When you go online and do a search, you use a concept pioneered by Karen Spärck Jones, a computer scientist credited for her work on combining statistics and linguistics.
One of her more famous quotes: I think it’s very important to get more women into computing. My slogan is: Computing is too important to be left to men.
Far be it for me to argue with the person credited for making life on the Internet more humane.
To say that technology is as simple as the zeroes and ones from which modern-day computing is based is to ignore how complex computing has become in the 331 years since Gottfried Leibniz invented the binary code (1689).
Arguably the more challenging bit is discovering the first female chief information officer (CIO). I could spend days Googling the Internet with no assurance I will find my answer. So if you know who it is, please do email me.
At any rate with International Women’s Day 2020, FutureCIO approached several women technology executives about their view on the career prospects in what has historically been a male-dominated function.
Is it fair to say that technology should not discriminate against gender, age, culture or social upbringing?
Thao Dang, head of Tech, Thoughtworks: Technology should exist without any inherent biases and discrimination. The tech industry traditionally has had a significant gender gap, more so than most other sectors. At ThoughtWorks diversity has been a focus since our inception as we truly believe in the value that diverse teams bring to every engagement. That’s why our hiring process focuses on passion, willingness to learn and competence above all else.
Zhang Ping, Jennifer, Vice President of Content Security at Bigo Technology: I am of the view that technology, whether it relates to its use or the individuals who work in this field, is always neutral. It does not discriminate individuals based on age, gender or social upbringing. Often, technology is developed for the benefit of society but if it is harnessed in the wrong way, it could also bring detrimental impact to communities.
Jamie Neo, director of Engineering, Supplies Operation, HP Inc.: In my field of manufacturing, we require expertise ranging from design and statistical process control to AI and business acumen. I’d be the first to admit I don’t know everything and that’s why diversity in teams across gender and generation is so important. It helps us consider multiple perspectives, enriches our thinking and raises our problem-solving capabilities.
Do you believe that a gender/generation neutral IT team will perform better than today’s male dominated IT team? Why?
Thao Dang: As a female technologist, I am glad that ThoughtWorks is committed to gender diversity at the workplace, with women forming 42 percent of the company’s global leadership. As a consultancy we believe diverse teams bring better solutions to the business and to customers. Varying backgrounds, beliefs and experiences provide unique viewpoints which I believe is critical in an industry that strives to continually innovate.
Zhang Ping, Jennifer: As a woman, I believe that we bring a different dimension to any team. As a proud mother, I realised that my experiences with bringing up my children has given me a different perspective and honed my resilience to face uncertainty with courage. I think it is society that shaped our male dominated teams; this is because Asian men are not generally expected to nurture children but Asian women have that expectation, either placed upon by their elders or by themselves.
Jamie Neo: In engineering, manufacturing and technology, unconscious bias still finds its way into how we interact with each other, which disproportionately affects women negatively. Only by acknowledging our shortcomings can we all take conscious steps to rectify inequalities. In Asia, women can be less outspoken – and my message to them is to take charge, because they’re in control of how they want to feel and be treated.
What unique qualities does a female CIO or tech leader bring?
Thao Dang: I believe a good tech leader is one who leads with respect, humility, understanding, and being able to work alongside the teams. This means staying up to date on tech developments. trends, and continuous learning. As the head of tech at ThoughtWorks the most important thing I’ve learned is to listen – provide individuals with opportunities to grow, learn and empower the team to drive innovation.
Zhang Ping, Jennifer: I believe good leaders in general are focused on nurturing and grooming teams to success. In today’s world, I find that the more effective leaders are the ones who show human emotions and are not afraid to be vulnerable with their team members. This shows that we are fighting the same battle together and as the one leading them, I’m not afraid to be at the frontline.
Jamie Neo: While it may not seem like an issue in countries like Singapore, the lack of female representation at management levels speaks for itself. It is even more pertinent in other countries. The road towards equality is ongoing and as leaders – women or men – it is our responsibility to ensure that younger generations will have equal opportunities to flourish as individuals.
How would you implement/encourage gender diversity in technology?
Thao Dang: The industry has continued to make steady progress in increasing its diversity ratio but this is an area that needs continual focus and investment. This begins at an early age and we are already seeing a lot more focus on STEM in education, but I also feel industry, community, and individuals can play more of a role in breaking down the gender biases and ensuring girls have equal exposure to STEM subjects. I have personally been involved in sharing sessions at universities, community events, and mentoring programs to share my journey, my learnings, support those who have doubts, and hopefully provided some inspiration along the way.
Zhang Ping, Jennifer: Just hire more women!
Jamie Neo: It is important for women to be advocates for other women within the industry. Regardless of background – from leaders to engineers, marketers to customer support – we can all offer our help and guidance to encourage one another to succeed. At HP we, actively promote women involvement through mentoring initiatives, and also women in STEM career talks for secondary school girls to encourage more to pursue technical careers.
A 2019 Korn Ferry analysis of the top 1,000 U.S. companies by revenue noted that it is easier for women to land a CIO/CTO role than that of CEO or CFO. For women aspiring for a career in technology, it is worth noting that prospects for higher posts are positive in the long-term. Also, the financial services sector appears to be more welcoming of women CIOs/CTOs (25%).
Craig Stephenson, Korn Ferry managing director, North America CIO/CTO Practice, observed a greater percentage of impressive and capable women who are choosing to grow their careers in the technology field. “Our research indicates women CIOs/CTOs rank just as competitively as their male counterparts on key competencies, and we believe it is important to establish explicit and unbiased methodologies in how technology leaders are assessed by both competency and experience,” he concluded.
