THE HAGUE, 6th March 2025. This week’s article celebrates the achievements of past and present women in the tech industry, in honour of International Women’s Week. The technology sector has long been a driving force of innovation, with classical economics even including technology as a factor of economic growth. However, the contributions of women in this field are often overlooked, leading to a significant gender gap that persists today.
Historical Women in Tech
Women have been making invaluable contributions to technology for centuries, even when society attempted to sideline them. Here are some pioneers of technology you may not have heard of, but laid the foundation for modern technological advancements.
Ada Lovelace: Often considered the world’s first computer programmer, Lovelace was a 19th-century mathematician who wrote the first algorithm intended to be processed by a machine. Her work with Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine provided a glimpse into the future of computing long before computers existed.
Grace Hopper: Hopper was instrumental in the development of early programming languages. She created the first compiler, which translated written instructions into machine code, ultimately shaping the future of software engineering.
Hedy Lamar: A Hollywood actress and inventor, Lamarr developed a frequency-hopping communication system during World War II, originally intended to intercept radio signals. Her groundbreaking work laid the foundation for modern wireless technologies, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS.
These womens’ contributions are vital to the everyday tech we use today, yet during their lifetimes, their accomplishments were often overlooked and underplayed.
Women in Tech Today
Despite historical challenges, women continue to make remarkable strides in the tech industry. From artificial intelligence to cloud computing, they are shaping the future of technology and redefining leadership.
Mira Murati: As the Chief Technology Officer at OpenAI, Murati leads the development of cutting-edge AI technologies, including ChatGPT. She is at the forefront of ethical AI development and ensuring that artificial intelligence benefits humanity.
Linda Yaccarino: The CEO of X (formerly Twitter), Yaccarino is navigating one of the most influential social media platforms through a transformative period. With her expertise in media and digital engagement, she is shaping the future of online communication.
Fei-Fei Lei: Founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, Buolamwini is at the forefront of addressing racial and gender biases in artificial intelligence. Her research has influenced AI policies and fairness standards worldwide.
These women exemplify innovation, leadership, and resilience. However, despite their successes, the broader industry still has significant progress to make in closing the gender gap.
The Gender Gap in Tech
While there are notable strides in the gender disparity in tech, there is still progress to be made to ensure gender equality in this industry. Here are some numbers to highlight the ongoing challenges:
Workforce Representation: Women currently hold only 25% of tech-related jobs, a figure that has barely improved over the past decade.
C-Level Positions: Only 17% of technology companies have a woman serving as CEO, and women make up just 29% of C-suite positions overall.
Venture Capital Funding: Women-led startups receive only 2% of total venture capital funding, making it significantly harder for female entrepreneurs to scale their businesses.
STEM Education Pipeline: Women earned only 22% of computer and information sciences bachelor's degrees in 2021, limiting the talent pipeline for future tech leaders.
At RESONIKS, we aim to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion by creating opportunities for women to thrive in tech roles. One of our two computational engineers is a woman, and her contributions to our company are invaluable! We aim to continue to find talented women in the tech sphere and give them a place to exercise their expertise.
By actively working toward gender equity, RESONIKS and similar organisations can help shape a future where women in tech are recognised, celebrated, and given equal opportunities to lead.