking the community what they need, we can tailor our offerings accordingly, and provide much needed support for women and nonbinary technologists like Emily. Data on the AnitaB.org flagship event Grace Hopper Celebration shows support for all areas from career advancement to networking. In 2023, GHC saw over 9,000 one-on-one meetings between sponsors and attendees, 144 group meetings, and a robust career fair with nearly 300 industry-leading employers. Community building was bolstered by over 3,000 in-person networking reception attendees, 10 virtual networking sessions, and 1,900 Braindates, totaling more than 20,000 connections made.
“I attended GHC 23 to expand my network and get inspired by the speakers. I thought networking would be difficult virtually, but my experience exceeded expectations.” – GHC 23 Attendee
The Power of Community and Collective Action
GHC embodies the collective knowledge and power of women, nonbinary individuals, and allies in tech. The impact goes beyond individual careers to affect companies and society as a whole.
Importance of Diversity and Inclusion
The business case for diversity and inclusion is well-established. Diverse teams experience higher profitability, increased productivity, and generate more revenue. Prioritizing equity and belonging enhances work culture, leading to better experiences, higher retention, and a more attractive environment for prospective employees. Yet issues persist, raising red flags for investors and customers.
Fortunately, allies are driving change by supporting underrepresented groups through nontraditional pathways, mentorship, and events like the Grace Hopper Celebration. It’s paying off: 78% of GHC 23 sponsors said the event helped them connect with potential new talent. Companies seeking better results know where to start this journey.
“Excellent pool of talent in one place—great opportunity to showcase our organization and interact with new talent.” – GHC 23 Sponsor
Creating a Culture of Empowerment in Tech
We’ve covered many different ways to empower future generations of tech, for a range of audiences from entry-level to mid-level to actual organizations. But, there’s a delicate balance between wanting to teach and empower women and nonbinary people in tech on how to overcome barriers while holding organizations and policies accountable for larger systemic challenges.
As such, we want to empower individuals while holding systems accountable—and it’s a big challenge. In 2023, AnitaB.org measured the U.S. technical workforces of 40 companies, identifying key trends in workforce equity and highlighting companies making the most progress toward equity. ADP, a Top Company winner in 2023, highlights its business resource groups, which are voluntary and associate-led, connecting those efforts to improvements in business outcomes, such as increasing diversity in sales leads and job candidates.
For those individuals looking to make a difference, we’re introducing a special opportunity for you to have a direct impact on the career and life of a community member.
Special Opportunities to Pay it Forward
Grace Hopper Celebration offers unparalleled networking, career advancement, and learning opportunities for technologists at all levels. By attending GHC in person or virtually, you’ll access a vibrant community of tech leaders, innovators, and thought leaders.
We’re excited to introduce Pay It Forward Fridays, offering everyone who purchases in-person registration for GHC 24 a complimentary virtual registration to share. Established technologists with job security can make a direct impact on early-career technologists or those among the 126,032 tech employees laid off in 2024.
Not only do you and the recipient gain access to keynotes, sessions, and networking opportunities globally, community members also experience support and affirmation of solidarity with leaders and peers working to address tech equity discrepancies.
By participating in Pay It Forward Fridays, you can uplift early-career women and nonbinary individuals in tech. Your participation is an investment in the industry’s future and makes a tangible impact.
- Mentor: Guide a student, mentee, or early-career woman in tech by sharing insights and expertise.
- Support: Donate a virtual GHC registration to a woman, nonbinary person, or ally navigating their career or recently laid off, providing access to valuable resources and networks.
Together, with grit, heart, and courage, we can create a more equitable tech industry. Join us in making a lasting impact with Pay It Forward Fridays. Empower the next generation of technologists and be part of a community committed to diversity, inclusion, and innovation.
How to Participate in Pay It Forward Fridays:
- Purchase Registration: Visit GHC.AnitaB.org and purchase your GHC 24 in-person registration on any Friday until GHC 24 (Oct 4).
- Email Confirmation: Send an email to GHC@AnitaB.org with your name, the email address used for registration, and a screenshot of your GHC24 registration.
- Receive Your Code: We’ll verify your registration and send a one-time code to share with your chosen recipient, allowing them to redeem their free virtual registration. Please allow up to 48 business hours for the promo code.
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to empower yourself and your community to advance, connect, and inspire at GHC 24. Secure your spot today for an unforgettable experience!
ANSWER: In 2023, AnitaB.org provided over $8 million in scholarship funding to GHC! We’re proud to be able to send women and nonbinary technologists to Grace Hopper Celebration for access to advancement, connection, and inspiration.
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