In celebration of the Women in Tech festival on the 22nd and 23rd November, now is a great time to recognise the significance of their ongoing contributions to the industry. Women play a vital part in the operations of nearly every major tech company around the globe. Code Ninjas is proud to support and encourage everyone who helps make the company what it is, regardless of their gender, but here Technology Leader Kanchan Bajaj explains why women play such a pivotal role in the success of the brand.
As a minority woman, I grew up in adversity with limited role models in the technology field. Even with the Tech industry expanding at such an incredibly fast rate, women in leadership roles still fall behind. According to a recent report by Tech Nation, less than a quarter of all British tech firms are run by women, at 22%1. This is a shocking statistic when you realise that, as of early 2020, the tech sector alone contributed to 2.4% of the UK GVA2.
To bridge this imbalance of gender equality, leaders at Code Ninjas believe that a strong foundation and early adoption of technology will set the path for the future. Women of now will pave the path for women of tomorrow! While diversity is far more than gender, at Code Ninjas, the focus is on lifelong analytical and pattern skills through creative learning. Through games, young girls can make and share, which sets the foundation and provides the confidence to grow in a future of limitless STEM fields.
Similarly, early to mid-career young women tend to shift towards non-technical roles. Studies have confirmed the need for women in tech, especially in senior and leadership positions within large companies. The world needs female leaders! Mentoring and inclusion play a pivotal role in empowering and enabling the growth of women in the workplace. With a clearly defined growth path and mentoring, women are more likely to remain in their field while attaining their career goals at the management level. It is a direct correlation to the fact that women in leadership positions can drastically boost the profitability of a company, with some firms around the world reporting by as much as 15%3. Bringing incredible value to a workplace with a recognised ability to balance people and projects with higher emotional intelligence makes women impactful leaders.
In addition to these studies that place women as vital contributors in the tech industry, it’s also important to note that coding wouldn’t exist without them. The dated suggestion of women being unqualified or disinterested in tech is simply not true. Coding’s ‘founding mother’ Grace Hopper (1906-1992) played a pivotal role in pioneering modern technology. Grace invented the first computer compiler which translated written instructions into codes that computers read directly. This was the first basic form of coding and is a part of the very foundations of all code that exists today4. In other words, without Grace Hopper, you wouldn’t be reading this column, or even using a computer at all.
Our support of women in tech resonates throughout our company’s structure and culture. Code Ninjas is proud to celebrate the women that make up a dynamic part of our community. It is a community of collaboration, professional growth, and belonging to motivate, educate, empower, and advance women in technology. Every woman in our global network is held at the same value and high regard. By women filling many roles here at Code Ninjas, be it operations in head office, working in our amazing team of Senseis, or as part of our global franchise network, they not only inspire us but are also role models for the children who take part in our classes. I truly believe that having more women working in diverse roles in tech is vital to the ongoing growth and evolution of our industry. Since the day coding came into existence, it has been underscored by the importance of the roles that women play, from invention to ongoing innovation.
