Women in tech groups 'can’t run on inspiration alone'

Women in technology groups are facing significant challenges in their efforts to thrive. Suw Charman-Anderson, the organizer of Ada Lovelace Day, a global celebration of women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), has expressed concerns that the event may not continue due to financial difficulties. Ada Lovelace Day, named after a pioneering female mathematician from the 19th century, was established in 2009 to honor women working in STEM fields. Suw, who graduated with a science degree, felt out of place as one of only three women in her class and became frustrated with the lack of female representation at tech conferences. Now, she finds herself in a precarious financial situation, stating, 'We’ve basically limped on since then. But I can’t keep making the financial sacrifice. ' The event once secured £55,000 in sponsorship for a year, but in recent years, the funding has dropped to less than half of that amount, despite high attendance at events. Suw notes that while many in the tech community find Ada Lovelace Day inspirational, this sentiment rarely translates into the financial support needed to sustain the initiative. 'Organizations can’t run on inspiration alone,' she emphasizes. The struggle for funding is a common theme among women in STEM organizations, and it appears to be worsening. A quick search online reveals numerous women in STEM social media accounts that have not posted any content in months. This year, the charity Women Who Code, which boasted 145,000 members, abruptly announced its closure, citing funding challenges. Similarly, Girls in Tech, a US-based organization that operated for 17 years, shut down, with founder Adriana Gascoigne attributing the decision primarily to a lack of funding. In the UK, the Tech Talent Charter, an initiative aimed at promoting diversity in the tech sector, also closed its doors, blaming tech companies for 'quietly quitting' on their commitments to equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). This issue has sparked considerable debate, as many companies are reducing their EDI teams and budgets. The closure of support groups for women in STEM has become increasingly common, with Women Who Code announcing its shutdown on its website. For some organizations, this is a result of cost-cutting measures, as even large firms are laying off thousands of employees. For others, it reflects a broader cultural shift away from prioritizing diversity. High-profile critics of EDI, such as Elon Musk, have publicly dismissed it, claiming it is 'just another word for racism. ' In contrast, Apple CEO Tim Cook strongly disagrees, stating, 'Technology's a great thing that will accomplish many things, but unless you have diverse views at the table that are working on it, you don't wind up with great solutions. ' He has also remarked that there are 'no good excuses' for the lack of women in tech. The statistics reveal a stark reality: major tech companies still have a predominantly male workforce. Apple's latest report from 2022 indicates that only 35% of its global workforce is female, with 32% in leadership roles. Google reports that 34% of its global workforce is women, with 32% in leadership positions, while Microsoft has 29% of its executive roles filled by women. In the UK, although more young women are choosing to study computer science, the numbers still show a significant gender gap, with four out of five applicants this year being male. This highlights the ongoing challenges in achieving gender parity in the tech field. A poignant example of the importance of representation comes from MC Spano, a tech firm leader who now mentors other women in the industry. She shared a story about her daughter wanting to leave her advanced math class because she was the only girl. MC Spano emphasized that having camaraderie among female students in STEM classes is just as crucial as academic success. Caitlin Gould, who runs TecWomenCIC in Cornwall, recently conducted a coding club project for 60 schoolgirls. At the end of the program, 95% of participants reported enjoying their experience and understanding the relevance of tech and engineering in their lives. However, funding for the project was limited to the pilot phase. Caitlin spends a significant portion of her time seeking funding, describing the financial situation as a 'patchwork quilt. ' Often, funding comes in the form of one-time payments or is tied to new initiatives, making it difficult to sustain successful programs. 'It’s really challenging because there’s so much goodwill,' she explains. Many politicians and tech leaders express their admiration for her work, but when she requests financial support, they often offer to volunteer instead. For the past 15 years, Maggie Philbin, a former presenter of the BBC’s science and tech show Tomorrow’s World, has been involved in a program called TeenTech, which provides STEM activities in schools. 'Funding is always an issue,' she admits. While they have some loyal supporters, it can be frustrating to operate on a tight budget. Some funders may support a project for a year, and if they are fortunate, for three years. TeenTech caters to children aged 8 to 19 and does not specifically target girls, but sometimes the girls' talents in STEM surprise their classmates. One teenage boy noted on a feedback form, 'I learned so much about how to work well in a team. And also that girls are actually very good at tech.