International Women’s Day: Why we still need to push for gender equality

For this year’s International Women’s Day, considering what’s going on in the world, it’s more important than ever to reflect on gender equality in the workplace. The theme for this year is “Accelerate Action,” focusing on hastening the progress toward equality for women.

While there has been notable progress in recent years, gender equality is now showing signs of regression, particularly in the technology sector. After reaching a peak of 14% in 2022, the percentage of women leaders in tech companies has fallen sharply to just 5%. This trend is even more troubling as many large organisations begin to roll back their DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) policies. With new obstacles emerging for women in the workplace, it’s critical to take stronger, more immediate action to reverse this decline.

The gender gap in the technology industry

The gender gap is, unfortunately, still prevalent across industries today, and the tech industry is certainly no exception. “The situation with the gender gap, unfortunately, remains the same,” says Elena Arabgadi, Software Engineer at Aqilla. “It’s very sad that women are underpaid. Not only in IT, of course.”

She continues: “Organisations should close the gap by offering the same conditions for males and females. If one day the gender gap is closed, it may invert the demography problem as well. Tech, as other industries, only wins from women’s presence. Only the combination of female and male approaches can bring excellent results. So, I would advise women right from the start of their careers, never give up and keep going forward!”

Kate Lincoln, Head of Group Governance at Node4, emphasises that “while women currently make up 35% of the tech workforce, this is a significant improvement from 25 years ago when only 9% of the tech workforce were female. Over my 30-year career, I’ve witnessed new generations entering the workforce, breaking down barriers, and changing attitudes towards women in male-dominated industries. This progression needs to continue.”

She understands the value of making a career in the technology sector a viable option for the next generation of women; “Early education and exposure are essential. Introducing girls to STEM subjects at a young age can spark interest and build confidence, and having female role models and mentors in tech can inspire the next generation. We should also continue to drive the creation of inclusive work environments by creating a supportive and inclusive workplace culture, providing professional development opportunities and promoting work-life balance.”

Looking beyond DEI policies

Several large US corporations have come under fire recently for backtracking on their diversity, equity, and inclusion policies.Therefore despite the value that these policies can bring,it’s important that other ways to support female staff are considered.

Nicola Kinsella, SVP Global Marketing at Fluent Commerce, highlights that “with recent pull backs in DEIB initiatives by US-based companies, it is more important than ever to support and elevate our female colleagues, even in the absence of these programs. Companies should offer attractive benefits, comprehensive paternity packages, and actively promote flexible working arrangements—especially for employees returning from maternity leave. Providing equal maternity and paternity leave helps normalize a more balanced division of childcare responsibilities, ultimately supporting women’s career growth.”

She adds: “Beyond policies, businesses should create opportunities for women to build critical skills in public speaking, self-advocacy, and stakeholder management. Networking and mentorship are also essential – I’ve personally benefited from mentors throughout my career and have made it a priority to seize every networking opportunity to expand my skills. By fostering strong professional communities of like-minded women, we can accelerate progress and drive meaningful change.”

Encouraging resilience and recognition

Even when faced with discrimination or challenges at work, women must be encouraged to maintain their passion for their careers. As recognised by Susan Odle, Chief Growth Officer at StorMagic, it is important to start this encouragement from an early age. “In my experience,”she says, “encouraging more women in tech starts with parenting. Career success in tech comes from a passion for technology, and the earlier this encouragement and exposure starts, the better. We must instill the belief in young girls that they can achieve anything they set their minds to and expose them to as many opportunities as possible.”

Odle’s advice for women entering the tech industry is to “just go for it. Nothing in this world that’s worth achieving is going to be easy, and no one’s journey is a straight path. Every turn on the road is a learning opportunity. Tech moves faster than any other industry and that means it is risky, but it is equally rewarding with a resilient mindset, discipline and work ethic. A career is a journey, not a race.”

Chrissay Brinkmann, Presales Engineer at Leaseweb, believes that celebrating and recognising the achievement of women within the industry is the key to moving forward. “International Women’s Day is an ideal time to reflect on the women who helped to break down barriers and prove that success should not be measured by anything other than your talent, hard work, and the results you deliver. For me, I choose to celebrate International Women’s Day by both appreciating how far we’ve come, but also recognising that there’s still work to do. I celebrate by supporting the women around me, sharing their wins, encouraging them to reach higher, and mentoring the next generation. It’s about making sure we all keep moving forward and creating space for the voices that deserve to be included at the table – not just on one day, but all year long.”

It’s evident that there is still progress to be made in achieving true gender equality across all industries, tech included. However, rather than feeling discouraged, organisations should use this year’s International Women’s Day as a catalyst in committing to empowering the next generation of women.