How Women Can Survive and Thrive in Tech’s “Boy’s Club”

After the advancement of technology, women still remain second class citizens.

There are whispers that Silicon Valley is making a comebackBro culture‘- This means that if you believe that the technology industry is ever Really Remove himself Bro culture When it starts. And although women outnumber men. Coding, of individualsAnd Leadership skillsLate last year, a growing lack of firings at tech companies hurt women and their mid-career workforce.

This measure Cultural crisis In McKinsey’s latest report, it runs deep as barren Women at work. According to their analysis, female leaders have been leaving their organizations at high rates for years, and It is the gap between women and men leaders The biggest we’ve ever seen. The scale of the problem is so serious that two female directors are choosing to leave their companies for a woman to be promoted to the next level. The old “boys club” of the tech industry is still in good shape.

What can be done?

For starters, at least, the general public is more aware of the imbalance than they were five years ago. And some progress has been made by industry pledges to increase women in top leadership positions at venture capital firms and emerging technology companies. But there is still much to do. Even after recent technological advances, gender equality was supposed to be a reality by 2022. Unfortunately, this is not the case. 25% of board seats are held by women, up from 17.4% in 2018 and currently women represent only 25% of computer-related jobs. (Source: Deloitte Insights Report). It may not seem like much, but it’s a step in the right direction!

While women have made great strides in technology careers, there is still a long way to go to achieve equity. At Women Impact Tech, we’re changing the way women are viewed in the tech industry and technology in general by promoting equity in the tech space.

Although it’s a societal issue at large, women in tech shouldn’t feel helpless: with the right tools and guidance, women can rise to the top. Here are the top six tips for women in tech roles to progress and succeed in their careers (or any male-dominated field).

1. Speak up. Women tend to be quieter and more reserved than men, rather than assertive. Ask your employer for fairness, ask for a seat at the table where major decisions are made; Confidence is key.
2. Take personal inventory. Take control of your work and experience, as well as your desires and motivations. Don’t let yourself burn out – 53% of working moms sleep less than 6 hours a night, and a quarter of working moms don’t have time for self-care, including healthy eating, exercise, or socializing with friends.
3. Meet the community. The most important thing to remember on your technology journey is that you are not alone. There are other young, mid- and senior-level women in tech who face similar challenges and navigate the same landscape. Finding and finding that community of women for support, guidance, and resources is one of the best ways to accelerate your career.
4. Never settle for a lower price. Women often take the first offer and don’t negotiate increases. Take a moment to check Glassdoor to see if you’re being paid at the right level for your industry and experience level — and don’t be afraid to do so if the data tells you otherwise.
5. Mentoring is key.. To bring our best selves to work, we need to feel heard and included. By aligning with the right people, you can be supported and empowered in ways you can’t.
6. Have fun supporting yourself. No matter how uncomfortable or unnatural it may seem, standing up for yourself is important and necessary. Men often overestimate their achievements, while women typically underestimate their worth and resources.

As long as more women are in power, the culture will really change. In the meantime, women need the tools to lead the industry as best they can.

About the author

Paula Bratcher Ratliff // Louisville, KY Paula is the President and CEO of Women’s Impact Tech, where she leads the strategic direction and day-to-day operations. Paula has spent the past 20 years building and leading staffing, RPO, MSP and consulting teams for Fortune 500 companies in North America and globally. Throughout her career, she has led corporate supplier diversity, sustainability, and diversity and inclusion initiatives. Women Impact Tech allows Paula to combine her industry knowledge and passion for diversity and inclusion into one leadership role. Paula enjoys living life to the fullest with her wife and their young daughter and son.