Women in Tech: We need (visible) role models

NDC-GARBE 16/09/2022

The digital industry is growing and growing, driven not least by the pandemic. New business models and new occupational fields are emerging every day. This is also reflected in the shortage of skilled workers: The number of trained experts is lower than the number of positions that need to be filled. It is all the more concerning that the proportion of women in the IT industry is only 17 percent.

To bring about positive change, companies must create a culture that empowers women in their skills and IT knowledge. This includes appointing women to key leadership positions and freeing up employee training for further development in technical areas. An important basic requirement for this is the ability to work flexible hours and create more part-time opportunities. Organizations that prioritize the culture within their company can accelerate progress on gender equality. Companies must lead, think and act with the conscious intention of being inclusive. Because ultimately, diversity and equality drive companies forward. To do so, they must fully leverage their diverse talents. In doing so, they create a competitive advantage: because heterogeneous teams are demonstrably more successful than homogeneous ones.

One important factor that needs to be expanded is the visibility of women, especially in technical professions. Role models can show girls and young women that there is a place for them in the technology and IT world. In the WOMEN WHO MASTER report, almost all women (96 percent) said that their family or friends encouraged their decision to pursue a career in technology or IT. This shows how critical early support can be for young women.

Nazanin Habibi, Project Engineer at NDC-GARBE, also had IT as a goal from a young age: “I always wanted to work in the tech industry. That makes me all the more grateful for the support I received at the beginning of my career. The data center industry requires interdisciplinary knowledge and thus often intensive training – especially if you come straight from university. Today, I want to encourage young women to follow this path. It requires patience and passion, but it’s paid for with the knowledge of creating a balanced perspective that a team made up of only one gender can’t have.”

Agnese Barazza is responsible for marketing and communications at NDC-GARBE. Although she didn’t originally plan to work in this field, she now appreciates it even more: “The Data Center industry is full of complex and evolving issues. It’s ideal for someone who, like me, is curious and wants to keep learning. The added focus on sustainability makes the job a jackpot for me.”