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The Code Ceiling: Shattering Tech's Glass Barriers
This is your Women in Business podcast.
Welcome back to Women in Business. I’m so glad you’ve joined me as we tackle one of the most dynamic and challenging frontiers for women today: the tech industry. The digital revolution touches every aspect of our lives, and yet women continue to face unique barriers and opportunities here. Today, let’s get straight into how women are navigating the current economic landscape in this rapidly evolving field.
First, let’s talk about representation. According to industry data from AIPRM and CompTIA, women make up just 27% of the US tech workforce. Globally, the figure hovers around 25-30%. That means roughly one in four people building digital infrastructure is a woman. These numbers are even lower in senior leadership—only 14% of global tech leaders are women, and just 17% of technology companies have a woman CEO. In specific roles like software development, women account for just 21% of jobs in the US. Yet, in fields like data science, the proportion rises closer to parity, showing us that pockets of leadership and growth are emerging.
The second big challenge is pay parity. Let’s get real: the median tech salary in the US is over $104,000, according to CompTIA. Yet, women are still paid less for the same roles. A survey from StrongDM found that men receive higher salaries for 62% of tech roles. Female CEOs at tech startups often earn $20,000 less than their male counterparts. Progress is real—computer science has one of the narrowest pay gaps, with women earning about 94 cents on the dollar compared to men—but true equity remains out of reach.
Next, we have the impact of emerging technologies and AI. According to Skillsoft’s Women in Tech Report, mastering artificial intelligence will be crucial for narrowing the gender gap. Only 40% of women in tech currently use AI at work, but those who do often report feeling more productive and efficient. With three-quarters of companies planning to ramp up their use of AI by 2028, women must be at the forefront of these innovations—not left behind.
Our fourth point is mentorship and support networks. Data from the WomenTech Network underscores just how transformative mentorship and sponsorship can be for women’s advancement. While mentors help build confidence and skills, sponsors open doors to new opportunities. Together, these relationships double the chances of women moving into leadership and help dismantle longstanding biases that can otherwise seem insurmountable.
Finally, let’s address the “missing middle.” The Women in Digital Report from Australia shines a spotlight on the phase where many women’s careers in tech stall—not for lack of ambition, but because workplace structures and culture lag behind the realities of caregiving and life balance. The solution is not just getting more women into tech, but retaining and propelling them through every stage, especially into executive leadership.
So, listeners, as women persist and triumph in the face of challenges, their progress reverberates far beyond their own careers. McKinsey reports that closing the gender gap in tech could add $12 trillion to global GDP by 2025. Empowering women in tech isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s essential for innovation, social progress, and economic growth.
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Published on 3 months ago