Gender discrimination harms tech industry growth

According to new analysis by Sopra Banking Software, men still dominate senior roles in the tech sector and this is harming the industry’s growth.

A study by McKinsey Global Institute finds that 38 percent of women in the technology field feel that gender discrimination staggers growth and chances for progressing their career in the future. What's more, 60 percent of these women attribute not wanting to be a top executive to excessive stress and pressure.

The same study finds that in an ideal scenario, where female roles are identical to those of men, "as much as $28 trillion, or 26 percent, could be added to the global annual GDP by 2025."

Melissa North, head of human resources at Sopra Banking, says, "Businesses are not taking adequate measures to ensure women feel they have the reassurance to pursue a work-life balance, including starting a family -- and therefore women don’t succeed long term. Feeling like they must compromise having a family to have a career is one of the leading reasons women don’t stick around to get moved into leadership roles."

Taking the gaming sector as an example, women make up only 22 percent of game developers, yet represent 50 percent of the people who play video games. Pip Wilson, entrepreneur, investor, and co-founder of amicable apps believes that the people working for a company should reflect the customers it's serving. She believes that businesses need to recognise the responsibility they have to women and gender equality in the workplace, but also the possible benefits that come with hiring from a larger pool of talent, that includes women.

The company offers tips for women in tech which include, get help and advice from wherever they can, finding mentors and those who have been in the same shoes before -- whether male or female, and using technology -- specifically mobile -- to help achieve a better work/life balance. Making use of mobile apps and cloud services means a successful business no longer requires a nine-to-five in an office.

"Having a belief and not doubting yourself is important as a woman climbing the business ladder as well as making yourself visible to other women in the industry and talking about your struggles," adds North. "Not chasing your dreams of going into a new field because of commitments attached to gender shouldn't hold you back."

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