We honor the amazing women who are influencing the direction of technology on this International Women’s Day. Women are breaking down barriers to innovation and taking the lead in fields like data science, design, and programming, from CEOs to programmers. But that’s not where the narrative ends. For all of the ambitious female tech pioneers out there, this is a call to action.
Opportunities abound in the IT sector, and women may provide a distinct viewpoint. Our propensity for teamwork and empathy make us excellent problem solvers, well-suited to take on challenging technological problems. Women are still underrepresented in the sector, though.
This is why you ought to think about a career in technology, yes YOU:
- Limitless Opportunities: Technology is a rapidly developing field with applicability in all possible fields. There is a tech niche waiting for your genius, whether your interest is healthcare, environmental sustainability, or entertainment.
- Make An Impact: Technology has the ability to enhance lives and provide solutions to pressing issues. Imagine working on a project to develop the next medical innovation that might save lives or to build a platform that links people worldwide.
- High Demand, High Reward: There is excellent job stability and competitive pay in the tech sector. The chances for women to pursue successful jobs are expanding along with the need for qualified tech workers.
Don’t let the difficulties depress you:
- Recognize that not everyone is an expert in technology from birth. This field’s charm is that there’s always something fresh to discover. Accept the challenge; there are a ton of resources accessible online and through mentoring programs to assist you in developing the necessary abilities.
- Discover Your Tribe: Meet other female tech professionals! Gatherings, workshops, and online forums are great ways to connect with like-minded people, get support, and exchange experiences.
- Have confidence in yourself: You have this sector to own. Don’t be scared to show off your skills, take chances, or pose questions.
Some History Making Women in Tech/Computing
- Ada Lovelace – First Female Programmer: Ada Lovelace (1815–1852), a native of London, had a love and aptitude for mathematics at an early age. Since she created blueprints for the Analytical Engine, a machine that could conduct calculations, she is recognized as the first computer programmer in history. It is thought that the device was created by her friend, scientist and inventor Charles Babbage, and it was the first generic computer. Lovelace provided in-depth explanations of the Analytical Engine’s uses in modern computing. Ada Lovelace Day, which falls on the second Tuesday in October each year, honors Lovelace. The International Day of Recognition honors women who work in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math).
- Adele Goldberg – Graphical Interface Unit (GUI) Mother: The IT History Society states that Adele Goldberg, who was born in 1945, created some of the most well-known programming languages ever, which have impacted contemporary graphical user interfaces. Goldberg, a computer scientist born in Cleveland, wrote much of the documentation for Smalltalk-80, a reflective programming language that popularized the overlapping window programming environment on visual display displays in the 1970s. She also contributed to the development of significant software design templates, some of which served as development guidelines for the Apple Macintosh desktop environment. From 1984 to 1986, Goldberg served as the Association for Computing Machinery’s president. Goldberg has served as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Heidelberg Institute for Theoretical Studies since 2014.
- Megan Smith – Megan Smith was appointed to the White House in January 2017 after becoming the nation’s first female CTO in 2014. When Smith, a Buffalo, New York native, accepted the federal government position, she was an executive at Google. She came up with the concept for a tech hackathon in her role, which led to better protective gear for medical personnel battling the Ebola virus. Along with being the main proponent of net neutrality and organizing important meetings that contributed to the preservation of internet freedom, she also developed a White House webpage honoring women in STEM. At shift7, Smith serves as CEO and co-founder, collaborating with other institutions and organizations to address systemic issues related to the economy, society, and environment. Their collaborations range from the IT Jobs Tour, which visited 25 U.S. cities to assist diverse and non-traditional IT talent in finding employment, to the United Nations, which honored global entrepreneurs. Their relationships reflect the diversity of the problems they are attempting to address.
Due to the fact that women are creating new technologies, enhancing existing programs, and giving the general public access to resources that might help them live better lives, their positions in computer science and information technology are still growing today. Women in IT today have developed government IT systems, produced special effects for blockbuster films, and invented laptop computer innovations that allow work from home and bring-your-own-device work settings.
Never forget that you are strong, competent, and capable of having a significant influence. Let’s honor the remarkable women in technology on International Women’s Day and motivate the following wave of creatives. Women just like you are building the bright future that lies ahead.
Story Written by:
Osasenaga Gloria Iyamu
An intern with Hamplus Technologies International [Hamplus Hub]