Imagine a world where every app, device, and service we use comes from a single perspective, reducing the vast tapestry of human experience to a narrow view. Now envision a different world: a vibrant digital ecosystem fueled by diversity of thought that creates innovative solutions that resonate with everyone. This is not a distant dream, it’s an achievable reality. The key lies in embracing diversity in tech, starting with women, who make up half the world’s population. This is not only a social justice issue, but also a key driver of innovation and inclusive solutions.
As India looks to leverage its demographic dividend, with its working-age population projected to exceed 70 percent by 2030, the under-representation of women in the workforce is a challenge that must be urgently addressed.
India’s digital progress has been driven in large part by the increasing participation of women in the technology sector, but a Teamlease report reveals a stark gender gap, with only 2.05 million women in the industry by 2024 compared to 3.61 million men.
This disparity stems from a number of challenges women face, including low educational enrolment, lack of quality opportunities, gender wage gaps, safety concerns, societal norms, discriminatory practices in the workplace, lack of upskilling and reskilling opportunities, etc. Overcoming these barriers is essential to steadily increase the number of women entering or re-entering the tech workforce and harnessing their full potential to contribute to India’s economic growth.
The power of diverse teams
Diverse teams bring a wealth of perspectives, experiences, and ideas that are essential for problem-solving and innovation. A recent McKinsey report found that executive diversity significantly improves financial performance. Companies with more female leaders are more likely to consistently outperform their peers. In 2015, companies with a higher proportion of women were 15% more likely to outperform, increasing to 21% in 2018, 25% in 2020, and 39% by 2023.
These benefits go beyond financial gain and extend into a variety of important areas, including:
Fostering creativity and innovation: Diverse teams bring different perspectives that lead to breakthrough innovation. This is because diverse teams consider a wider range of possibilities and challenges, leading to more robust and effective solutions. Women often approach problems differently than men. Women may identify hidden biases in algorithms and challenge the status quo, fostering a more creative problem-solving environment. This diversity of problem-solving approaches leads to more inclusive and creative solutions. Design for everyone Women make up nearly half of the world’s population, but are significantly underrepresented in the field of technological creativity. According to a 2023 UNESCO report, women make up just 28% of global researchers in computer science and mathematical sciences. This lack of representation leads to bias in the design and testing of products and services. Take voice assistants, for example. A study by the Algorithmic Justice League found that voice recognition software has gender bias and higher error rates for female voices. This can be frustrating and exclusive for female users. Having more women on design teams can help identify and address such biases, resulting in voice assistants that understand everyone equally. 360-degree view of user impact: Technology should be available and beneficial for all, but if its impact on users is not fully understood, it can have undesirable consequences. For example, algorithmic bias and unrealistic representations on social media platforms can exacerbate mental health issues, especially for girls. Women in tech can help develop features that promote positive online experiences and identify potential mental health risks associated with excessive social media use. Inspire the next generation: The lack of female role models in tech discourages girls from pursuing careers in the field. A 2022 PWC report highlights that only 26% of computer science graduates in India are women. When women see themselves reflected in leadership positions in the tech industry, it sends a powerful message. The future of tech depends on attracting and retaining the best talent. Encouraging more girls to pursue STEM fields creates a strong pipeline of diverse individuals ready to shape the future of tech. Understand the evolving needs of users: Technology is constantly evolving and user needs are changing rapidly. Women’s insights allow them to identify these emerging needs and develop solutions that cater to diverse user populations. Women are often underserved by traditional financial institutions, but women in fintech can develop innovative solutions that cater specifically to women’s financial needs, such as mobile banking platforms and microfinance options, facilitating financial inclusion for a broader demographic. Similarly, in education technology (EdTech), women can design personalized learning platforms that accommodate different learning styles and address the specific needs of girls in STEM education, making educational opportunities more inclusive and customized. Ethical considerations in technology: As technology becomes more powerful, ethical considerations become paramount. Women can bring different perspectives to discussions around algorithmic bias, data privacy, and the potential social impacts of new technologies. Lucie Fonseca
Global Head of R&D
Giesecke + Defrient
Creating an inclusive environment within an organization is not a one-time effort; it is an ongoing effort that requires commitment, strategic planning, and active participation at all levels. From the entry level employee to the top executive, fostering inclusion requires embedding practices and policies that ensure every individual feels valued and able to contribute to their fullest potential.
As we stand on the brink of a digital revolution, the full inclusion of women in technology will spark breakthroughs and a more balanced, more empathetic approach to technology development. Removing the barriers that prevent women from entering and progressing in technology can unleash a wave of creativity and innovation that will benefit everyone.
