Only one in five people who work in the STEM sector is a woman, points out the Women in Tech association. Different organizations that group this niche have realized that there comes a time in the life of women entrepreneurs when their progress is seen Coptado and more in the sector.
“Historically we have had little representation of women in the technology industry and, although we are making progress every day, there is still a long way to go,” said Antonia Rojas Eing, venture capitalist and specialist in the Latam entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Xepelin, a fintech dedicated to offering financial solutions for SMEs, organized its forum for the first time in Mexico Women in Tech. In it, women leaders discussed the possible ways that exist to close the gender gap in the technology industry and the startup ecosystem.
The event was attended by a hundred guests and a panel of prominent women leaders of technology startups such as Maya Dadoo, Co-founder and CEO of Worky, the payroll and HR management software startup, Courtney McColgan Founder and CEO of Runa , HR Tech startup, and María Pía Lindley, General Manager of DiDi Food Latam.
Antonia Roja, who also served as moderator, highlighted that complementarity and diversity in teams is essential to leverage different perspectives and thus lead companies to their full potential.
tear down stereotypes
According to a study by Deloitte Global, 33% of the employees of technology companies will be women by the end of 2023. In this regard, the three panelists agreed that more and more technology companies are being seen in which more women seek to make their way.
How can women continue to grow despite the current business landscape and the little optimism that prevails in the market after the pandemic?
María Pía, from DiDi Food, considered that it is important to be aware of what you do not want in order to trace a path to follow. In addition, she recommended doing due diligence and talking to several people to find a company that truly shares your values.
How do these women leaders in the field of technology capitalize on their position? The three agreed that they have had to do strong personal work with the support of specialists and coaches, because there are still very marked biases and roles between men and women that are difficult to break.
For example, Courtney McColgan recalled that when she got pregnant with her first child, she was constantly traveling to Peru, leaving her little newborn behind for most of the week. Many asked her how this was possible, something that a man would not ask, since she is assumed to have to work.
Maya recalled the time when she was studying her master’s degree in the United States and found that women in leadership positions had the support of their husbands at home, who did not work and encouraged them in their professional development, something not very common in Latin countries. “You have to marry your professional career and your partner well,” she said.
care about people
Courtney McColgan noted that being in a leadership position is about sensitivity and finding ways to achieve better interactions. Maya stressed the importance of being close to the teams. In her case, she says that it is very important to develop women to have difficult conversations, such as salary negotiations or to assume new positions.
On the subject, María Pía commented that, contrary to finances, which are exact and technical, leadership is not a hard practice. Above all, when managing diverse teams, you have to be direct and, in her case, she says to set high standards. However, he assures that the most important thing is your team.
Businesses are about people, they are full of people and you have to worry about people is the only thing.
María Pía Lindley General Manager of DiDi Food
How to overcome self-limitations?
“I grew up trying to prove that I could handle a lot and it has been constant work to recognize that I can’t do it by myself, but I can with a team”, revealed Maya.
The three stressed that support networks must be built. It is important to find resources and have a group of friends to support you in every challenge in your life. It is also essential to offer mentorship to teams, especially women, and help them develop their ability to choose and negotiate.
In particular, Maya highlighted that in organizations there is a 20% gap in compensation because there are no metrics and data in human resources. You have to provide the data to narrow the gaps and achieve equity, she stressed.
In addition, he stressed that work must be done to close the leadership gap; develop women so that they can leverage themselves to solve problems, that they learn to delegate, communicate, know how to ask for help and demand and ask for a seat at the table.
Marisol Garcia Fuentes Editorial Director Emprende and Emprendedor.com. I am motivated by stories of tenacity and innovation.