In this talk we will examine women, or the lack of, in technology. Why do women make up such a small percentage of the technology field? And how can we improve this?

We’ll start with a brief history of software engineering and women’s contributions to the field. Software engineering was initially considered “women’s work”, but has steadily become a male dominated industry. Statistics reflect this in the continued decline of women in software engineering since that time.

Recent research shows that women are leaving the technology field at alarming rates. Even with more women entering the pipeline, the amount of women in the technology field has not increased. We’ll examine recent statistics that support this notion. As well as research that suggests why and likely contributing factors.

Most importantly, is how we can improve the presence of women in technology and management roles. From hiring practices, to culture implementation, and promotion considerations. I will provide ways for companies to improve their outcomes in hiring, retaining, and advancing women’s presence in technology to advance us all.