Tech industry innovation outpaces equal opportunity for women

Women In Tech Week - 13th - 17th October 2025   The 2025 Lovelace Report paints a tough picture for women in tech. Every year, up to 60,000 women leave tech roles in the UK, and it’s costing the economy billions. But what’s even more concerning are the reasons behind it. It’s not about family or caregiving, as many assume. It’s about unequal pay, limited access to high-visibility projects, and promotion frameworks that reward who’s seen, not who’s skilled. Too often, women don’t have sponsors who truly advocate for their growth. We talk a lot about bringing more women into tech, but we rarely talk about what it takes to make them stay. The truth is, fixing this isn’t about grand statements. It’s about fairness, transparency, and leaders who open doors for others. The need for male allies: men who actively support women in developing their careers and in them taking on leadership roles, has never been greater. Because when women stay, grow, and lead, everyone benefits.

In recent years, the tech industry has given us artificial intelligence, quantum computing, biotech, virtual reality and even smart toilets, but while the sector might be lightyears ahead in innovation, new data suggests it’s stuck in the past when it comes to equal opportunity for women. https://buff.ly/ynsp9yt #tech #womenintech #genderbias

“Tech is done with women.” That’s what Baroness Martha Lane Fox was told by a tech CEO at a recent business event, a stark reminder that misogyny still has a firm grip on the industry. Despite three decades of progress elsewhere, women remain underrepresented in tech, with only 2% of businesses founded independently by women. As Lane Fox warns in a recent report in The Times, this isn’t just a question of fairness. The rise of AI makes inclusivity in tech more urgent than ever. If the future of work, products, and services is being built almost exclusively by men, they will never fully reflect the needs of society as a whole. Diversity is fundamental to innovation, resilience, and growth. If business leaders deprioritise inclusivity, they risk narrowing perspectives and missing opportunities. Tech needs more voices at the table. Read our blog about creating a fair and equal working environment here: https://lnkd.in/eg6vr4BD Learn how we can support training your teams in diversity: https://lnkd.in/efRPEv9 Read The Times article here: https://lnkd.in/edfnzmVf

Celebrating Women in Tech Week💜   This Women in Tech Week, we’re proud to spotlight the incredible journeys of our consultants who’ve transitioned into tech and are shaping the future of the industry.   Did you know, according to the 2025 Lovelace Report… 📉 Women make up only 20% of the UK tech workforce, yet they’re driving innovation every day. 💸 The UK loses £2-£3.5 billion annually because outdated systems block women’s progression. ⚠️Women are leaving tech at twice the rate of men, with 100 women exiting the sector every day.   At Opus, we’re changing that narrative. In 2024, 60% of our consultants globally were women or non-binary, proof that with the right support, women can thrive in tech.   This week’s themes, Breaking Barriers, Skills for the Future, Pivot into Tech, Power of Visibility, and Inclusive Tech & Allyship, reflect what our consultants live every day.   Let’s celebrate their stories and commit to building an inclusive tech industry. Discover their journeys: https://lnkd.in/g5ZH3a_C #WomenInTechWeek WeAreTechWomen

Breaking barriers and building skills in tech 💻 This Women in Tech Week, we're highlighting the experiences of women who've built successful careers in technology.  We asked women in our digital, data and technology teams: 💡 What drew them to pursue careers in technology? 💡 What was their biggest challenge and how did they overcome it? 💡 What skills have been most valuable in their careers?  Swipe through to see what they said ➡️  Our women in tech demonstrate that there's no single route into technology. What matters is curiosity, determination, and the willingness to develop new skills.  What draws you to technology? Share your thoughts in the comments.  #WomenInTechWeek #TechCareers #FCDOServices #ItAllMatters #Technology #BreakingBarriers #CareerDevelopment #DiversityInTech 

