Celebrating Women in Tech: Reflections and Aspirations for International Women's Day 2025

The Importance of Representation and Equality

International Women's Day 2025 offers a moment to celebrate the remarkable achievements of women across various fields, especially in technology. It's a time to reflect on the strides made towards gender equality while acknowledging the challenges that persist. As we look towards the future, it's crucial to not only celebrate progress but also to accelerate action towards a more inclusive tech landscape.

Voices of Women in Tech

VMblog reached out to numerous female tech leaders to gather their insights and perspectives on this important occasion. Their voices resonate with themes of empowerment, mentorship, and the urgent need for accelerated action towards true equality.

Empowerment and Mentorship: Keys to Success

From CMOs to CISOs, these leaders emphasize the importance of empowering women to take ownership of projects and celebrating their wins. Kelly Wells, Chief Operating Officer at Object First, stresses the need to “empower teams and celebrate wins,” recognizing that consistent encouragement and acknowledgment of achievements can significantly boost confidence and drive innovation.

Lori Thompson, VP of HR for North America at IGEL, highlights the positive influence of employee resource groups like IGEL4Women in Tech in driving positive change within organizations.

Mentorship emerges as a recurring theme. Many leaders share personal stories of how mentorship shaped their career trajectories and emphasize their commitment to mentoring the next generation of women in tech. Molly Presley, SVP of Global Marketing for Hammerspace, encourages young women to "seek guidance from experienced professionals" and emphasizes the power of "joining professional associations."

Breaking Barriers and Challenging Bias

These women acknowledge the persistent challenges of gender bias and underrepresentation in leadership roles. Denise Natali, VP of America Sales at Datadobi, aptly states, "As a mom, a sales leader and a former military officer, I have seen how challenging stereotypes, rejecting bias and questioning discrimination in all areas of life can make a big difference."

Several leaders advocate for redefining what it means to work in tech and creating more pathways for women to advance, particularly into leadership positions. Danielle Coady, VP & Cyber Resilience Evangelist at Index Engines, urges the industry to redefine what it means to work in tech, creating more pathways for female advancement. She believes that when women are truly included, "the industry benefits from a wealth of diverse perspectives, increased innovation, and unlocking untapped potential."

Accelerating Action: A Collective Responsibility

The overarching message is clear: accelerating action towards gender equality is a collective responsibility. It requires not only individual commitment but also organizational change, policy reform, and societal shifts in mindset. Cindy Heiner, CISO at Aiden Technologies, asserts that prioritizing gender diversity “isn’t about choosing gender diverse candidates for the sake of diversity alone. It’s about allowing your companies to benefit from diversity.”

Julia Astashkina, Senior Director of Growth at StarTree, poignantly connects the theme of accelerating action to her role as a mother: “I want my daughter to grow up knowing she belongs in every room she enters. That requires all of us to take action now.”

Shaping a More Inclusive Future

The insights shared by these women paint a picture of resilience, determination, and hope for a future where the tech industry truly reflects the diversity of the world it serves. Their calls for accelerated action, mentorship, and challenging bias are not just aspirational; they are essential for building a more equitable and innovative future for all.

As we celebrate International Women's Day 2025, let their words inspire us to not only recognize the achievements of women in tech but also to actively participate in shaping a more inclusive and equitable future.