Its time to embrace more women in tech. Here’s how:

Women remains underrepresented in the tech industry. According to data from management consulting firm McKinsey, women comprise less than 25% of executive-level positions in any industry. For women of color, only four per cent of them are able to set foot in the C-suite.

In the IT industry, however, the doors are still kept tightly guarded. Men still dominate the tech world with women making up only a quarter of the workforce.

But with the population expressing their discontent over this fact, tech companies are committing to gender equality in the workplace.

Denise Hemke, Chief Product Officer at Checkr, uses her own experience to share three ways tech companies can advance more women in the technology sector. 

1. Create mentorship and education programs.

Mentorship and educational programs are important. It provide an opportunity for learning and career advancement for everyone in the workplace. For women, however, this is crucial. It shows that their leaders are showing interest in their careers and are creating a sense of belonging in the workplace.

Connect women in junior-level roles with women and men in higher-level executive roles. Empower your female staff to expand their knowledge, grow connections and eliminate boundaries within the organization.

2.Provide inclusive and expansive benefits. 

A study from review platform Trustradius found that 78% of women in the tech industry feel they have to work harder than men to prove themselves. The result? Extreme burnout. 

Since the pandemic, workers have started to prioritize their mental health and personal lives above work, and companies have developed programs and resources that cater to employee wellness. But, it is vital that women’s unique needs are taken into consideration when implementing these programs. 

Expand your company’s mental health programs and support female employees who wnat to take a break from their jobs. Better yet, incorporate equal parental leave for all working parents — whether they are male or female. This would allow partners an equal share in parental responsibilities and lift the brunt of responsibility from mothers.

3.Offer flexible workplace policies.

Flexibility and autonomy are the hottest workplace trends these days. This is particularly true for working moms. Tech companies must start offering greater flexibility so that they do not lose out on valuable talent. 

Offering an flexible work schedule will allow mothers to excel not only at their jobs but also at their families. 

More women are now leading the workforce. Compared to the early 2000s, Fortune has now included 41 women-led companies on their Fortune 500 list. But, as companies celebrate this progress, it is an important time to reassess whether companies are cultivating a successful workplace that empowers and advances women. 

By following the steps above, companies can help their current employees succeed and attract new and valuable women to their talent pool. 

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