The tech industry needs to create a better pipeline to encourage women into tech than currently exists, according to Tara McGeehan, President, CGI UK and Australia, at CGI.
Addressing the challenge of attracting and retaining women in tech leadership roles, McGeehan noted: “There are not enough women going through technology degree courses, so the pool that we’re fishing in is quite small.”
This stark reality means that companies are starting at a disadvantage when it comes to recruiting women for technical roles.
“We need to rebalance it by making it easy to come into the sector,” said McGeehan. “But these jobs are largely quite difficult, and therefore people do need qualifications. And they need to start early, realising that if they want a job in the sector, then they need to plan for it.”
To that end, CGI has been proactive in its efforts to encourage girls’ interest in technology, including initiatives like STEM camps, and Bring Your Daughter to Work programmes to encourage them to explore the sector further. However, McGeehan acknowledged these efforts are a “very long game,” and the results may not be seen for years to come.
Beyond increasing the pipeline, McGeehan highlighted the importance of broadening the perception of technology careers.
“You can do almost every job you can think of in the technology sector. We have people who do marketing, sales, HR, and finance – you name it. Those jobs exist in our sector. So, it’s about trying to broaden people’s interests, because once they’re in, they can transfer from one career pathway to another.”
Celebrating women in the workforce
When it comes to leadership development, McGeehan called for a clear understanding of what it means to be a leader. “Leadership isn’t something you wake up and think, ‘I’m a leader today,’ It’s a lot of responsibility you carry, a lot of hopes and dreams on your shoulders doing it,” she said.
Instead, she emphasised the importance of developing the skills and experience necessary to take on leadership roles, such as being “inquisitive and well briefed, thoughtful and able to offer direction.”
On supporting women in the workplace, McGeehan advocates for a holistic approach that extends beyond just gender-specific initiatives.
“Good firms also support men who have an aging parent, or they’ve got a disabled child, or are on the spectrum. This isn’t a ‘gender’ thing, this is a ‘treat people properly’ thing, because that’s the right thing to do. I think you should look for employers that are holistic, because you don’t want to be pigeonholed.
“Just being able to work in an environment where everybody’s allowed to be themselves is important.”
Ultimately, McGeehan’s message was one of positivity and empowerment. “I think we need to celebrate the women around us who are amazing, and call them out for being amazing,” she said.
McGeehan encouraged tech leaders to “applaud women for doing great work” and to “pull one more woman up to the next level.” She noted: “If we all pull one more up, maybe there’ll be a few more of us at the end.”
