Why Women in Tech Are Still Being Left Out of the Room

Women in tech have been here since the beginning — pioneering the very foundations of modern computing — yet the numbers still tell a different story.

The Women Who Built the Foundation of Modern Tech

Ada Lovelace wrote the world’s first computer program. Grace Hopper invented the compiler. Women built this industry from the ground up and yet, they remain some of the most underrepresented voices in tech today.

Katherine Johnson helped advance human space exploration with her unmatched mathematical genius. Margaret Hamilton developed critical software that powered the Apollo moon missions and her methods still influence the way computers operate today. Stephanie Shirley created programs focused on the social and ethical impact of tech long before it was a buzzword. And Megan Smith, a former U.S. CTO, has been relentless in her mission to bring diversity and inclusivity into the heart of tech culture. 

The reality for women in tech today is still a far cry from what those pioneers deserved to leave behind.

With powerhouses like this laying the foundation for modern computing, it’s baffling that we still have stats like these in 2025: 

• Just 27.6% of the technology workforce identifies as female. 

• Only 17% of tech companies have a woman at the helm as CEO. 

Let that sink in. 

Despite being critical to the birth, evolution, and innovation of technology, women continue to be overlooked, underestimated, and underrepresented. But here’s the thing: we’re still here. We always have been and we’re only getting louder. 

While women are still fighting for space in the room, we’re also building our own rooms. Our own communities. Our own networks of support and empowerment. 

From Girl Develop It and Girls in Tech, to Black Girls Code, Tech Ladies Inc., TechWomen, and Girls Who Code, there are entire ecosystems dedicated to uplifting and connecting women in the tech industry. These aren’t just “support groups” they’re launchpads for innovation, mentorship, leadership, and unapologetic success. 

Women in tech may not dominate in numbers yet, but we do dominate in resilience, in collaboration, and in our commitment to changing the future of tech. 

We are the backbone of this industry. 
It’s time the world caught up.