The IT industry has historically been male-dominated, with women underrepresented in both the workforce and in leadership positions. However, in recent years, there has been a growing effort to increase gender diversity in the industry and support women’s advancement in tech careers. Some challenges that women may face in the IT industry include bias, stereotypes, and a lack of female role models and mentors. Women may also experience a gender pay gap and limited opportunities for advancement.
To address these challenges and support women in tech, many organizations are implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives, such as mentorship programs, unconscious bias training, and flexible work arrangements. There are also numerous women-led organizations and networks that provide support and resources for women in IT, such as Women in Technology International (WITI) and Girls Who Code.
Overall, while there is still work to be done, there is a growing recognition of the value of diversity in the IT industry and a commitment to supporting and empowering women in tech. In the same vein, here is what pre-eminent women in the IT industry have to say about the various challenges that female employees face, and how to overcome them.
How have you worked to promote diversity and inclusion within your workplace and the larger IT community, and what impact have you seen as a result of these efforts?
“At Sabre, we are proud to support women with our ongoing efforts in I&D, including two women-focused Inclusion Groups: Women’s Career Network (WCN) and Women in Technology (W!T). The WCN gives Sabre women the opportunity to further their careers by providing coaching, mentoring, networking, and support. This enables them to break the glass ceiling, champion fair and equal access to leadership opportunities and resources, and have a voice/representation in all management forums.
At the same time, W!T attracts, engages, develops and retains women in technology. Through this program, we are building a community of empowered women at Sabre who may work in different roles at locations around the world, but share a common bond; a love for creating and delivering the technology behind travel. W!T serves as a catalyst for promoting technology professionals at Sabre. Be it entry-level, mid-career, or seasoned veteran, we champion the creative, tech-savvy women who put travel in motion.
Both these programs are helping Sabre build a community of strong women leaders who will be a pipeline for our future leadership positions.
I have been a part of Lean In groups that are cross-industry/companies which let women come together and share, speak and learn from each other. Apart from this, we also have women alumni networks and forums that bring women from different companies together to lean in on each other.
Impact of these efforts
Women feel more supported and understood at workplaces leading to longer tenures and being on track for senior positions. Higher confidence levels amongst women with D&I programs help boost morale and increase fair opportunities for employees. It makes workers feel empowered and valued at all times. They show no hesitance to voice their opinions, and that makes for a great company culture.
Women & men have different point of view, which comes from different life experiences. By ensuring that you have gender diversity on your team, you can benefit from these different points of view and increase the creativity and innovation,” says Rency Mathew, People Leader, India and South Asia, Global Capability Center, Bengaluru, Sabre India. Read More
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This industry story featuring Rency Mathew was published in DATAQUEST.