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Associated Press
17-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Global Survey: 76% of Women in Tech Say Gender Bias Blocks Leadership
New Report from WomenTech Network Highlights Systemic Barriers; Companion Book 'Chief in Tech' Offers Actionable Solutions NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, April 17, 2025 / / -- Despite widespread conversations around diversity and inclusion, women in tech remain significantly underrepresented in leadership—and a new global study reveals why. The Women in Tech: Barriers to Leadership Survey Report 2025, released by WomenTech Network, draws on responses from 4,274 women working in technology across North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. The findings paint a stark picture: 76% have experienced gender bias that negatively affected promotion or leadership opportunities. 70% believe promotion processes in their organizations are unfair and non-transparent. 58% report lacking equal access to professional networking. 67% cite work-life balance policies as a barrier to leadership rather than a support. 85% say they frequently struggle with imposter syndrome or self-doubt—even at senior levels. 'These aren't abstract figures—each number represents a woman fighting to lead in an environment that often works against her,' said Anna Radulovski, founder of the WomenTech Network. 'We need to move beyond awareness and into action. This report is a call to tech companies to take measurable, lasting steps toward inclusive leadership.' The report also uncovers critical shortfalls in professional development: Only 17% of respondents report having access to robust mentorship or sponsorship programs. Many cite exclusion from informal decision-making spaces that fuel leadership momentum. A Companion Guide to Change To help close these gaps, Radulovski authored Chief in Tech: How Women Are Breaking the Silicon Ceiling and Leading with Impact, a forthcoming book from Wiley (May 2025). Building on insights from the report, the book offers frameworks and strategies—including the MOSAIC Mentorship Model and the (Authenticity + Expertise) × Visibilityformula—designed to help women and their allies navigate and overcome systemic barriers. Featuring interviews with over 50 women in C-suite and senior tech roles, Chief in Tech is both a personal and professional playbook for creating inclusive, high-performing leadership pipelines. 'If we want tech to shape the future, we must ensure women are helping lead it,' Radulovski said. 'This report highlights the problem—Chief in Tech shows the path forward.' The full Women in Tech: Barriers to Leadership Survey Report 2025 is now available for download: Link to the book: About WomenTech Network WomenTech Network is one of the world's leading communities for women in tech, with more than 12,500 Global Ambassadors representing 179 countries. Over 150,000 tech leaders have participated in its initiatives, connecting a global network that reaches over 4.5 million people. WomenTech Network advances gender diversity through mentorship, leadership development, and career growth opportunities. Ivo Radulovski WomenTech +1 305-449-2456 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Lewisburg Area seniors provide STEM space for young girls
LEWISBURG — Two Lewisburg Area High School seniors made it their mission to encourage younger girls to participate in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) activities. Eighteen-year-old Lewisburg residents Mariah Drexler and Alanna Jacob co-founded Girls Need Space. The monthly program aims to allow girls in the Valley to feel welcome in the STEM community. They have hosted stargazing and moon observation nights, taught about women in the male-dominated sciences and, most recently, held a workshop to build model rockets. 'It's important to find that space when you're younger and knowing there are friendly mentors who will guide you along the way,' Drexler said. 'You don't have to feel you're inadequate at a younger age or you can't do something just because you're younger. We can meet them where they have to be met. I really want this to be a mentoring space for those younger girls to feel comfortable to learn about STEM as they make their way through the school district.' Jacob said she is inspired by the next generation. 'If a 7-year-old can use a telescope or build a model rocket, what else can they do in the future?' Jacob said. 'It makes it so fun and rewarding.' Drexler and Jacob said they noticed how male-dominated the STEM fields are and wanted to encourage female students to embrace STEM education. 'Everyone talks about women in STEM, and there's a lack and a void there for girls to feel that safe space,' Drexler said. 'Growing up, I found an interest in astronomy at a really young age. I came from a place of privilege where my parents were able to let me go to NASA Space Camp. I know those opportunities aren't always there for other girls who live in our rural area. I have this passion and the ability to bring it to younger girls.' The Women Tech Network reported that women make up less than a third of the world's workforce in technology-related fields. 'The gender gap in STEM fields is particularly concerning when it comes to specific academic disciplines,' Women Tech Network reported. 'Women account for approximately 21.3 percent of those who earned a bachelor's degree in computer and information sciences, 22 percent in engineering and engineering technology, 35 percent with an economics background, and 39 percent in physical sciences, respectively.' U.S. Census data demonstrates that female workers have made enormous strides in the STEM workforce, growing from an 8 percent minority in 1970 to 28 percent of all STEM employees by 2019, according to Women Tech Network. 'Despite the progress made in 2023, there is still a considerable gender gap in the GAFAM (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft) workforce with women making up between 29 percent and 45 percent. On average only 31 percent of the GAFAM employees are female,' Women Tech Network reported. Launching rockets During a session on Feb. 22 at the high school, Drexler and Jacob talked about Katherine Johnson, an American mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics as a NASA employee were critical to the success of the first U.S. crewed spaceflights, including Alan Shepard's May 1961 mission Freedom 7. In 2015, President Barack Obama awarded Johnson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States. For two hours, Drexler and Jacob assisted six girls with constructing model rockets and then launching them. They put together the models and learned about the mechanics of what makes the rockets launch before taking their finished products outside to the field to blast off. Each girl had a chance to count down and press the button to release their rocket into the air. Lily Peterson, 10, of Lewisburg, came with her mother Ronni Peterson to build the rockets. Lily said she loves outer space and has been working on robotics in school. 'We went outside and looked at different stars through a telescope,' Lily said. 'It was really fun. We learned about different comets and different scientists. Ronni Peterson said Drexler and Jacob's leadership is inspiring. 'Seeing the high school girls run it has been nice,' Peterson said. 'I feel like it's really empowering for the younger girls to see older girls passionate about science and engineering. It's been a really great experience.' 'Exceeded expectations' Advisor Dillon Durinick, a physics, meteorology and astronomy teacher at Lewisburg Area High School, said he started working with Drexler and Jacob when they took astronomy in their sophomore year. They worked to seek funding from the Green Dragon Foundation and then reconstruct a telescope so it could be used again in class. They then approached Durnick and former high school Principal Paula Reber about the Girls Need Space idea. 'They're amazing,' Durnick said. 'I knew from having them in class they are two exceptional students. As we worked on this more and more, they exceeded expectations. I'm really proud of them for putting this together. I'm really proud of them to not be afraid to do it and put themselves out there.' Next projects Girls Need Space meets monthly. Their next workshop is for working on building the new telescope they purchased with a $6,600 grant from the Green Dragon Foundation. 'We are super excited to have a new telescope which will hopefully last the school a long time as well as some binoculars,' Drexler said. 'The grant also paid for the model rockets we built. Hopefully, our next event will be operating the telescope and we are also looking forward to showing a movie called 'Picture a Scientist,' which talks about gender inequalities in STEM.' Any female-identifying students in grades four through eight from any district are invited, Drexler said. The plan is for the program to continue through several juniors when Drexler and Jacob graduate in the spring. Jacob plans to study environmental science, physics or biology at Tufts University in Massachusetts. Drexler plans to study physics and computer science at Duke University in North Carolina.
