Today is International Girls in ICT Day! This year’s Girls in ICT Day celebrates the theme of ‘Leadership’, highlighting the crucial need for strong female role models in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) careers. Despite women now occupying 40% of high-skill occupations globally, their representation in ICT-related fields remains low.
Indeed, as we have covered in our earlier blog post, the ICT industry currently grapples with gender issues, notably the pervasive gender disparity. We have highlighted in that post that, according to the European Commission’s 2023 Report on Gender Equality and She Figures, women constitute only 25% of the ICT workforce – both in the EU and globally. In the AI sector, the gender gap is even more pronounced, with women constituting a mere 22% of global AI professionals, according to the World Economic Forum.
Moreover, women are notably absent from software development, engineering, technology research, as well as relevant academia and policymaking roles. They also tend to leave STEM jobs at higher rates than men. Finally, and importantly, in STEM, the gender gap in leadership is particularly pronounced, with women often confined to junior or support roles, lacking opportunities for advancement or executive positions.
To thrive in STEM, girls and young women must be exposed to female leaders, inspiring them and breaking down barriers to their progress. “There is no true innovation that can spark without diversity, openness and inclusion as built-in pillars,” says our female leader, Dr. Monique Calisti, CEO of Martel Innovate. “Especially in the ICT world more needs and can be done to resolve the gender gap and ensure a more sustainable development of our society.”
As a forward-thinking digital innovation agency, Martel brings more than 25 years of expertise to the table, enabling individuals and organisations worldwide to reach their innovation objectives sustainably and inclusively. While we celebrate considerable advancements, we remain vigilant about the ongoing imperative for increased inclusivity and equality, particularly within the fields of STEM.
The Girls in ICT Day 2024 theme aims to address these challenges by promoting empowerment and leadership development for a more equitable future in STEM. In unison with that, in our organisation, we’re proud to have a workforce with a majority of women employees. From our CEO, Dr. Monique Calisti, to team members at every level within Martel and Digital for Planet, women play vital roles in driving our organisation forward.
