As we look ahead to this year’s everywoman in Technology Awards, I find myself reflecting on how far we have come, and how much opportunity still lies ahead for women in tech.
Celebrating success has always mattered but right now it feels particularly important. Women make up 24.8% of the UK STEM workforce, a figure that has fallen since 2020.
In artificial intelligence, the gap is even wider, with women accounting for just 22% of AI and data professionals. This is unfolding at a time when the UK tech sector is valued at more than $1 trillion and is expected to power the next industrial revolution.
In what many are calling the age of intelligence, representation matters more than ever. I strongly believe that the people designing and deploying technology should reflect both the society we are today and the society we aspire to build.
That can only happen with a genuine mix of viewpoints at the table. Research shows women are more likely than men to prioritise values such as privacy, safety, accountability, fairness and human autonomy in AI systems.
Those are not secondary concerns, as they are central to responsible innovation. If diverse perspectives are absent at the design stage, we risk creating systems that fail to serve everyone.
This is why the everywoman in Technology Awards mean so much to me. As the longest-running tech awards programme dedicated to championing female talent, they have celebrated more than 1,300 women across the UK.
At AllBright everywoman, we have seen first hand the impact that recognition can have. I have spoken to winners who say that being celebrated changed not only how others perceived them, but how they perceived themselves. Promotions followed, broader leadership remits opened up and their confidence grew.
What is particularly powerful is the ripple effect. Many of our winners go on to mentor others, sponsor emerging talent and advocate for change within their organisations. They pay it forward, creating a cycle of support and ambition. When we spotlight female founders, CTOs, AI specialists and scale-up leaders, we challenge long-held assumptions about who leads in technology and help to broaden the picture for the next generation.
Diverse leadership strengthens decision making, fuels innovation and builds resilience. It also sends a clear message to young women and career switchers that there is space for them in this sector and that their perspectives are valued.
Of course, awards alone will not close the gender gap. Encouraging more women into technology requires sustained effort across education, business and government. Early exposure to STEM, accessible pathways into tech careers, returner programmes, flexible working, senior sponsorship and inclusive cultures all have a role to play. Leaders must also be accountable for meaningful progress.
For me, the everywoman in Technology Awards are more than a celebration of excellence. They are a catalyst for change, helping to shape a more inclusive, innovative and responsible future for UK technology.