Initiatives and board-level discussions are important. But for more tangible change to happen, a shift needs to occur before people enter the workplace, writes Okta software developer Sara Daqiq

When looking back at the impact that figures such as Ada Lovelace and Grace Hopper had on computer programming, the state of female representation within STEM in 2019 seems at odds. Tech remains a male-dominated industry, with men occupying more than 75 per cent of roles in STEM in the UK.

When we consider that every company is becoming a tech company, the implications become even more perilous. From healthcare to retail to manufacturing, technology powers and influences it all. Yet, only one in every 10 developers is a woman, the Pearson Frank Java and PHP Salary Survey found. Bringing more women into these fields will not only help ensure that gender prejudice is kept firmly out of future products and systems, but also inject fresh perspectives and creative capabilities to developing technologies.

Turning words into actions

In the public eye, many businesses are vocal about the steps they are taking to increase diversity in technical positions, keen to publish in-depth reports on barriers women are facing and the lack of women in technical roles. Although this shows some desire to improve the situation, the verdict is still out on whether these words are materialising to tangible actions.

According to PWC, only five per cent of leadership positions in STEM are held by women. In addition, 60 per cent of women in IT feel that they have been held back from progressing in their career because of their gender. It was only at the end of 2018 that one of the magic circle law firms, Linklaters, finally made the pledge to join the Tech Talent Charter, a government initiative which aims to drive diversity and address gender imbalance in tech.