Women in technology: Good for women and good for our industry
Some say follow your passion. I agree, but at the same time, I wouldn’t have found my passion had I not first followed the opportunity.
Women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers make 33 percent more financially than women in non-STEM occupations, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. I always knew I loved technology, but working in a field where I had a better chance of achieving financial stability was also enticing to me. I worked for a U.S. senator in college and was headed to be a special agent in the area of psychology. But knowing that I could earn more in the IT industry than in other industries was one of the reasons I pursued a career in technology. And that pursuit ultimately led me to my true passion of working in health IT, where every day I get to see the impact that technology can make in patients’ lives.
Looking to build financial security means different things to different people. For me, it means having a stable base from which to weather life’s inevitable ups and downs. I wrote in my last blog about the inspiration my mother is to me. As the sole provider for me and my siblings, she demonstrated the importance of being able to support herself and her family. She worked hard and was smart with the money she made. I remember she wore the same red dress for what seemed like 10 years. It makes me proud when I remember the vision of my stoic mom-the lady in red who achieved financial stability for her family all on her own.
Part of my personal drive to encourage more women to go into STEM careers is so that they too can set themselves up to gain financial security. And along the way, they’ll likely discover just how fun and rewarding this industry can be. My career in health IT has led to so many amazing experiences and opportunities. I never would have found out that I love HL7 and designing a radiology information system to allow information to flow in order to help define patient workflow. Selling technology isn’t always easy and there’s a lot to learn and can be a lot to demonstrate. I have the most amazing memories of working with incredibly smart and fun (and VERY funny) women and men that have given me opportunities that I’d never have known.
And it’s important that more women go into the technology industry not just for their own sake, but also for our industry’s sake. There are a lot of jobs to be filled. The U.S. Department of Labor Statistics predicts that by 2018 there will be 1.4 million technology jobs open in the United States. According to this Microsoft Research white paper, at the rate that students are now graduating with computer science degrees, only 61 percent of those openings will be filled and just 29 percent of applicants will be women. As I wrote in my blog post that kicked off my Women in IT series, we need to change statistics like these.
What’s more, we need more women in STEM careers so they can help shape the future. Tackling many of the world’s toughest challenges in healthcare, for example, will rely on the help of technology. To meet the diverse and changing needs of health professionals and the populations they serve, we need the teams working to meet those needs to be just as diverse. That means we need teams made up of both men and women from all walks of life and cultures who can offer a wide range of perspectives and insights based on their varying experiences.
According to the National Center for Women and Information Technology, research shows that groups with greater diversity solve complex problems better and faster than do homogenous groups. It also shows that teams with 50-50 gender membership are more experimental and efficient.
I know many of you reading this are leaders in the health or technology industry, so please help me encourage more girls and women to join us. You can find opportunities to get involved as well as information about programs and tools at research.microsoft.com/diversity.
I’d also love to hear your story. Why did you get into the technology industry? How have you seen diversity contribute to innovation? Please share your feedback and let us know if you have any questions via email, Facebook, or Twitter.
