Girl with Answers that supports and empowers women in the industry is no longer just a nice-to-have. It’s a must-have for any company hoping to attract and retain top talent.
The best way to do this is to ensure that women’s voices are heard at all levels of the organization. That starts at the very top, where senior leadership needs to set and measure specific goals that move toward gender equity. It also means encouraging a team-wide culture of professional development for women in the industry, and providing resources that help them excel.
Women need a strong support network to thrive and to overcome obstacles. That includes a dedicated mentorship program that offers one-on-one coaching, meaningful connections, and resources focused on career advancement. It’s important for managers to recognize that this type of mentoring is different from an informal peer-to-peer interaction, and it requires a level of commitment and trust.
Shattering the Glass Ceiling: Strategies for Empowering Women in Tech
Having a female role model is another critical component to success, and it’s not just about pointing women in the right direction. Founders and executive leaders need to actively model inclusive behaviors and champion a positive, supportive culture.
Reshma Saujani, the co-founder of Girls Who Code, is an excellent example. Her passion for closing the gender gap in coding has led to her empowering over 580,000 young girls to pursue careers in computer science. Parisa Tabriz, VP of Chrome security at Google, is another role model who works tirelessly to promote equality in the technology landscape. Her work has helped to protect billions of people worldwide from cyber attacks.