Closing the gap: How to champion girls in tech

Before we dive into Girls in Tech, what are some common misconceptions or myths about women in tech?

One of the biggest myths is that “you have to code to work in tech.” While it’s true that male students often outnumber female students in fields like computer science and engineering, this misconception can be detrimental in attracting female talent to the industry. Tech is a broad field, and there are numerous career paths beyond just coding or engineering. From marketing to compliance and legal specialities—if you have an interest in tech, there’s a place for you! Given that seven of the ten largest companies in the world are founded in tech, the opportunities are vast and varied.

Tell us about your experience with Girls in Tech and its impact.

Girls in Tech was started in 2007 by Adriana Gascoigne in San Francisco and grew into a global non-profit dedicated to closing the gender gap in tech. By 2022, the Girls in Tech London chapter had been established by two talented London Business School graduates, Eliška Pokorná and Domitille Bret. We built an engaged board and have delivered incredible events for the community.

Unfortunately, due to financial pressures and the closure of the US headquarters, Girls in Tech was forced to wind up its operations globally. But while the organisation as a whole is no longer active, many of its chapters have reformed into independent charities, continuing their mission of supporting women in tech.

What initiatives or programmes did Girls in Tech implement to promote gender diversity in the tech sector?

During its active years, Girls in Tech delivered some impactful initiatives. A highlight was our launch event in 2022, where we hosted over 100 women at Samsung UK’s KX office. Speakers from London Business School, Google, Amazon, and Accenture inspired the audience with stories of career paths into tech and their own personal journeys.

In addition to events, we focused on career building, networking and connecting women at all stages of their careers. Despite the closure of the global entity, the spirit of these events lives on as many of our independent chapters continue to push forward similar initiatives.

What organisations and businesses did you partner with while at Girls in Tech?

We had the privilege of partnering with leading companies like Amazon Web Services, Mastercard, Samsung, Foundry, and BNP Paribas, as well as local universities such as London Business School. These collaborations helped accelerate efforts towards gender diversity and inclusion in the tech space.

What was your role at Girls in Tech?

As General Counsel for Girls in Tech London, I was responsible for handling legal matters, including securing our charity incorporation with the Charities Commission. One of my key achievements was managing regulatory and compliance administration, which was both rewarding and provided valuable experience in a smaller organisational environment.

How can organisations and individuals support organisations like Girls in Tech moving forward?

There are still many ways to support similar initiatives and make an impact in promoting women in tech. Many independent chapters, born from the closure of Girls in Tech, are still active and welcoming new members, including WeStem+, Her Tech Circle, and Sponsors in Tech – Empowering Her Journey. You can join these communities, participate in events, or even consider volunteering your time.

For organisations, partnerships are crucial—whether it’s through sponsoring events, offering mentorship, or providing access to internal networks, the opportunities to make a difference are vast. The Girls in Tech London chapter donated our remaining funds to Tech She Can, an excellent UK charity committed to changing the ratio of women in technology. I am currently working with its CEO, Sheridan Ash, MBE, on the City of London’s Women Pivoting to Digital Taskforce, so it is excellent to continue the mission in a new way.

How can educational institutions and industry partners collaborate to provide more opportunities for girls in tech?

While efforts from educational institutions to attract women into tech are growing, we still have a long way to go. There needs to be a stronger focus on translating the positive communication—scholarships, campaigns—into actual jobs for women in tech, especially at the senior level.

Gender pay gaps remain an issue across tech sectors and addressing that, along with providing tangible career opportunities, should be a key focus for both institutions and industry partners.

What can men and organsiations do to support women in tech, both in hiring and at work?

Men have a crucial role in this journey and cannot afford to sit back. While the focus has often been on empowering women, men also need to be part of the solution. This means taking action on smaller changes within their control: ensuring equal opportunities in the workplace, amplifying women’s voices, challenging poor behaviour and refusing to participate in all-male panels.

Organisations should ensure their actions match their words—celebrating International Women’s Day is great, but real change happens when gender pay gaps are addressed and women are actively championed by leadership.

What advice would you give to parents or role models of young girls looking to break into tech?

As a parent myself, I understand how early gender stereotypes can take hold. That said, schools today are much better equipped to handle these challenges and there are visible role models in tech fields that didn’t exist when I was growing up. There is still a lot of work to be done, but I encourage parents and role models to help young girls explore STEM subjects and break down these barriers. The field is wide open and there’s no reason why girls can’t excel in tech just as much as boys.

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