Today, the average percentage of women enrolled in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics(STEM) courses worldwide is 26%, which is progressive, given the past percentage count. Up till 2018, the percentage was as low as 15%. Many companies are hiring more females and people of color to increase diversity in the workspace. Therefore, we expect the trend to continue and expand.
Not long ago, tech was strictly a man’s industry, but things are changing. Even though technological businesses are still dominated by men, a considerable number of women have gained recognition for their valuable contributions. Right now, the ratio of men to women working in tech is 4:1.
Women who have made a name for themselves in tech are an inspiration for young girls across the globe. Their achievements were not a walk in the park, but it’s solid proof that nothing is impossible. Seeing them succeed in life encourages females to take a chance and pursue STEM education and technical roles.
Now let’s discuss seven amazing women who are making waves in technology and living their best life:
- Cynthia Marshall
You might be subscribed to one of ATT bundles, but you may not be aware that this leading internet company is home to extraordinary women like Cynthia Marshall. She is among the most powerful women in Corporate America today with over 30 years of experience in telecommunications. Currently, she is serving as a Senior Vice President in Human Resources for AT&T.
Cynthia is a woman of color and substance, who has been part of the company since 2007. During her tenure at AT&T, she has managed various internal operations and external affairs. She has many awards of excellence to her name and is an active member of several influential committees at a national level.
- Gwynne Shotwell
Gwynne Shotwell is the president and chief operating officer of SpaceX – an American space exploration company founded by Elon Musk. She was included among the leading women in the world by Forbes in 2023 and recognized as one of the 100 most influential people worldwide by Times Magazine in 2020.
The Business Insider listed Gwynne as the most powerful female engineer back in 2018. Before working at SpaceX, she began her career in the automotive industry by taking a job at the Chrysler Corporation. Later, she joined The Aerospace Corporation where she contributed to military space research and development. She also served as the director of the space systems sector in a small rocket company known as Microcosm Inc.
- Reshma Saujani
Reshma Saujani is mostly known as the founder of Girls Who Code, a non-profit organization, aimed at increasing the number of women employed in computer science fields. However, she is also a brilliant lawyer, politician, and civil servant who served as deputy public advocate at the New York City Public Advocate’s office.
Saujani was included in Fortune’s 40 Under 40 list after she created Girls Who Code in 2012. She is a woman of Indian descent but was born in Chicago, United States. She largely worked in the finance industry before establishing her organization and took part in political campaigns between 2004-2008.
- Fei-Fei Li
Fei-Fei Li is an American-Chinese computer scientist who closely works with artificial intelligence (AI). She was the mastermind behind ImageNet, a dataset that permitted great developments in the computer field. From 2013-18, she served as the director of the Stanford AI Laboratory, and at present, she is the co-director of the university’s human-centered AI Institute.
Li has put a lot of work into raising diversity and inclusion in the field of artificial intelligence. Her areas of expertise include machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, and cognitive neuroscience as well. In 2023, she was recruited by the United Nations Scientific Advisory Board and listed among the “Most Influential People in AI” by Time100.
- Amy Hood
Amy Hood, the first female CFO in Microsoft’s history, is a force to be reckoned with. She is the executive vice president and chief financial officer at Microsoft; her duties include internal audits, tax planning, accounting, acquisitions, accounting, and dealing with investors.
Amy gets credit for the $7.5 billion acquisition of GitHub in 2017, and she was known as Microsoft’s second-highest-paid executive in the year 2019. She ranked #63 on the Forbes list of the world’s most powerful women in 2013, and she was listed at #28 on the same list for 2023 – career goals, right?
- Elizabeth Churchill
The final inspirational tech woman on our list is the director of user experience at Google. Elizabeth Churchill is an expert in computer science and psychology, so she possesses a deep understanding of human-computer interaction and social computing. She completed her PhD at the University of Cambridge in 1993 and moved to the United States in 1997.
Elizabeth has worked with some prominent organizations in the past, including PARC, Yahoo, and eBay. She is known for her extensive contribution to embodied agents, which are tangible AI prototypes that interact with our environment. Her skill set allows her to create well-defined, efficient, and eye-catching user interfaces.
If these leading women in tech fascinate you, do check out the latest from Forbes – World’s Top 50 Women in Tech and witness the abundance of female talent out there.