From Coders to CEOs: The Growing Influence of Women in Tech
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April 4th is International Women in Tech Day—a day to recognize, celebrate, and amplify the voices of women shaping the future of technology.
It’s a moment to reflect on the progress made, the challenges that persist, and the work still ahead. Because while women have been at the forefront of innovation for decades—from pioneers like Ada Lovelace and Grace Hopper to today’s leaders in AI, cybersecurity, and software engineering—barriers still exist.
Women remain underrepresented in technical and leadership roles. They face bias, wage gaps, and a lack of mentorship opportunities. And yet, they continue to drive groundbreaking advancements, redefine industries, and create more inclusive workplaces.
This day isn’t just about recognition—it’s about action. Empowering women in tech means advocating for equal opportunities, supporting career growth, and fostering environments where every voice is valued.
And that’s something we should all be invested in.
Challenges Faced & Progress Made
Navigating the tech industry as a woman comes with its own set of hurdles. Gender bias, limited mentorship opportunities, and underrepresentation in leadership roles are just a few of the challenges that persist. 61% of women in tech feel a lack of opportunities for advancement, and 47% point to the scarcity of female role models as a significant barrier.
Work-life balance is another pressing concern. 45% of women in tech struggle with balancing professional and personal responsibilities, while 27% report experiencing gender bias in the workplace.
Despite these challenges, there's a silver lining.
The representation of women in tech leadership is on the rise, and companies are actively working to foster more equitable environments. Implementing mentorship programs, ensuring fair pay, and creating clear pathways for career advancement are among the strategies being adopted. Such initiatives support women's growth and contribute to a more inclusive and innovative industry.
While the journey toward gender parity in tech continues, the combined efforts of individuals and organizations are paving the way for a more balanced and dynamic future.
Women Who Are Breaking Tech’s Glass Ceiling
Women are shaping the future of technology in ways that are impossible to ignore. They’re leading AI breakthroughs, transforming cybersecurity, driving software innovation, and redefining what leadership looks like in tech.
And yet, the numbers tell a complicated story. Women hold just 28% of computing-related jobs and make up only 16% of engineering roles. In leadership, the gap is even wider—only 10% of Fortune 500 tech CEOs are women. But these stats don’t define the future. Women in tech aren’t just participating; they’re reshaping the industry.
Let’s take a look at some of the leaders who are making an impact:
🔹 Fei-Fei Li– A trailblazer in artificial intelligence, Fei-Fei Li has been instrumental in advancing computer vision and ethical AI. As a professor at Stanford and co-director of the Stanford Human-Centered AI Institute, she’s pushing for AI that benefits everyone.
🔹 Reshma Saujani – Founder of Girls Who Code, Reshma is on a mission to close the gender gap in tech by empowering young girls with coding skills and confidence. Her work is building the next generation of female technologists.
🔹 Whitney Wolfe Herd – As the founder and CEO of Bumble, Whitney disrupted the tech world by creating a women-first social platform that revolutionized online dating and networking. She became the youngest female CEO to take a company public.
🔹 Lisa Su – As the CEO of AMD, Lisa has played a pivotal role in transforming the semiconductor industry. Under her leadership, AMD has surged to the forefront of high-performance computing and AI-driven technology.
🔹 Supriya Goswami — At Whatfix, Supriya is driving transformative strategy to establish category leadership. She is passionate about digital transformation, building brands, and driving multi-channel, integrated marketing campaigns collaboratively with sales, product, and technology teams.
These are just a few of the many women breaking barriers and setting new standards in tech. They remind us that representation matters—not just for today, but for the generations of women in tech to come.
How We Can Support Women in Tech
Empowering women in technology requires intentional actions from both organizations and individuals. Here are some ways to foster a more inclusive and equitable tech industry:
Establish mentorship and sponsorship programs
Mentorship and sponsorship are two of the most powerful tools for career advancement, yet women are often underrepresented in these networks.
Mentorship offers guidance, advice, and encouragement, helping women navigate challenges and seize opportunities. Sponsorship is all about advocacy—sponsors use their influence to open doors, recommend women for leadership roles, and ensure their voices are heard at decision-making tables.
Companies should prioritize structured mentorship and sponsorship programs that actively pair women with leaders who can provide career-shaping guidance. On an individual level, if you’re in a position to mentor or sponsor a woman in tech, now is your time to step up—your support could be the key to her next big career move.
“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.” - Sarah Spoja, CFO, Tipalti
Foster inclusive workplace cultures
A truly inclusive workplace doesn’t just welcome women—it actively supports and values them. This means fostering a culture where diverse perspectives are sought out, respected, and acted upon.
