Women are leading the shift toward a more human centreed tech industry

The tech industry can treat the gender gap as a numbers game focused on hitting quotas and filling seats. I view the advancement of women as the fundamental architecture of our future, not merely a metric. As we celebrate International Women's Day, we must remember that building technology for everyone requires a workforce that reflects the real world.

This is especially true in the AI era. While computers are great at processing data, they can lack real-world understanding to navigate complex human lives. This is where the human perspective becomes a critical asset. Women are increasingly leading the way in "human-centered AI," ensuring that technology remains a tool for connection rather than just a set of algorithms.

The numbers show why this matters. Currently, women hold only 25-30 percent of specialized AI roles (World Economic Forum) and 16 percent of research positions globally (UN Women). However, there is a reason for optimism: women are adopting generative AI at an incredible pace. In the last year alone, the number of women using these tools tripled, growing even faster than it did for men (Deloitte Centre for Technology). This is vital because women often view technical problems through multiple lenses, helping them catch biases that others might miss.

Women still face a tough reality in the broader tech and telecom sectors. They occupy about 26 percent of technical roles (Bureau of Labour Statistics), and only 15 percent of top leadership spots at major NASDAQ-100 companies (WomenHack). One of the biggest hurdles is the "broken rung" - that first step from an entry-level job to a manager role, where women are often overlooked. We are finally addressing this head-on with clearer career paths and active mentorship.

We are also changing how we think about career growth. Success is no longer measured solely by technical proficiency; it is about having a real influence on the organization. At First Orion, we look at the whole person rather than a limited job description. Growth goes far beyond sitting in a classroom; it involves coaching, mentoring, and giving women opportunities to work in departments they might not usually see. By rotating talent through various areas of the business, we break down the walls that once kept women isolated. This builds the confidence and intuition needed to lead big, cross-functional projects.

To sustain this momentum, I suggest three strategies for organizations looking to elevate women in tech:

1. Prioritize Cross-Functional Exposure: Move beyond vertical growth. Encourage women to lead projects outside their areas of expertise to build the multidisciplinary perspective essential to ethical AI.
2. Formalize "Human-in-the-Loop" Roles: Create positions that task women with auditing AI outputs for empathy and bias. This validates the human perspective as a technical requirement, not just a soft skill.
3. Bridge the Mentorship Gap with Sponsorship: While mentors provide advice, sponsors provide opportunities. Actively advocate for women in high-stakes meetings to ensure they reach the next "rung" of leadership.

This International Women's Day, I feel a sense of profound optimism. We are moving away from a culture in which women must ask for "permission" to lead toward one in which they take ownership of their careers. When we put the human perspective at the center of everything we build, innovation excels.