As International Women's Day approaches, it's hard not to notice the overwhelming presence of men in recent conversations between global tech and the US administration. This pattern reinforces the notion that leading in tech is often seen as a male domain. As a female leader in this sphere, I want to stress the critical need for more women in tech and engineering.
The demand for tech and engineering talent is surging. STEM jobs are projected to grow by 23% by 2030, yet women remain underrepresented in nearly every engineering discipline. While there has been some progress – increasing from 9% in the 1990s to 16,7% in 2023 according to the Society of Women Engineers – the numbers still show a large gender gap.
Diversity isn’t just about fairness – it’s a competitive advantage. Research shows that companies with higher gender diversity consistently outperform their less diverse counterparts. According to McKinsey & Company, organizations with more than 30% women executives are 48% more likely to outperform those with fewer female leaders. Similarly, a Harvard Business Review study found that companies with 2-D diversity (both inherent diversity like gender and acquired diversity like experience) are 45% more likely to grow their market share and 70% more likely to enter a new market.
Why is diversity especially important in tech and engineering? Diverse teams challenge conventional thinking, promote creative problem-solving, and drive innovation. When women are included in product development, design, and decision-making, they bring unique perspectives that help companies create solutions that better serve both genders. Diverse teams consistently prove to be more innovative and adaptable, making them indispensable in industries where advancements in technology move at a lightning-fast pace. Think about industries on the brink of disruption. Whether it’s automated order-fulfillment technology or artificial intelligence, the ability to integrate diverse thinking into engineering projects is crucial.
Hiring women in engineering is just the first step – companies must also foster an environment that supports and retains them. According to Gartner, one in four women reports receiving less support from leadership than their male colleagues. Without diverse leadership, women are 20% less likely than straight white men to win endorsement for their ideas. Without inclusive policies, mentorship programs, and leadership development opportunities, companies risk losing their female engineers to industries or competitors that better support their growth.
Leading companies are taking proactive steps to close this gap. For example, at AutoStore, where we have a 15% gender equality level in the Product Unit, we have implemented a range of initiatives to attract and support female engineers. These initiatives include adapting job ads to appeal to female applicants, mentorship programs specifically for women in engineering to boost their careers, and leadership and coaching programs to ensure women’s voices are heard and valued. By taking similar steps, companies can ensure they not only hire more female engineers but also create a workplace where they can thrive.
Our latest recruitment campaign highlights the real-world consequences of a male-dominated tech industry: much of the technology we rely on daily is designed based on men's preferences. The so-called "Reference Man" is a statistical standard used in developing everything from seat belts to office chairs and smartwatches, and even setting office temperatures. This "Reference Man" is a white male, aged 20-30, 180 cm tall, and weighing 73 kg – hardly representative of the broader population. With this campaign, we aim to motivate more women to pursue tech careers and ensure future technology development is more inclusive.
For companies striving to lead in tomorrow’s competitive market, gender diversity is not an optional add-on - it’s a business imperative. By making deliberate efforts to recruit, support, and advance female engineers, companies can outperform competitors and innovate better solutions.
