Women in Tech: The Battle for Equality and Inclusion in the Digital Age
In the midst of Women’s Month, a stark reality has emerged: women in tech are still fighting for a seat at the table. Despite gains made in recent years, the tech industry remains a bastion of male dominance, with women still facing discriminatory stereotypes and biases that hinder their progress.
A recent panel discussion featuring six female executives from the tech industry served as a stark reminder of the challenges women face in this field. The panellists, including Devi Moodley, Itumeleng Monale, Melanie McGrory, Hepsy Mkhungo, Jyoti Ball, and Tiana Cline, shared their personal experiences of facing sexism and racism in the industry.
"It’s time for us to stop apologizing for our existence and start demanding respect," said McGrory, AWS EMEA director of technology. "We need to create a culture where women feel valued and included, and that means actively challenging the status quo."
Monale, JSE COO, echoed McGrory’s sentiments, saying that women need to stop conforming to traditional norms and start demanding a seat at the table. "We can’t just sit back and accept the way things are. We need to speak up and demand change."
The panelists also highlighted the need for early intervention to get more young girls interested in STEM subjects. "We need to start educating girls from a young age that math and science are not just for boys," said Moodley, Old Mutual head of cloud enablement. "We need to break down the mental block that maths and science are hard, and instead show them that it’s a creative and exciting field."
But the panelists also acknowledged that getting more women into tech requires more than just education. "We need to create a culture that is inclusive and welcoming to women," said Mkhungo, One Linkage CEO and co-founder. "That means creating flexible working environments, providing mentorship and support, and actively challenging discriminatory behaviors."
In the end, the panelists made it clear that the battle for equality and inclusion in the tech industry is far from over. But they also emphasized that women have the power to create change, and that it’s time for them to start demanding respect and equality.
