Leaders discuss challenges, strategies for women in IT
How to keep women in IT roles
Panelists did have some optimism for companies aiming to not just hire but also retain women in technology roles.
“Things are only going to change over time, the more we continue to support and promote diversity, diverse teams and allowing different perspectives to prevail and not always sticking with the same old thing that works,” Mayshar said.
Constellation Research’s Miller agreed, explaining that the push for women in the tech industry is not just to get them in there, but also to keep them in there and create visibility for the next generations.
“I think that more girls are going to see women in leadership positions in technology companies — they’re going to see more women founders, they’re going to see more women CEOs,” Miller said.
As for the new reality that is remote work in most businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ray-Pope said it could actually benefit women in IT.
“There are ways I am also maximizing my time because of being home,” she said. “I do think that we in corporate are in a unique position. I do think, in some ways, I have seen the playing field leveled … [working from home] is opening doors for women who choose to take advantage of it. There is no backroom networking.”
Juggling between home and work lifestyles isn’t a new challenge for women, Miller said.
“Our workday has now gone from 9 to 5 to ‘Where can I fit the minimum expectation of eight hours of work in a day on a 24-hour clock, and how do I make sure that I’m prioritizing time with my team and time with my team at home?'” she said.