Partnering to empower youth for a more inclusive digital future

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of traveling to Japan for an employee town hall to recognize the significance of International Women’s Day and to reflect on the progress made toward gender equality.

It was an inspiring gathering that highlighted the diversity of experiences and perspectives among our team members in Japan and around the world.

At ServiceNow, making the world work better for everyone is at the core of who we are. We deeply value diversity, equity, and inclusion and recognize that our team culture influences not only our own talent, but also our products, customers, partners, and communities. That’s why we’ve taken intentional steps to empower youth.

Committed to youth development

Last year, we launched ServiceNow.org to help nonprofits use technology and innovation to solve their greatest challenges. This includes many organizations dedicated to youth development and education in historically underserved communities.

In 2024, alongside partners Accenture, EY, KPMG, and NewRocket, we introduced the ServiceNow.org Partnership for Good Grant, valued at up to $2 million, to foster additional learning and growth opportunities for young people.

As I think about the power of collective action and working together to bring change, one organization comes to mind. Technovation, a global nonprofit, is dedicated to teaching girls to address real-world problems in their communities by using technology.

ServiceNow’s support over the past three years has enabled Technovation to expand its alumnae program to connect 3,900 young women through a virtual community. These youth are building leadership skills as student ambassadors and networking with professionals in regional career hubs.

Expanded support role to include AI

I’m pleased to share that ServiceNow is extending its support of the program to include membership in the Technovation AI Forward Alliance (TAIFA). The initiative will help a new generation of female leaders drive innovation using technology to solve complex global problems in a future where AI plays a pivotal role.

"For over 17 years, Technovation has been putting technology tools in the hands of girls around the world,” says Tara Chklovski, founder and CEO of Technovation. “Now, with the support of partners like ServiceNow, TAIFA can amplify that effort to ensure that women are at the forefront of building better AI."

In a reality where women account for only 22% of AI workers across the globe, according to UN Women, it’s critical we do our part to ensure we build a more equitable and inclusive digital future. This partnership aims to do exactly that.

As ServiceNow CEO Bill McDermott says, “Creating equal chances for every dreamer is a race without a finish line.” I’m incredibly proud to be part of an organization that readily invests in the future of technology by creating opportunities for girls and young women across the globe.

Find out more about how ServiceNow helps nonprofits maximize their impact.

Photo credit: Esther Subias