Closing the gender gap in tech & telecoms

Each year, International Women's Day on 8 March shines a global spotlight on the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, while also calling attention to the inequalities that still persist. Rooted in early movements for fair pay, safer working conditions and equal rights, the day is both a celebration of progress and a reminder that gender equality is not yet a given.

Within the technology and telecoms sector, if we want to see more women in executive roles we need to start much earlier. Leadership pipelines are not built at the point of promotion. They begin in classrooms, in early career experiences, and in the perceptions young women form about where they belong.

One myth about women in tech that needs to disappear

One of the biggest myths is that women don't choose tech because they're not interested. Many simply don't see what the opportunities look like or can't picture themselves in those roles. That's why visibility, mentoring and programmes like Step into Tech are so important - they make careers in tech feel tangible and accessible.

Why early intervention with girls matters 

By the time young women are making career decisions, many have already ruled tech out because of outdated stereotypes. Introducing coding and tech skills early, alongside visible female role models, helps break that cycle and creates a much stronger future pipeline of talent.

Young women often don't realise how broad a career in tech can be. Technology is not a single career path – it's an ecosystem that spans creative roles, strategic leadership, cybersecurity, data analysis, customer experience, sustainability and more. When we reduce it to a narrow technical image, we unintentionally exclude those who might otherwise thrive within it. Programmes like Step into Tech are about showing that you don't have to fit a stereotype to belong in this industry.

Changing how tech is taught in schools is a crucial factor if we're to close the gender gap across the tech industry. Increasing awareness and sharing the opportunities the sector could offer women will over time help change perceptions. Many tech companies and large employers already have close working relationships with further education establishments, and this is something that should be encouraged, not only to create role models but to provide a means of sharing advice and experiences. 

Designing the future of work with women in mind

As AI becomes a bigger part of how tech businesses operate, the way we work is only going to become more outcome-focused and less tied to traditional office structures. That creates a real opportunity to design workplaces that are more inclusive from the outset, but only if women are part of shaping how that future looks.

Emerging technologies are redefining productivity and collaboration. If these systems are designed without diverse input, existing inequalities risk being embedded into the next generation of tools and processes. Early engagement therefore serves a dual purpose: it strengthens the talent pipeline and ensures that future innovation reflects broader perspectives.

Turning intention into structure

Our Women in Tech group isn't just a discussion forum. It's made up of over 50 volunteers focused on practical action from mentoring and development to changing how we recruit and support women returning to work. That structure is what turns good intentions into real progress.

And this isn't just about doing the right thing. Diverse teams bring different perspectives, challenge thinking and ultimately create better outcomes for customers and the business. That's why diversity must be treated as a core strategic objective, not a side initiative.

All the work I am doing on creating more gender balance in the sector and helping women into leadership roles, forms the foundations required to help women progress to Board positions. It's important to start with the foundations so there is a talent pipeline coming up through an organisation that aspire to the top seats.

If we want to see more women shaping the direction of technology in the years ahead, we must invest in the earliest stages of the journey. The boardrooms of tomorrow are influenced by the classrooms of today.