The month of March arrives as a powerful reminder of the importance of celebrating women’s journeys and reflecting on the challenges that still persist – especially in the technology sector, where female representation has historically been limited. Despite significant growth – according to data from the General Register of Employed and Unemployed (CAGED), women’s participation in technology grew by 60% between 2015 and 2022 – women still represent only 12.3% of professionals, while men make up about 83.3% of the market. Given this context, Beyondsoft, a global IT consultancy, and Senac-RJ, through the voices of their HR and IT leaders, emphasize and discuss the presence of women in the technology market.
According to Alexandra Visconti, HR Manager for Brazil and Costa Rica at Beyondsoft, the numbers highlight not only the progress made so far but also the distance still to be covered to achieve real equality of opportunity. The manager ensures that, regardless of gender, benefits and salaries are equal rights for all employees of the company. “Gender is not an issue for working in IT, and over the years, I have had the opportunity to hire equally capable men and women. More and more women are interested in this profession, which ensures fabulous diversity for the company. In Costa Rica, we also hire many women with technical profiles. The more female candidates appear, the greater the opportunity to hire them. Everyone wins.”
Among the challenges faced by women in the IT market, the absence of female leaders is a significant obstacle. According to the Women in Technology survey by consultancy Michael Page (2021), across Latin America, less than 30% of leadership positions in this sector are held by women. Betsy Ferreira, Head of Technology at Senac-RJ and a professional with 40 years of experience in the sector, reflects on this issue through her own career. “After six years of rapid progression at the software company where I started my career, already holding a senior technical position, I sought a new professional chapter at a large company. There, I was able to overcome what may have been the greatest challenge of my professional journey: securing the position of executive manager at a company that had never before had women in such roles. I had the privilege of being the first, but to achieve this, I had to undergo a process that none of the other executive managers had faced. I served as interim for nearly two years and only after a thorough evaluation was I finally confirmed in the position.”
In contrast to the challenges faced, the expansion of female leadership has proven to be a competitive advantage: according to the report Diversity Matters Even More, published by McKinsey in late 2023, companies with greater female representation in their executive teams are 39% more likely to outperform their less diverse competitors financially. “Technology is a field that values adaptability and problem-solving, and when women are included and valued in the sector, they bring a variety of skills and knowledge that enrich the work environment and drive technological progress. That’s why diversity in teams is such a positive differentiator,” says Alexandra.
For Betsy, the old profile of the authoritarian hierarchical leader has been widely subverted by facilitative leaders who inspire, develop, and care for their teams – a new profile that women, by facing and overcoming significant professional challenges, can develop with precision. “The presence of women in management positions brings more human and engaging practices to the corporate environment. Such practices tend to accelerate the pace of innovation in their surroundings. Women naturally work collaboratively and are able to build bonds and connections that enhance the creative power and productivity of their teams,” comments the expert.
Amid the celebrations and reflections prompted by International Women’s Day, both professionals extend an invitation to women who would like to work in technology but are unfamiliar with the field or face barriers to entry. Alexandra highlights the existence of many programs encouraging education and inclusion of women in the IT market, where volunteers and experienced professionals offer mentoring and workshops. Betsy advises women of all ages to seek connections and support, invest in their education, and move forward without fear of challenges. With the diversification of the technology market, everyone wins, and this is a statement that should not be limited to the month of March.
