The tech industry is one of the world's most influential and innovative sectors, driving digital transformation, economic growth, and social progress. However, ICT talents in general and female under-representation in particular continue to plague the industry worldwide despite efforts to break the glass ceiling.
Women's empowerment is at the top of the State of Qatar's priorities based on its firm belief in the importance of enhancing their equal participation in the country's sustainable development efforts in line with the Qatar National Vision 2030. Because of these efforts, Qatari women hold numerous ministerial and senior positions in education, medicine, engineering, international relations, police, and aviation in its civil and military branches, as well as other fields.
Today, 70 percent of the graduates of the faculties of information systems, computer engineering, engineering, medicine, pharmacy, and science are women. They also represent a percentage exceeding 58.3 percent in the local labor market, with a solid representation in foreign policy, security, the judiciary, and the army. They also achieved a 15 percent rate in private entrepreneurship, with investments amounting to $25 billion.
The Community College of Qatar (CCQ) has made significant contributions to supporting and enhancing the role of women at all levels, ensuring their equality with men in accessing opportunities and benefits. Today, female students comprise the majority of all academic programs at the College. Moreover, CCQ strives to empower and support women in their pursuit of success and excellence, providing them with valuable guidance on overcoming challenges as well as available opportunities for women to prove themselves by organizing awareness, educational, and supportive workshops.
In terms of employment and administrative/academic positions, CCQ's top management has always supported women and offered them leadership opportunities, with a considerable number of women holding executive positions. In recent years, an increasing number of women have also obtained leadership positions in academia, including Vice President, Dean, and Department head. In the new CCQ's organizational structure, women occupy the highest percentage of leadership positions both in administrative and academic divisions.
The support provided by the Community College of Qatar for women and their role in the technology sector has had a noticeable impact, leading to more women assuming influential academic positions. In the past two years, I held the position of Department Head for the Engineering Technology Department, rising to the Dean of the Science and Technology Division. This demonstrates CCQ's efforts and commitment to empowering women and enhancing their role in the science and technology sectors, creating a model for female students to study science, technology, and engineering, to excel, and create opportunities for themselves in the job market and leadership positions in the tech sector.
According to the latest facts on gender equality in education released by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), women are under-represented at all levels in the technology sector. This is particularly so in leadership positions, where women comprise only 24 percent of all executive posts.
There are many opportunities for women in tech to overcome and thrive in the industry. One of the opportunities is to leverage the growing demand for talent and skills in the tech sector, especially in emerging fields such as AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and 5G. According to research, there are significant talent shortages in IT – with 54 percent of organizations saying they experienced a skills shortage in tech in 2023. This is an opportunity for women to fill these gaps and contribute to innovation and growth.
Despite some progress in recent years, the tech industry continues to be male-dominated. According to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) 2021/22 Women's Entrepreneurship Report, the average startup rate for women was 10.4 percent. That said, the growing proportion of female founders indicates the potential for women entrepreneurs to contribute to the innovation and economic development of various sectors and regions. According to Statista, the share of startups with at least one female founder globally increased from 9.5 percent in 2009 to 20 percent in 2019. This shows that more women are taking the initiative to create their own businesses and pursue their passions.
While challenges exist, female founders have demonstrated resilience, creativity, and leadership in achieving business success. For example, the Female Founders Report 2021 shows that female-led startups create more jobs per founder than male-led startups and that female founders who participate in accelerators have higher chances of securing funding. Therefore, the growing proportion of female founders is a sign of empowerment and equality and a source of inspiration and opportunity for women entrepreneurs.
These statistics reveal the untapped potential and missed opportunities in the tech industry and the need for more concerted efforts to promote local ICT talent cultivation programs and increase the focus on empowering women. This has prompted foresighted companies in tech to pursue ICT talent nurturing programs and initiatives prioritizing gender balance.
The challenges women face in the technology sector are diverse and systemic. At the school level, gender stereotypes associating technology with masculinity can discourage girls and young women from pursuing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education and careers. This calls for collective efforts to change policies and practices to increase opportunities in STEM for girls and women.
Furthermore, those women who enter the ICT industry face a lack of role models and mentors who can inspire and support them in their career development. Role models and mentors can provide guidance, feedback, and encouragement to help women overcome obstacles and achieve their goals in the ICT sector. They can also expose women to opportunities, networks, and perspectives that broaden their horizons and enhance their skills.Therefore, it is encouraging to see various initiatives to address these challenges and promote a culture of mentorship and role modeling for women in the ICT industry by, for example, increasing the visibility and recognition of women's achievements and contributions in the ICT industry and showcasing their stories and profiles as role models for other women.
Moreover, efforts to promote sustainability open up opportunities for women. Women are at the forefront of the movement, with 58 percent of sustainability executives in large companies being women. Given the direct link between sustainability and technology, the global green agenda represents an outstanding opportunity for female tech leaders.
Huawei is leading among global tech giants with various initiatives supporting women at multiple levels. The company has launched the Women in Tech Program to support women who want to pursue a tech career by providing them with education, mentorship, and networking opportunities. The program is part of Huawei's initiative "Tech for Her, Tech by Her, Tech with Her", which aims to empower more women to enter the tech industry and cultivate female leadership. Huawei also organizes the annual ICT competition, which has seen increased female participation and representation. The Huawei Sustainability Report 2022 shows its commitment to SDG 5, which advocates for empowering women in technology and creating an inclusive society that embraces diversity.
The Middle East demonstrates that efforts to address gender imbalance in tech can produce positive results fast. Various talent development initiatives have garnered enthusiastic representation from young women techies who have progressed to lead successful careers.
In conclusion, gender equality and women's empowerment in the tech industry are critical issues that require concerted efforts from all stakeholders: governments, businesses, educators, civil society, media, and individuals. By promoting diversity and inclusion in the tech sector, we can enhance its performance and innovation and create a more connected, intelligent, and inclusive world.
