Opportunity is not: Building pathways for women in tech leadership

As a woman in tech, these themes remind me that simply being in this industry is the result of real progress that many women before me have had to fight for.

It's about equal opportunity – fair hiring, equal pay, and access to leadership – and acknowledging that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. We need to actively help build pathways for the next generation of women in order to balance the scales – contributing to a culture that is more equitable, more inclusive, and because of this – ultimately more innovative.

Diversity fuels innovation in the industry

International Women's Day is important to celebrate in not only the tech/adtech industry but in the media industry as a whole, as it is imperative that women are represented in an industry which thrives on diverse perspectives. 

Gender-diverse teams can challenge assumptions and design campaigns that resonate with broader audiences. Many women still don't see obvious entry points into programmatic, data engineering, or platform roles. Highlighting female leaders during IWD makes success visible, which helps normalize women in technical and commercial leadership positions, which is a powerful signal to the next generation.

Continued challenges to address

Whilst I do believe the gender representation gaps are closing, and women are entering the industry in greater numbers, some long-standing cultural and structural challenges remain.

It would be remiss not to acknowledge the disproportionate challenges the gender diverse community may face on International Women's Day and the representation of First Nations women in the industry.

What can drive real, tangible change?

In order to drive real, tangible change we need to support women of all backgrounds with promotion rates, pay equity, representation in leadership and speaking opportunities.

Mentorship, ongoing training and support will help bridge the gender gap not just by offering advice, but by building confidence, sharing context, and helping navigate opportunities and challenges in the industry.

We need to encourage leaders to advocate for all women to continue to build an industry which rewards talent based on ability, contribution and potential.