Women in data: What's preventing women from pursuing a career in tech?

The tech sector still has a long way to go when it comes to women and diversity. Accenture research found that the percentage of women tech workers sank to 32% today, down from 35% recorded back in 1984.

In New Zealand, data from NZ Tech found that only 27% of tech workers in the country are female. Datacom research also revealed that just 32% of women in New Zealand are looking into pursuing a career in tech.

Cathy Conroy, director, ANZ Channel and Alliances at Snowflake, underscored the need for visibility to boost women's numbers in the tech industry.

"I think the challenge is, [women] are not seeing enough of themselves represented," she told HRD. "Whether it's tech or whether it's data specifically, we still have got a big gap, and they need to see people like themselves in these roles. They need to be able to see people to feel like it's a real pathway."

Covering all stages for women

But the issue isn't limited to early in career, according to Conroy: "I think the other challenge we have as females is you might leave for a while to start a family, [and then] you come back, and things have evolved," she pointed out.

Snowflake is collaborating with Accenture to create a community of data professionals to encourage women to join the tech industry.

“It's making sure that people feel comfortable to come to work every day, they feel comfortable to come to events because they're seeing other females that are at those events. So, trying to create that network," the director told HRD.

Snowflake has formed local chapters in Sydney and Melbourne in Australia, as well as Auckland in New Zealand to sponsor Women in Data events.