Yet research shows that management teams with at least 30% women outperform those with less than 10% women. Companies managed with gender diversity are 25% more likely to achieve above-average profitability.
Deniz Çakirgil Sezen, Business Unit Director of Michael Page Technology, states that although women working in the technology sector are in the minority recently, companies have started to give priority to female candidates in recruitment, and draws attention to the fact that women can turn their limited representation in this field into a competitive advantage.
Looking at gross hourly wages across sectors, women earn 12.7% less than men in EU countries. In the technology sector, women earn less on average, as they are underrepresented in leadership roles. Çakırgil Sezen says that various factors such as gender-based stereotypes, hiring and promotion biases contribute to the wage gap between men and women, albeit less than in the past. In EU countries, only 8% of CEO positions and only 31% of board membership seats are held by women. In the technology sector, men are overwhelmingly 93% of senior technology executive (CTO) roles in Europe. (According to LinkedIn data). It is seen that women working in the field of technology are four times more exposed to gender-based prejudices about promotion than men. In addition, 25% of women state that the lack of work-life balance is the main reason for leaving their careers in the technology sector.
Advancement Opportunities for Women in the Technology Sector
As the need for women in leadership positions begins to be recognized, more and more companies are providing opportunities for women to advance in technology.
Stating that the call for gender diversity in technology has finally gained momentum, Deniz Çakırgil Sezen lists the things that women who want to increase their chances of taking on a high-level technology role should do as follows:
Acquire Qualifications: Increase and develop your technical and social skills through courses, certificate programs and professional development opportunities.
Chase Opportunities: Look for organizations that offer personal development programs and clearly defined career paths, as they are more likely to prioritize your growth and advancement.
Attend Industry Events: Attend conferences, software competitions, and boot camps that not only help you develop your skills and knowledge, but also provide excellent networking opportunities.
Build a Strong Portfolio: Keep and update a concise record of your work to demonstrate your expertise to potential employers.
Conduct Effective Networking Activities: Keep your LinkedIn profile up to date and join organizations that empower women in the tech industry, such as WITH.
Collaborate with Recruiters: Leverage the expertise of recruiters like Michael Page, who has a comprehensive global database of leading technology employers and can provide valuable guidance on your job search.
Diversifying Roles for Women in the Technology Industry
The way to get women into more diverse tech roles is to create more visibility. By breaking gender-based beliefs, women need to be encouraged to take on roles they can also work in technology fields such as cybersecurity or UX. Artificial Intelligence stands out as one of the fastest growing fields in technology and offers serious career opportunities for ambitious candidates.
In Turkey, women work in the IT sector in three main areas: system analyst, computer programmer and data entry specialist. In Turkey, 39% of women work as systems analysts; This rate is 20% in the Netherlands and 34% in the USA. (A study of Ekev Academy Journal). According to another study; In Turkey, 44% of women in the IT sector work as computer programmers; these rates were determined as 15% in the Netherlands and 36% in the USA. (Tijden, 1991, p.378).
Women often occupy more functional positions than technical ones, such as Project Manager, Scrum Manager, Service Manager, Delivery Manager, and Functional Consultant. These positions require excellent organizational skills, empathy and speaking skills.
Michael Page Technology Business Unit Director Deniz Çakirgil Sezen stated that the most sought-after high-level technology roles for women in Europe vary according to the company and the sector, and that UX Design is among the preferred ones.
