“Computer” used to be a job description – before the invention of electronic computers – and both men and women were employed. Women were more prominent in the field; a matter of practicality since a large pool of women with training in mathematics could be hired for much ? less money than men with comparable training. 3 groups of women in IT across the eras www MAINFRAME (business) PC (home) INTERNET MOBILE CLOUD ’40s into ’70s ’80s into 2000s 2010s onwards THE FOUNDERS THE BOSSES THE ENTREPRENEURS “I was told I’d never make it to VP rank “This idea of quote-unquote ‘looking the “I have very personally felt the because I was too outspoken. part’ becomes more and more of a overwhelming loneliness, self-doubt, Maybe so, but I think men will always challenge when you don't look the part. and frustration that often comes with find an excuse for keeping women in But there's nothing I can do, or wanted the minority status of a woman in their ‘place.’ So, let’s make that place the to do, about being a black female ... engineering. As much as I can help executive suite and start more of our So at the end of the day, the people who others get through or avoid those own companies.” were around me had to do a little bit difficult stretches that I myself had to more adjusting than I did.” weather, I’d like to.” JEAN BARTIK URSULA BURNS TRACY CHOU ENIAC PROGRAMMER CEO, XEROX FORMER SOFTWARE ENGINEER, PINTEREST Who else features in this group? Grace Hopper – US Navy Admiral and Susan Wojicki – CEO of YouTube Jennifer Pahka – founder and computer scientist Cheryl Shavers – Chemist and expert executive director of Code for Erna Hoover – US mathematician in semiconductors America Betty Holberton – One of six original Megan Smith – Vice President at Ellen Pao – activist and co-founder programmers of ENIAC Google of Project Include Ida Rhodes – Designed C-10 Marissa Meyer – co-founder of Lumi Joy Buolamwini – founder of the language Labs Algorithmic Justice League Sukinder Singh – founder of JOYUS Katherine Johnson – Mathematician Meg Whitman – served as president Divya Nag – founder of StartX and and CEO at eBay co-founder of Stem Cell Theranostics Observations This cohort had an appropriate Most in this cohort won leadership Described as entrepreneurs this (mathematics) educational roles in tech companies based on group could also be described as foundation to draw upon. an engineering-focused career activists. Clusters of women working path. They have claimed independence together (Bletchley Park, NASA, Over this period women enjoyed and are motivated to drive change. ENIAC 6) were normal and emerging success and opportunity In many cases their businesses to promote participation of women successful. within technology corporates and minority group (or they use the WWII required women to work in inline with other sectors (yet the proceeds of their business for this non-traditional roles to support small numbers at the top have not ie coding camps and online the war effort. grown since). learning resources). Early users of computing were Only in the last twenty years did governmental (especially defence women start filling CxO roles. and universities). .