ViaTech Spotlight is a new blog series that aims to shine a light on ViaTech’s dynamic culture – from the talented individuals who comprise our team to the causes that we’re passionate about. Once a month, we’ll feature someone (or something) new on our blog and social media accounts. Follow along for a chance to get to know us!
According to the research consultancy IDC, the global information technology industry is on pace to reach $5.2 trillion in 2020.
Unfortunately, figures on women’s representation in the tech sector are much less staggering. Although opportunities in the field have increased significantly in recent years, women are still consistently underrepresented and underpaid.
BuiltIn reports that 48% of women in STEM jobs report discrimination in the recruitment and hiring process. So, it should come as no surprise that once women are employed, they are 45% more likely to leave within the year than their male counterparts.
And the issue is not just that women are perceived to lack technical skills. The general makeup of staff at technology companies is overwhelmingly male.
That’s why ViaTech is committed to providing equal opportunities to its women employees and increasing the number of women in technology and leadership roles.
We are proud to report that 55% of our workforce is female. But, more than that, we are pleased to offer support to our women employees in the form of leadership training, women’s workshops, and educational resources.
This year, we hosted our first-ever women’s lunch and learn – a two-part series focused on overcoming workplace challenges, growing our internal networks and maintaining an executive presence.
“At ViaTech, there has been a huge focus on women’s empowerment over the past several years,” said Audrey Wiseman, Director of Human Capital. “Forty percent of our senior leadership team is comprised of women, and we currently have a plant that is managed by an all-women team.”
After all, gender-diverse teams are proven to foster greater creativity and better decision making.
Research shows that Fortune 500 companies with the highest representation of female board members outperform those with lowest representation by 42%.
Not only does ViaTech seek to enable its women employees, but it aims to strengthen the pipeline of girls entering technology fields by hosting interns and mentorship programs for students interested in coding, design and other tech-related careers.
“This year, we’ve helped cultivate a community where women in our organization can feel empowered, inspired and supported,” Wiseman said.
Those in our network are invited to join us in improving education, championing women role models, and challenging stereotypes to build women up – in tech and everywhere.
If you want to learn more about the innovative work being done at ViaTech, connect with us on LinkedIn here!