The theme to this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Accelerate Action.’ We asked some of the leading women in the technology industry what more needs to be done break down barriers and create opportunities for women at all levels.
Breaking barriers and driving change in tech
While inspiring the next generation of female leaders is crucial, achieving true gender equality in tech requires systemic change. Several industry leaders emphasise the importance of taking deliberate action to break down barriers and create opportunities for women at all levels.
Nicki Ryan, Senior Director, Partner Eco-System Sales – UKI and France, Genesys, shares her thoughts: “To drive gender equality in tech, we must prioritise attracting and promoting female talent, ensuring inclusive hiring practices, using job descriptions that encourage women to apply and assembling diverse interview panels to minimize unconscious bias. Mentorship and sponsorship are also critical. Women in tech need guidance and support in an environment of trust and transparency to help them progress in their careers. Additionally, early engagement with schools, universities, and colleges is essential to inspire young women to pursue STEM careers and break outdated stereotypes.”
Susanne Nördinger, Head of Ecosystem Success EMEA, Universal Robots, agrees and explains: “Robotics is an exciting field full of innovation, but female representation remains relatively low. Making the wide range of available opportunities more visible can help inspire girls and women into this space. Dedicated schemes, clubs, and mentoring also have a role to play in ensuring we are able to draw on the full range of talent to shape the future of the industry.”
Sarah Spoja, CFO, Tipalti, highlights the importance of supporting one another to drive change: “As someone who took an unconventional path to the CFO -without a traditional background in accounting or finance – I’ve found immense value in learning from others’ experiences, especially from women who have come before me. For women stepping into their first CFO role, this kind of shared wisdom is invaluable. I’m a firm believer that overcoming imposter syndrome and growing into a confident leader is best achieved by tapping into the expertise and support of the inspiring women who have paved the way in finance.”
Inspiring the next generation of female leaders
Inspiring and empowering the next generation of female tech leaders to innovate, lead and break barriers is a crucial step in achieving gender parity. Industry leaders explain the need for visible role models and strong support systems for emerging women in the field.
Oana Jinga, CC&PO and Co-Founder, Dexory, explains that: “At Dexory, we know that diverse leadership isn’t just important – it is essential for shaping the future of the business. Empowering women in leadership roles and STEM-related careers fosters fresh perspectives, stronger teams, and better decision-making. Where it is widely recognised that diversity is essential for innovation, these conversations need to go beyond rhetoric. There is still a growing need to make the industry more attractive and accessible to women and girls. There are many wonderful technological breakthroughs taking place, but it is important that women working on these innovations are visible and their achievements are celebrated.”
Katy Gwilliam, Global Department Head, Veracode, supports this: “I’ve found myself drawn to environments where accelerating diversity is a core value. For example, at Veracode, we partner with the Executive Women’s Forum, which supports women in cybersecurity at all stages of their careers. We also recently launched our own employee-led women’s advocacy group called ‘Her’d’ with a mission of building a network of women across the company who can empower, educate, and collaborate with one another. But the industry must work collectively to accelerate further action. Early exposure through classroom engagement, mentorship programs, and hands-on learning is a terrific way to attract the next generation of defenders and remove barriers to entry.”
Elizabeth Azide, Senior Director of Marketing EMEA, BigCommerce & Feedonomics, reinforces the importance of inspiring women in technology: “While progressing in my career enabled me to feel more confident in articulating my competence and knowledge in rooms filled with male leaders, I urge women of all levels of seniority to not default to passivity. Furthermore, I encourage women who are well established in their career to offer mentorship to younger female professionals. The roles sponsors and mentors play in accelerating the careers of women shouldn’t be underestimated. I’ve been fortunate enough to have various sponsors in my career who have advocated for both my abilities and involvement in opportunities, and it played a crucial part in my career growth.”
Creating an inclusive environment
Fostering an inclusive environment provides guidance, support and opportunities, helping to bridge the gender gap and empower women in technology.
Kate Hayward, UK Country Manager, Xero, explains the importance of inclusion: “Throughout my career, I’ve been very lucky to have sponsors who have invested in me. Their belief, encouragement and advocacy have given me the confidence to progress my career in ways I didn’t think could be possible. That support has come in lots of forms, from mentorship and making sure I had a seat at senior meetings (often as the only junior woman in the room), to championing my career progression, including promotions while I was on maternity leave. And most importantly, having my back when there were bumps in the road. But more than their actions, it was the way they always made me feel valued, included and recognised that has a lasting impact.”
Kari Mayfield, Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Ping Identity, supports this, saying that “Increasing the representation of women in the tech industry drives innovation and business success by bringing diverse strengths and experiences together, helping to close the long-standing gender gap. To create a more inclusive tech landscape, we must be intentional in our daily interactions – ensuring all voices are heard, giving credit where it’s due, and fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are valued. Building strong relationships, seeking mentorship, and supporting other women in the industry are crucial steps toward meaningful change.”
Sophie Cox, EMEA Director Enterprise, SMB & International Sales, Ricoh Europe, summarises the importance of building an inclusive environment: “A genuine commitment to inclusion goes beyond this just being ‘the right thing to do’ – it fosters an environment where employees of all genders can be their true selves and feel motivated, committed and proud of the company they work for. When organisations build an inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong whilst creating equal opportunities where we can all thrive, it doesn’t just empower individuals, it enriches the entire company.”
It’s time to Accelerate Action
Each year, the International Women’s Day campaign reveals a new theme that highlights the ongoing fight for gender equality. This year, the focus is on ‘Accelerate Action’, highlighting the need for tangible progress in breaking down systemic barriers and fostering inclusivity.
Flavia Alzetta, Chief Business Officer – Financial Services, Soldo, shares her perspective on what this means: “Accelerating action requires a multifaceted approach to address systematic barriers, biases and structural challenges. Meaningful change starts at the top, with four key areas senior leadership should focus on: agreeing clear diversity goals; mitigating bias in hiring and promotions through objective evaluation metrics and diverse panels; actively sponsoring women via mentorship programmes, stretch assignments and high-visibility opportunities; and finally, fostering an inclusive workplace with initiatives like flexible work policies and equal pay and transparency.”
Eduarda Camacho Chief Operating Officer, CyberArk, reinforces the power of collective action: “During my first tech job interview, I was told that, despite my strong work experience, being a foreign woman without a background in engineering would hold me back. But my heritage and gender are strengths, not weaknesses, and they do not define my career. Strength and ability are not bound by gender. This year’s theme, Accelerating Action, reinforces that collective effort drives workplace equality. By supporting one another, amplifying each other’s voices, and working towards breaking down these barriers, we can build a more inclusive and equitable world for all.”