Sponsored Q&A: Female executives like Marissa Mayer are rare in tech. So how can the sector improve its diversity? Share your ideas on Wednesday 18 September from 6pm to 8pm
Watch the sitcom The IT Crowd and you'll see a predominantly male cast, playing up to the stereotypes of the technology sector. And it's an image that the industry is struggling to shake.
Only 17% of tech jobs are held by women, it was reported last year. What's worse, this number is declining.
There are a few notable exceptions to the rule: Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg, Yahoo's Marissa Mayer and Google's Susan Wojcicki have reached top roles in tech, despite the industry's inequality.
But this hasn't been plain sailing: Marissa Mayer reportedly built a nursery in her office and famously only took a few weeks maternity leave. Eliza Rawling, chief business officer at Cloud Direct, told Computer Weekly that, while at university, a male electronic engineering lecturer had once told a group of mostly male students: "Ladies, what are you doing here? You are wasting your time. There is no place for you in this industry. I mean it – don't waste your time here. The industry doesn't want women."
The pipeline for women in technology isn't looking too healthy either. A report earlier this year suggested that just 2.1% of women applying for university choose maths or computer sciences at university, compared to 10.9% of men.
Yet computing offers a wide range of exciting jobs and opportunities – of the women who do work in the industry, 95% say they're happy in their roles.
So what's going wrong? How can the tech sector embrace diversity better? How can women succeed in such a male-dominated sector? And how can the tech industry nurture and protect it's female pipeline?
Our experts will be discussing all these issues and more in our live chat on Wednesday 18th September between 6pm and 8pm.
The Q&A takes place in the comments section below this article. Taking part is easier than ever: you can create a free Guardian account, or log in using your Twitter or Facebook profiles, and comment. Alternatively, you can tweet us @GuardianCareers or email your questions and opinions to Martin Williams who can post them for you.
This content is brought to you by Guardian Careers in association with Square Peg Media. Produced by Guardian Professional to a brief agreed with Square Peg Media. Paid for by Square Peg Media. All editorial controlled and overseen by the Guardian.
Diversity
Martin Williams
theguardian.com © 2013 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds