IWD 2025: Corporate culture is key to fostering gender balance in tech roles

Yaspa, argues that companies' leadership and culture are the most important factor in encouraging more women into technology roles.

So many amazing professionals and organisations in the tech space have launched programmes that inspire and support women in the industry. 

This work is definitely making a difference in driving gender parity within tech and raising awareness of the challenges women face in the field, which in turn is pushing for meaningful change.

However, despite these efforts, women still represent less than a third of the global workforce in technology-related roles. It's a subject I feel passionate about, as I've experienced first-hand the challenges women face when it comes to breaking into and thriving within the tech industry. 

While there have been encouraging signs of progress, there's clearly work to be done.

Shifting the narrative

It's a common perception that women don't code. I find this rather ironic, especially when I think back to my own academic background. My first degree was in Latin, a language that's considered somewhat random in today's tech-driven world, but it taught me the value of understanding patterns and logic. In many ways, coding is much like a language. It has its syntax, structure, and logic, much like any language does. This is something I think many people, especially those with a humanities background, could easily relate to.

If I had understood coding as a language when I was younger, it's quite possible that I would have taken that path. There's a lot of appeal in the logic of it. And it's not just for people who already have technical backgrounds. 

People who love languages, problem-solving, or even puzzles could thrive in this space. This is an important message we need to spread: tech isn't just for people with technical degrees, it's for people with diverse interests and backgrounds. Coding is a skill anyone can learn, and it's one that I believe women can find very fulfilling.

The tech industry is so much broader than just coding. Tech roles cover a wide range of skills, from product design and UX to project management and communications. Yet, there seems to be this outdated view that tech careers are all about sitting in a dark room, isolated with a computer screen. I can't understand where that stereotype comes from. It's not only inaccurate but also dismissive of the wide variety of roles available in tech.

Women often excel in collaborative environments, and many tech roles, especially in product management, customer experience, or user interface design, require people who can work with others, communicate well, and solve problems creatively. 

This is a narrative we need to shift: tech isn't just for those who prefer to work in isolation. It's for those who enjoy connecting with others and thinking strategically. Many people could thrive in these roles, but we need to challenge the old stereotypes and make these careers more visible.

Role models and representation

There's no intrinsic reason why women can't excel in technical roles. The obstacles women face in entering and succeeding in the tech world are not about ability; they are about societal conditioning and outdated beliefs.

At Yaspa, while we have a fairly balanced gender representation in non-technical roles, there are still very few women in our tech team. And that makes a difference. When women do join the tech side of things, it can feel isolating. 

There's a noticeable absence of other women with similar backgrounds and mindsets. The lack of diversity creates a subtle, yet real, sense of discomfort. It's an issue we need to tackle by promoting inclusivity and ensuring women have a comfortable, supportive space to thrive.

One of the biggest challenges in attracting women to tech is the lack of visible role models. When I first started in the tech world, I didn't see many women in senior positions - particularly in development. 
In my earlier career, I worked at a large corporate tech company. Even though the company was a market leader and had a reputation for being inclusive, when I looked up at the senior leaders in my division, I didn't see anyone who seemed like me. There was a disconnect.

This lack of representation created a psychological barrier for me. I couldn't picture myself advancing in that kind of environment, and it subtly impacted my career progression. If women don't see others like them in leadership roles, it becomes harder for them to envision themselves succeeding. 

That's why role models are so critical. We need more women in senior tech positions to inspire the next generation and show that it's possible to excel in these careers.

When I reflect on my career, I realise that I made some choices based on my discomfort with male-dominated spaces. Early on, I avoided socialising in environments like corporate golf days or after-work drinks because they didn't feel like my scene. In hindsight, I see that by distancing myself from these social opportunities, I inadvertently created an invisible barrier to my own advancement.

I thought I was making a proactive choice, but it was actually a missed opportunity. The truth is, if I wanted to succeed in a male-dominated corporate environment, I needed to push through those discomforts. 

It wasn't just about fitting in, it was about understanding that these spaces, however uncomfortable, were an important part of building relationships and advancing in the industry. Reflecting on this has given me a new perspective on the importance of adapting to and embracing different aspects of corporate culture, especially as women in tech.

Trust and empowerment

One of the reasons I joined Yaspa after many years of consultancy was because of the CEO's focus on creating a culture of trust and empowerment. In the tech industry, where micromanagement and lack of autonomy are often the norm, it's such a relief to work in an environment where you're trusted to do your best work.

It's this kind of environment that helps retain talent and foster growth. Women in tech are often underrepresented, but the right company culture can make all the difference. 

At Yaspa, we work hard to foster an inclusive, supportive space where everyone can thrive, regardless of gender. It's this culture of trust and autonomy that has helped me and many of my colleagues do our best work and feel genuinely valued.

Work in progress

As an industry, we've made strides in recent years, and there are plenty of initiatives, companies, and individuals working to make tech a more inclusive space for women. But the work isn't done. 

There's much more to be done to challenge stereotypes, create more visibility for women role models, and foster inclusive corporate cultures. If we keep pushing for change and providing support, I'm confident we'll see even more women breaking into tech and thriving in the industry.