ARTICLE
Pioneers Breaking Barriers and Paving the Way
Did you know that behind every technological breakthrough, there is a woman? From Ada Lovelace in computer programming to Hedy Lamarr in WiFi and Bluetooth, and Margaret Hamilton, who played a key role in the first steps on the Moon. These pioneers have shown that women hold a fundamental place in the tech industry, breaking barriers with their innovative ideas.
Unfortunately, their presence in the technology sector remains scarce as only 28% of the global tech workforce are women. Representation is growing but still lags behind other industries (Statista) . Globally, only 3% of women study in this field (World Economic Forum: 3 Things to know about women in STEM).
In response to this reality, numerous initiatives are emerging to promote women's inclusion in the tech sector. FCM Travel, part of Flight Centre Travel Group, is an example of how companies can contribute to inclusion and female empowerment in the business travel industry.
Organizations have been created to combat the underrepresentation of women in technology in Europe.
With such a low representation of women in the field, many organizations have sprung up with the aim of educating and attracting women to Tech, but also retaining these female talents.
- Girls Who Code and Code.org raise awareness among high school and preparatory students about programming.
- Women Techmakers is a Google program aimed at promoting women's inclusion in technology by offering mentoring programs, among other initiatives.
- Women Who Tech supports women entrepreneurs in the technology and startup fields through networking and funding.
- The European Centre for Women and Technology brings together companies, universities, associations, and governments from Europe to contribute their expertise in women's development in technology.
- Women in Tech® is the world's first organization that promotes inclusion, diversity, and equity in the field of information and communication technologies (STEAM).
Mentorship, targeted hiring, technical and leadership training, and corporate awareness of inclusion and diversity are initiatives that promote equal treatment for women. The goal of these actions is to change the image of the technology industry and contribute to a more equitable and inclusive corporate culture.
Measures to include more women in the technology sector in Europe should be implemented.
Few women have followed in the footsteps of the technology pioneers. Why? It seems that this sector has predominantly been reserved for men. In addition to being a minority, they find executive positions inaccessible, as shown by the international study "Digital Equality: Women in the Digital Revolution." In fact, 53% of women believe they do not have the same access as men to executive positions.
According to Aude Kremer, Chief Technology Officer EMEA for Flight Centre Travel Group "Transformation must start at the education level, where efforts must be made to create impact during high school by presenting viable options and legitimizing the choice to pursue a technical career before students choose their higher education programs [...]"
Breaking these stereotypes and supporting women's inclusion is crucial. To achieve this, several measures can be implemented to promote the integration of women:
- Establish educational programs in the form of workshops to raise awareness among young girls about the importance of studying STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
- Promote contemporary female role models that allow better identification, such as Safra Catz, CEO of Oracle, or Roxanne Varza, Director of Station F.
- Implement recruitment policies for women with the aim of achieving parity in executive positions.
- Encourage lifelong employability through continuous training, allowing the acquisition of new technological or managerial skills.
- Develop support networks to facilitate the exchange of best practices among women.
- Value technology companies with inclusive policies and break the gender image by demonstrating the benefits of diversity.
Although the road to gender equality in this field is still long, it is essential to maintain efforts. The development of new technologies relies on diversity and professional equality.
Women at FCM Travel: Innovation and Leadership in Technology
At FCM Travel, part of Flight Centre Travel Group, we champion female talent in technology and give them visibility across our channels. We amplify their voices through interviews and publications, highlighting their impact in the industry.
Beyond holding leadership positions, our professionals play a key role in major company projects. With their expertise and vision, we encourage them to share their knowledge at industry conferences and associations. For us, diversity and inclusion are essential pillars in building a more equitable and innovative workplace.
Discover the stories of Aude, Sarah, and Lydia, and, like them, be inspired by the power of technology!
Technology is evolving at a rapid pace, and while female representation remains a challenge, more young women are stepping forward, paving the way for new innovations. On International Women's Day 2025, we reaffirm our commitment to gender equality and the promotion of female talent in technology.
To conclude, we’d like to share the stories of three women who contribute to innovation in this field every day.
