The gender gap in the tech industry has long sparked conversation. Thanks to two executives, the conversation just got more upbeat. In a recent TechCrunch article, Girls in Tech Founder and CEO Adriana Gascoigne revealed that progress is happening, and for one reason: revenue generation.

Citing a 2017 study conducted by the Boston Consulting Group, Gascoigne revealed that due to innovation, companies with diverse management teams have 19 percent higher revenue. That discovery may cause many tech shops to pursue diversity initiatives more assiduously. Maddox Events co-founder Michaela Jeffery-Morrison would agree that tech companies need to do more.

Jeffery-Morrison established Maddox Events as a way of creating events to encourage diversity. Gascoigne founded Girls in Tech in 2007 after observing a paucity of female counterparts in her field. The mission of the global nonprofit is “to put an end to gender inequality in high-tech industries and startups.”

Now, in its twelfth year, the nonprofit focuses on education, empowerment, and networking, as it continues to explore the gender gap in technology. Both executives propose adopting a broader lens through which to view the issue and take action.

Gascoigne suggests that women focus on resilience, self-confidence, and leadership to avoid the presumption of malleability. Jeffery-Morrison has tips of her own. In an article on Inc.com, author Mandy Gilbert outlines Jeffery-Morrison’s perspectives on DEI efforts.

“By increasing young talent entering the industry, we’ll be actively creating inclusive cultures, highlighting inspirational role models, and giving real insight to women already in the industry,” Gilbert says.

Jeffery-Morrison also highlights the value of companies creating an internal tech team for women to establish an environment of belonging, as well as providing on-site career coaching. This could be a valuable resource to assist all employees with critical tasks that could prove most helpful to women, such as salary negotiations and more.

Gascoigne and Jeffery-Morrison are great examples of female industry leaders seeking to address the tech inequality gap. While the effects remain to be seen, what is clear is that many more voices are needed in the fight for inclusion.

diversity initiatives

Sign up for our daily Newsletter.