Brianna White

Administrator
Staff member
Jul 30, 2019
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We all know the facts. Although the number of women in STEM-qualified occupations in Australia has increased significantly over the past decade, only 15% of STEM-qualified jobs are held by women.

What we don’t seem to know is what to do about it, and that needs to change. A career in tech benefits women greatly, and tech organizations can gain a great deal by improving their representation of women.

A 2020 McKinsey and Company multinational survey found that organizations in the top quartile for gender diversity in their executive teams were 25% more likely to have above-average profitability than companies in the fourth quartile. Moreover, the higher the representation, the higher the likelihood of outperformance.

Here are the top five things tech leadership teams need to drive in 2024 to bolster the representation of women:

  1. Better promote the many benefits of working in tech to women: Highlight the flexibility, competitive salaries and benefits, and the opportunities for innovation and impact that tech careers offer.
  2. Reframe how we talk about and market tech jobs: Emphasize the breadth of tech jobs available and work to dismantle the 'tech-bro' reputation that can deter women from entering the field.
  3. Think outside the box when it comes to recruitment: Consider business graduates and other non-traditional candidates as potential employees to diversify the talent pool.
  4. Take a good hard look at our own patch: Ensure executive leadership representation and pay equity within your organization to set a standard and create an inclusive environment.
  5. Support women to harness their strengths and unleash their potential: Nurture young women and support them through critical life stages to help them thrive in their tech careers.
Let's discuss how we can implement these strategies in our organizations and share any additional ideas or experiences that have worked in promoting gender diversity in tech. Together, we can make a significant impact.

Read the article: https://www.smartcompany.com.au/opinion/improve-representation-women-employees-in-tech-companies/