It's Technology, "Sweetheart"

"Women leaders are the most untapped competitive edge for the future global world." - Australian Computer Society

 Over the last year, I’ve interviewed professional women across Australia and Silicon Valley about their experiences in the workplace, focusing on women working in tech. It has led to some incredible and hilarious conversations:

“I was the Engineer in the room, yet the Sales Director mansplained to me how my product worked because a ‘woman wouldn’t understand the technical aspects’ - with the addition of ‘sweetheart’ as emphasis.”

“After a long elaborate introduction of my husband and his credentials by a male associate, I was introduced to the investor as ‘the wife.’ Did I fail to mention that I was the Founder and CEO of the company in interest?”

Does this really still happen today? So where is the disconnect on a day to day basis in the workplace today? 

I originally thought the challenge was that not enough women were entering tech.  However, a series of discussions quickly focused on the overall trajectory of a women's career in Australia, from entering the workplace to lack of appointments in leadership roles, and the challenges faced throughout. 

In Silicon Valley, things are no better than in Australia. Recent research has shown: 

• Women hold only 15% of board seats and leadership roles, and only 12% of engineers at Silicon Valley startups are women. Only 11% of executive positions at Silicon Valley companies are held by women. In Australia, 16.8% of CEOs/Heads of Business are women. (dreamhost - state of women in tech)
• There are more than 11 million businesses owned by women, and they receive only  6.7% of venture capital funding. Even with the same pitch, a study reported, men were consistently chosen over women to receive funding. (dreamhost - state of women in tech)

Clearly there is a lot to do. 

Inspired by these conversations and the dismal data regarding women working in tech, we are putting the design of the future in the hands of women across Australia and Silicon Valley to co-create best practices together.  Uniquely, this multi-city forum will be interactive and action-oriented. Every participant will contribute ideas from her experience to create collaborative best practices for changing the dialogue.  The forum will address how to support and enhance Diversity & Inclusion, and how to build a strong pipeline of women entering the technology industries. In fact, according to the global accounting firm PWC,  "Improving female participation in work across the OECD could boost OECD GDP by US $6 trillion, while closing the gender pay gap could boost GDP by US$2 trillion."

Our forum will focus on five key areas during the career of a women:

1. Building Pipeline of Talent - Where is the talent being developed, supported and retained?
2. Role Models & Mentors - How can we build stronger systems of women and men in these roles? 
3. Unconscious Bias - How can we erase the bias that causes pay gaps, lower level roles and general day to day leadership challenges?
4. Lack of Flexibility - What does flexibility really mean and how can we build programs with true flexibility?
5. Not Enough Women in Leadership - How do we get women appointed and how can we shift the culture in the meantime?

Improvements in technology are powering modern economies, and overcoming the gender imbalance impacts everyone.  We launched this program to see how we can move the needle to a more diverse and equitable future.  We know it’s not a lack of interest or caring, so let’s take a first step in making the shift. 

International Connector in partnership with Australian Computer Society, Australian American Chamber of Commerce, San Francisco, Viasat, Accenture, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney School of Entrepreneurship is holding three Future of Women in Tech sessions this November:

November 4 - Brisbane 

November 6 - Sydney

November 7 - Melbourne

For tickets and more information, go to: Future Of Women In Tech