Women have been instrumental in shaping the tech industry, from Ada Lovelace’s pioneering work on the first computer program in the 1800s to Grace Hopper’s development of COBOL, and the coining of the term “debugging.” Trailblazers like Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson made space exploration possible, while Hedy Lamarr’s co-invention of frequency-hopping technology laid the foundation for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS. Radia Perlman, often called the “Mother of the Internet,” created the algorithm that powers the modern web.
These women didn’t just contribute to tech—they defined it. Their legacies remind us of the immense potential that arises when women lead in innovation.
Today, women are continuing to shape technology.
Leaders like Fei-Fei Li, known as the “godmother of AI” and current co-director of Stanford’s Human-Centered AI Institute, ensures AI systems are ethical, inclusive, and fair. Dr. Joy Buolamwini, founder of the Algorithmic Justice League, has exposed critical flaws in facial recognition software that disproportionately misidentify women and people of color. Dr. Lisa Su, CEO of AMD, has transformed the semiconductor company into a global leader in high-performance computing and gaming. Gwynne Shotwell, President and COO of SpaceX, is spearheading commercial space exploration and innovations like Starlink, bringing internet access to remote regions.
Despite these contributions, women still make up only 25% of the tech workforce with lower representation at 11% in leadership roles. Engineering teams are even less diverse, with women holding just 14% of engineering roles.
The absence of diverse perspectives in innovation has led to notable failures. Up until recently, airbags and seat belts were tested exclusively on crash-test dummies, which were designed based on the average male body. Women are 73% more likely to be seriously injured in car accidents as a result. Additionally, CPR manikins were traditionally designed without female anatomy, and recent studies have shown this contributes to disparities in CPR administration for women during emergencies.
Representation matters across every aspect of tech—not just in coding, but in the boardrooms where funding decisions are made, in the labs where algorithms are built, and in the classrooms where future innovators are trained. This is why our initiatives like The Algorithm for Equality® focus on showcasing, sharing, and profiling women in tech. By amplifying their stories, we create a roadmap for systemic change, ensuring women’s contributions are visible and celebrated.
Studies consistently show that diverse teams outperform their peers. One study found that diverse teams make better decisions 87% of the time, while McKinsey research shows that companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on executive teams are 21% more likely to be profitable. Achieving gender parity by 2025 could unlock $28 trillion in global GDP growth.
The tech industry stands at a crossroads. It can continue operating as it has, leaving half the population underrepresented, or it can embrace the opportunity to harness the full potential of women. Women are already leading the charge in artificial intelligence, climate tech, and quantum computing. They’re reshaping education, driving ethical innovation, and transforming what leadership looks like in tech. When you bet on women, you’re not just investing in progress—you’re hitting the jackpot.