On Tuesday, women and men around the world will celebrate “the first computer programmer,” Ada Lovelace—the British mathematician known for her pioneering work in technology in the nineteenth century.
In her honor, Ada Lovelace Day celebrates women breaking new ground across the male-dominated STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), industries in which female leaders are often overlooked and have even been written out of history.
This year Forbes is proud to mark Ada Lovelace Day by announcing its debut Top Women In Tech list. This shines a light on 50 incredible women from across Europe who are putting technology at the heart of their rising businesses. It will be followed by lists honoring female tech leaders in the U.S and the world.
There are many reasons for the disproportionate number of female tech founders today, ranging from how STEM education has been presented in schools, to how some work environments have proven hostile to women and the fact that there is a lack of female decision makers within VC firms. Yet, as consulting firm McKinsey has repeatedly confirmed, gender-diverse teams outperform their all-male peers and have a positive impact on a company’s bottom line.
By: Kitty Knowles
Source: Forbes
“My biggest mistake is not recognizing the power of compounding and the ability for it to build wealth, and therefore, not investing early enough,” she says. “To me, if there is one thing that can change our society, our economy, and the world, it is getting more money in the hands of women.
Indigenous Americans make up less than 1% of board members for major, publicly traded businesses, according to DiversIQ analysis. Only five people among the 5,537 board members for the S&P 500 identify as fully or partially American Indian or Alaska Native.
These three questions can not only play a pivotal role in strengthening an organization’s DEI culture; they can also serve as team-building exercise. The process of evaluating one’s understanding of DEI principles promotes open discussions, knowledge sharing, and alignment within the team.
