Keynote: Pipeline builds to help close tech gender gap

Despite deep cultural hurdles that make it difficult to close the gender gap in technology professions, progress is being made in encouraging more women to enter tech careers, Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, said at Tuesday morning’s keynote presentation.

In her talk, Saujani explained how she founded the non-profit Girls Who Code with the mission of correcting the disparity in the tech industry. She said part of the problem behind the gap is cultural. Boys are encouraged to be daring and brave, while girls are encouraged to be perfectionists, while few movies or TV shows feature women characters who are technologists.

“Culture matters,” Saujani said. “Year, after year, after year we’re turning girls off” to technology careers.

The other part of the solution is educational outreach. Saujani highlighted how Girls Who Code programs are on track to have reached 185,000 girls by the end of 2019. There are about 6,000 Girls Who Code clubs that hold educational sessions to encourage tech careers. The organization also runs a multi-week summer immersion program for 10th and 11th graders. Alumni of these programs declared majors in computer science and related tech fields at 15 times the national average.

As a result of such efforts, Saujani said there is a growing number of women open to tech careers and now more focus needs to be placed on corporate recruitment practices. As she explained, “it’s not a pipeline problem” so much today as it is “will companies be willing to hire them.”

ProMat 2019 is scheduled to be held April 8-11 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. The tradeshow will showcase the latest manufacturing, distribution and supply chain solutions in the materials handling and logistics industry. Modern’s complete coverage of the show.