![\"Promoting](\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/talent-management\/files\/2023\/05\/Promoting-Women-in-Tech-How-to-Make-Lasting-Change.jpg\")
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As part of Solutions Review’s Expert Insights Series\u2014a collection of contributed articles written by industry experts in enterprise software categories\u2014Liat<\/span> Hortig<\/span>, the Chief People Officer at Torii<\/a>, delves into the ways companies can support lasting change by investing and promoting women in tech.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Evidence is everywhere. According to the World Bank, women make up just<\/span> 28 percent of the global STEM labor pool<\/span><\/a>. This is primarily due to women <\/span>only accounting for 19 percent of graduates<\/span><\/a> with degrees in STEM fields. Hiring bias is another potential issue. (According to <\/span>one survey<\/span><\/a>, 65 percent of tech recruiters believe bias is an ongoing problem). <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Clearly, there are hurdles to overcome, both from educational and professional perspectives. The wage gap persists even for women who have advanced in their field in prominent roles. As a result, <\/span>women are leaving the tech industry<\/span><\/a> at a 45 percent higher rate than men. The gender gap is also evident in the startup industry, where male-led tech companies raise billions more in VC funding than those led by women. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Companies must make a concerted effort to instill the importance of workplace diversity\u2014from top to bottom and across departments. We are proud that 45 percent of Torii\u2019s employees are women and, equally important, that 77 percent of Torii\u2019s director roles are held by women\u2014including in non-traditional areas such as sales, product management, and engineering. Our promotion rates also reflect a positive growth not often seen at tech companies.<\/span><\/p>\n More than just being an outlier, however, it is vital that our company, and others, celebrate the achievements of prominent, groundbreaking women in tech while also providing ample career opportunities for newcomers to learn and grow.<\/span><\/p>\n One avenue we\u2019ve found very helpful is the creation of a Women+ Employee Resource Group (ERG), a safe place for meaningful discussions on the challenges and opportunities women have in this industry and how we can help both inside and outside the workplace. An ERG such as this can provide support and mentorship, promote collaboration, and encourage the advancement of women.\u00a0<\/span>For instance, our ERG leads outreach programs, such as donating laptops to STEM and entrepreneurship-focused organizations, including the <\/span>Lower Eastside Girls Club<\/span><\/a>, which empowers young women and gender-expansive youth in NYC.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Getting involved in youth initiatives is crucial for building greater diversity in tech to spread awareness and reach young, aspirational women early in their development. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/talent-management\/files\/2023\/02\/SR-Expert-Insights-80x80-1.png\")
It\u2019s a social stigma that has prevailed and been dissected for decades\u2014the challenges of being a woman in the male-dominated tech industry. While strides have been made during my 20+ years in the industry, many women still have an uphill battle about underrepresentation, underpay, and, yes, even cases of discrimination and harassment. <\/span>The fact remains that women lag behind their male counterparts when it comes to prominence in tech, or more broadly, the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) workforce. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nLeading the Charge for Change<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Creating a Culture for Inclusion<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
![\"Download](\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/talent-management\/files\/2019\/02\/tm-bg-speedbump.jpg\" "\\"Talent")
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