Diversity


How women can thrive in tech careers


As the world celebrates International Girls in ICT Day, Sami Jenkins – the COO and co-founder of global cybersecurity firm ThreatLocker – shares her insight on how women can make it in the tech world


W


hen TreatLocker was founded in 2017, I had to get used to being the only woman present in many


situations. Te tech world is male-dominated: many


women never consider it as a career path, and many more leave before they reach leadership roles. But being the only female was never discouraging; it was actually motivating. I knew I had a unique perspective to bring to the table. Gender stereotypes have played a part in


shaping the mindset of the youth, where in education, males are expected to pursue STEM majors more than females. Socialisation and cultural preferences have almost branded specific interests as ‘feminine’ or ‘lady-like’ while the hard skills associated with fields like technology are viewed as ‘masculine’. Although there have been more initiatives throughout the


40 | September/October 2023


industry for gender equitable training practices, the need for more female presence still boils down to the implications of entering a male-dominated industry.


Challenges When it comes to IT, there is a lack of female leadership, which doesn’t allow for more mentors or guidance within the field. Tis makes it harder for women to envision themselves in specific roles. According to a study by DataProt, in 2022,


women were seen to leave the IT industry at a 45% higher rate than their male counterparts. Te IT industry doesn’t just need more women, but people in general. It is a rapidly


growing industry with a high demand for qualified talent. Tis provides an avenue for employers to build diverse teams to further cultivate their buildings. Workplace culture has a huge role to play.


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