🌍 New Insights: The Lovelace Report – Barriers Facing Women in Tech WeAreTechWomen, in partnership with Oliver Wyman, has released The Lovelace Report to shed light on why women in tech struggle to advance — despite talent and ambition. 🌐 Key highlights & findings ▫️ Based on a survey of 500+ women, roundtables, and interviews with 20 senior women in tech.  ▫️ Women leaving tech in the UK: 40,000–60,000 annually.  ▫️ Economic loss: £2 billion to £3.5 billion per year due to attrition, stalled progression, and underutilized potential.  ▫️ 75% of women with 11–20 years of experience waited more than 3 years for a promotion.  ▫️ Over 50% are paid below average for their level.  ▫️ 90% want to lead, but only 25% believe that will be easy.  ▫️ Surprisingly, only 3% cited caregiving as their primary reason for leaving — underlying causes lie elsewhere. 🌐 Recommendations: what must change The report outlines three urgent actions for tech organisations: 1️⃣ Copy & PasteTrack Progression & Intervene Early ↳ Use gender-disaggregated metrics to detect stagnation and provide stretch assignments, sponsorship, structured support.  2️⃣ Ensure Fair Access to High-Impact Work ↳ Allocate key projects based on skill and potential—not familiarity. Audit past allocations to detect biases.  3️⃣ Define & Embed Clear Career Maps ↳ Make career pathways and pay tied to capabilities explicit. Build mobility across teams and roles. 🌐 Why this matters ▫️ This report reinforces a critical truth: it’s not just about attracting women into tech, but retaining and advancing them. ▫️ The costs of attrition, lack of promotion, and untapped leadership are both societal and business-critical. ▫️ For organizations championing gender equity (like Women IN), these findings give us clear levers to demand change — metrics, accountability, career architecture. 🔗 Read the full report here >> https://lnkd.in/etY4KGpq

Techworks has launched Women in technology, a member-led initiative aimed at promoting the recruitment, retention, and career development of women in the UK technology sector. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ehfagg4P #WomenInTech #TechDiversity #CareerGrowth

Ten years into Web Summit’s Women in Tech programme, the 2025 survey reveals a decade of both progress and warning signs. Women are embracing leadership. Confidence is rising fast. But bias, family pressures, and cultural regression are still holding too many back. The impact of AI is one of the most striking shifts this year. • Over 77% of respondents now use #AI daily—to save time, streamline work, and achieve better balance. • Most believe AI can advance gender equity by levelling access and freeing space for creative, strategic work. • Yet a quarter remain cautious, warning that biased data and male-dominated norms could deepen inequality rather than dismantle it. The double edge of AI is clear: • It can empower women to lead, learn, and compete on equal terms. • But if built on historical bias, it risks hardcoding the very barriers we’re trying to erase. Other findings remind us that equity remains unfinished business: • 60% believe gender balance in tech is worsening. • 56% feel forced to choose between family and career. • Nearly half experienced sexism in the past year. • 81% feel empowered to lead, yet visible representation is still too rare. Still, there’s a quiet strength in the data. • 65% say their appetite for women-in-tech networks has grown. It's proof that when formal #DEI programmes shrink, community steps up. AI is reshaping work faster than policy can keep up. If we want progress to last, inclusion must be built into the systems we’re building next. We must challenge our own learning models and those of the larger AI companies to ensure that BIAS is neutralized thoughout. If they are programmed with bias (even unententional) then gender equity will never level up and quite likely decline. Read the full Women in Tech 2025 Survey from Web Summit (see comments for link) it’s a reminder that the future of tech will only be as fair as the data and decisions behind it. #AI #BIAS #GenderEquity #Women #WomeninTech #WebSummit #Survey

With AI poised to reshape numerous industries, ensuring diverse perspectives in its development is essential for realizing the full potential of this transformative technology and upholding democratic values in an increasingly AI-mediated world. Women’s leadership, defined by empathy, collaboration, and ethical decision-making, brings the balance needed in today’s tech-driven world. The pathway to success involves a multifaceted approach. #WomenInAI #WomenLeadership #WomenInTech #DiversityInTech #AIBiasness #DiversePerspectives #AIWorld https://lnkd.in/dszNd6K9

What an inspiring Women in Tech Week last week! The sessions have been a powerful reminder of why representation, inclusion, and continuous learning matter so much in our industry. From sessions on accelerating knowledge in AI, to an insightful introduction to Salesforce, the conversations were both practical and empowering. My key takeaways: 1) AI is a leveller when used responsibly – it can open doors for career changers and returners, but only if we embed ethics and inclusivity into its design. 2) Allyship isn’t optional – creating inclusive cultures requires active sponsorship and advocacy, not just good intentions. 3) Career paths aren’t linear – many speakers shared stories of pivoting into tech later in life, proving it’s never too late to start. 4) Community is everything – networks and mentoring circles remain critical for confidence, visibility, and growth. A huge thank you to the WeAreTechWomen organisers and speakers for creating spaces where we can learn, connect, and challenge the status quo. What was your biggest takeaway from Women in Tech Week? #WomenInTech #Inclusion #CareerGrowth #TechForGood #AI