Encouraging girls in tech to shine

I’m passionate about getting more women working in technology. That’s because despite making up about half the world’s population, women comprise less than one-third of the global tech workforce, according to WomenTech Network.

The biggest reason for this imbalance is misconceptions about the industry that start at an early age for girls, a Women in Tech survey found.

Opening the door to participation

Too few girls feel that technology is the right career path for them. In the UK, for example, only 27% of female university students said they would consider a tech career, according to PwC. In the US, only one-fifth of those earning a bachelor’s degree in computer and information science are women, WomenTech Network reports. It’s an imbalance that’s directly reflected in the tech workforce.

Along with other leaders at ServiceNow, I’m committed to addressing this underrepresentation and empowering girls in tech. Let me share an inspiring example. October is Month of Service at ServiceNow. During this time, we celebrate the contributions our people make in volunteering and giving back. It’s also the month when the UN’s International Day of the Girl takes place.

Playing tech leader for a day

To mark International Day of the Girl, we invited 19-year-old Lauren L. to take over my job in learning and development for the day, in partnership with ServiceNow customer Plan International, a charity that works to address gender inequality. The organisation’s commitment also embodies one of ServiceNow’s core values: to create belonging.

My colleagues and I provided Lauren with insights into life at ServiceNow and the experience of a female leader in tech. The day also gave us an opportunity to hear from Lauren about her perceptions of a tech career and the issues that really matter to her.

Making progress towards equality

Understanding what young women like Lauren want and expect from their careers is vital to addressing gender inequality in tech—and empowering girls to confidently make progress in the industry. Here are some lessons Lauren shared with me from her day at ServiceNow:

• Take an inclusive approach to talent. One of Lauren’s suggestions was to make sure that job description language is relevant and relatable to a truly diverse pool of potential hires. She also raised the importance of acknowledging and marking significant cultural celebrations from around the world. For women, she stressed the need for honest and open discussion of the impacts of menopause and periods, which can help ensure support is in place.

• Talk is great, but actions matter. In an era focused on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) and sustainability, it’s important that organisations provide career options that embody sustainable principles and give employees a chance to make positive contributions.

• Achievement looks different for everyone. Provided you have the grit and determination to succeed, you can achieve whatever you want. For instance, it’s OK to have a career break, but you shouldn’t stand still. Remaining flexible, adopting a growth mindset, and continuing to learn new skills are all essential for a career in tech.

At ServiceNow, we’ve made progress towards achieving a target of 34% women in our workforce by the end of 2025. And for the second year running, we were named among the Fortune 100 Best Large Workplaces for Women.

Instilling a passion to succeed

There’s much more work to be done. We need to lean into our commitment to gender equality. Meeting people like Lauren makes me extremely hopeful about the future. As a woman in leadership, I want to sponsor and represent great young women like her.

I believe that the impact mentors, coaches, and sponsors can have on developing female talent is key. After her day at ServiceNow, Lauren told me: ‘I’ve learned that women can lead and that ServiceNow is a great example of female leadership in practise. Every conversation I’ve had has taught me that you can do whatever you want to do if you have the passion to succeed. ServiceNow really embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion.’

It’s the responsibility of leaders and workers in tech to nurture young female talent and provide amazing opportunities for the next generation.

Join a company that encourages girls and women to shine. Explore ServiceNow careers.