Growing the number of female entrepreneurs has been a hot topic in recent years. A lot of it is aimed at getting more women into STEM fields by offering career advice and guidance.
A recent survey found shocking statistics about women in tech roles. A toxic or off-putting culture is the most common answer given by women in technology. Moreover, most respondents felt confident they could detect it during the application process.
Despite recent initiatives, only 17% believe that much progress has been made in encouraging more women into tech. This is bad news for tech firms.
So what can bosses do? First, they must comprehend the main reasons why women do not want to work for them. Then they can fix it.
toxin-producing microbe
Toxic cultures continue to plague the tech industry. The survey found that 62% of women in tech have worked in toxic environments, with 21% doing so frequently.
This is shocking data. The survey found that promoting a healthy work culture is a key way for women to feel supported in tech companies.
Employers must address these issues, which include negative atmospheres and lack of career advancement. The responsibility lies at the top, and by doing nothing, you are actively discouraging female recruitment. And you’re probably sending them to your competitor.
But spending money on flashy new technology isn’t the answer. Before implementing new tools, you must address internal issues.
Examples of inclusion
An organisation that looks thinks, and acts the same cannot be innovative. Employers should reflect on the diversity of our country and world, and demonstrate their company’s inclusiveness.
Simply put, 73% of respondents would prefer to work for a tech company led by a woman. If female talent has to choose between you and another company, and you have female and diverse leadership, you will stand out as an inclusive company.
Absence of empathetic leaders
All employees need emotionally intelligent leaders. The survey did stress the importance of emotionally intelligent leaders for women. When asked to describe their ideal workplace, over half chose this.
So, why are these leaders important? It’s about toxic workplaces and recruitment. It’s critical to discuss work culture during the recruitment and interview process. The majority of those polled would avoid discussing company culture during interviews, with 7% completely avoiding it.
In the end, it’s up to all business leaders to have those conversations and show candidates and employees that diversity and inclusion are priorities.
This survey shows that getting women into tech has many challenges, but it is not all doom and gloom. In fact, 43% of respondents felt organisations were willing to address inequalities. Candidates recognising a shift in how businesses recruit is a positive step.
What matters is addressing the issues at hand and creating a more diverse and inclusive tech industry.
