Women in Tech
Talent Pipeline | Assuring Equity | Access to Finance
Thursday, 4 September 2025 | 10:00 – 18:30 | Stage 3
Despite significant advancements in the technology industry, women continue to face systemic challenges that hinder their full participation and growth. One of the most prominent issues is the persistent gender gap in representation. Women hold only a fraction of technical and leadership roles in the tech industry, often facing stereotypes and biases that question their competence in STEM fields. This underrepresentation starts early, with societal norms and educational barriers discouraging many girls from pursuing tech-related studies.
Another significant challenge is workplace culture. Women in tech frequently report experiences of discrimination, unequal pay, and a lack of mentorship opportunities compared to their male counterparts. The "bro culture" that persists in many tech firms can create an unwelcoming environment, leading to higher attrition rates among women. Additionally, sexual harassment and microaggressions remain critical issues, with many women feeling unsupported or unsafe in their work environments.
Finally, the lack of visibility and recognition for women’s contributions to technology exacerbates these challenges. Women innovators and leaders in tech often face barriers to funding, particularly in entrepreneurship and startups, where venture capital overwhelmingly favors male-led initiatives. These compounded challenges not only affect the individual careers of women but also deprive the tech industry of diverse perspectives that are crucial for innovation and growth. Addressing these issues requires a collective effort to foster inclusivity, equitable policies, and supportive environments for women in tech.
Keynote Speech
10:00 – 10:30
Session 1: Assuring the Talent Pipeline for Women in Tech
10:30 – 12:00
This session will examine the fundamentals for talent development at the early stages of education and career development. The emphasis is on practical, tangible tools and best practise that can be learned from and adapted by educational institutions as well as employers. How can STEM Education become more attractive for Women in Technology? What other factors count at the secondary, upper secondary and tertiary levels? What role do mentoring, counselling and apprenticeship schemes play in expanding the talent pipeline? What other policy or employment issues affect early-stage talent development and career choices?
4 Speakers
First Break
12:00 – 12:30
Session 2: Assuring Equity in the Workplace
12:30 – 14:00
This session will focus on the measures needed to assure equity and equal access to opportunities and benefits in the workplace. This session will examine aspects such as financial and non-financial compensation; promotion systems; retention systems; workplace mentoring; workplace culture; education and other human resources systems for assuring equity and equal opportunity.
4 Speakers
Second Break
14:00 – 14:30
Session 3: Work-life Balance and Family Support
14:30 – 16:00
This session will examine how to structure employment conditions outside the workplace to support female involvement as founders, employees and managers. This includes flexible working time / work-from-home; access to mental health support and support for burnout; maternity leave structures; coparenting structures and other innovations designed to improve overall work-life balance and support.
4 Speakers
Third Break
16:00 – 16:30
Session 4: Access to Finance / Investing in Women-led Startups
17:15 – 18:30
This session will share the experience of four major investors in tech startups founded and led by women. It will explore their decision-making criteria; investment priorities and strategies; and other features of their investment approach. It will also review other opportunities and challenges in terms of general access to finance.
4 Speakers