Work-life balance is a crucial part of this equation. Women in tech, like all employees, thrive when they have access to flexible work arrangements, parental leave, and policies that acknowledge the realities of balancing career and personal responsibilities.
Leaders should also be mindful of how workplace dynamics play out—are women given equal opportunities to contribute in meetings? Are they recognized for their work at the same rate as their male colleagues? These details matter.
And recognition goes a long way. Celebrating the achievements of women in tech—whether through promotions, awards, or internal spotlights—reinforces their value and signals to others that their contributions are seen and appreciated.
Provide leadership development opportunities
Women in tech are just as ambitious as their male counterparts, yet they often face more barriers to leadership.
Organizations can help bridge this gap by investing in leadership development programs specifically designed for women. This might include offering executive training, stretch assignments, and leadership coaching that equips women with the skills and confidence to take on higher roles.
Assigning women to high-visibility projects, giving them opportunities to present to leadership teams, and ensuring they have access to professional development resources are all meaningful ways to support their career progression.
Advocate for diverse hiring practices
Companies need to implement recruitment strategies that actively support diverse candidates. This starts with rethinking job descriptions—using inclusive language, avoiding unnecessary barriers to entry, and ensuring the criteria reflect actual job needs rather than arbitrary expectations.
Interview panels should also be diverse. When candidates see representation during the hiring process, it signals that inclusion is a priority.
Beyond hiring, organizations must focus on retention—are women leaving due to workplace culture issues? Are they being promoted at the same rate as men? Tracking and addressing these trends is essential for long-term change.
Support external initiatives and partnerships
Change within the workplace is crucial, but the impact shouldn’t stop there.
Partnering with organizations dedicated to advancing women in tech—through sponsorships, scholarships, and community engagement—amplifies efforts and expands opportunities.
Companies can support coding boot camps, STEM education programs, and networking groups that empower young women to enter and stay in tech careers. Individuals can get involved too—volunteer at events, mentor aspiring women in tech, and use your platform to highlight their achievements.
Let's talk more about the impact of women in tech
The contributions of women in tech are monumental. From driving innovation to breaking barriers, their impact is shaping the future of the industry in ways we can’t afford to ignore.
But there’s still more work to do. Creating a truly inclusive and equitable tech space requires all of us—leaders, colleagues, mentors, and allies—to take action. Whether it’s advocating for equal opportunities, fostering mentorship, or simply recognizing the women making an impact around us, every effort counts.
Let’s keep the conversation going. Who are the women in tech who have inspired you? What success stories stand out? Drop their names and stories in the comments—let’s celebrate the changemakers leading the way.
We share some other insights about digital adoption, digital transformation, and more on our blog. Read more here.
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🗞 Whatfix news bites
Whatfix has been recognized as the "Scale-up SaaS Startup of the Year" at SaaSBoomi 2025!
Being part of this legacy and contributing to the growth of the SaaS ecosystem is a privilege in which we take great pride.
A heartfelt thank you to the SaaSBoomi community for fostering collaboration, celebrating bold ideas, and shaping the future of SaaS. Here’s to building, scaling, and leading—together!
🎙 Whatfix podcast catchup
6 Ways Digital Adoption in Learning is Transforming Workforce Training
This this episode, we discuss how digital adoption plays a critical role in transforming the way organizations implement and leverage their learning technology stacks. By aligning tools and platforms with user needs and workflows, businesses can create an ecosystem that supports learning in the flow of work, maximizes engagement, and drives organizational growth.
Key points covered:
1. The essence of digital adoption in learning technology
2. Building a digital-first learning ecosystem
3. Key components of a learning technology stack enabled by digital adoption
4. Challenges addressed through digital adoption
5. Success stories with digital adoption
Listen with Apple Podcasts and Spotify
🚀 Digital transformation clicks with Whatfix
Whatfix streamlines the build vs. buy decision in user onboarding, offering a no-code platform that crafts personalized in-app guidance and support. It’s an ideal solution for businesses exploring efficient ways to onboard users without the heavy lifting of developing custom software. With Whatfix, create dynamic flows, pop-ups, and task lists for an engaging onboarding experience directly within your apps.
Leveraging Whatfix’s analytics, pinpoint workflow inefficiencies and user engagement blocks to optimize onboarding paths and improve user experiences. The platform’s capability to gather real-time feedback through in-app Surveys further refines your strategy, making Whatfix a compelling choice for businesses seeking a balance between customization and convenience in user onboarding.
Explore our library of customer success stories now!
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