State of Technology: Why Women Are the Future in Silicon Valley
Sam Howzit / Flickr and Elena Kalistratova / shutterstock and LInkedin

State of Technology: Why Women Are the Future in Silicon Valley

In this series, professionals debate the state – and future – of their industry. Read all the posts here and write your own (use #MyIndustry in the body of your post).

Recently, some current and former executives from Twitter came together to start an angel fund. When asked about the fact that the group was made up of all women, the awesome, gluten-free April Underwood told Fast Company: "No one takes note when a group of men decide to start an angel investing group or a fund. [And] it would be great if one day that’s not the most notable thing when a group of women get together to do something."

Amen. 

In Silicon Valley, the women are roaring. But you, like most, might not be hearing them.

When I joined Twitter in 2009, there were two bathrooms. One for men, and one for women. The men used both. These days, the company’s last count showed the percentage of female employees at 30 percent women. And that’s good for these parts. Because the reality, as we all know, is that relatively speaking Silicon Valley doesn’t have as many as it should.

As a recent Business Insider article (amazingly titled, “Here’s Evidence It’s Still Not a Great Time to Be a Woman in Silicon Valley”) put it, "The numbers speak for themselves, and they're pretty dismal." Want the full picture? Pull up a chair and dig in to this report on gender diversity in Silicon Valley by Fenwick and West, LLP. Teaser: Women hold just 11 percent of executive positions in Silicon Valley. The S&P 100, by contrast, boasts a marginally more interesting number: 16 percent. 

So what do we do in a Silicon Valley world where things aren't getting good, fast? We women dig in our (high) heels, pull out a ruler, and call the name of the game progress. 

And progress, it turns out, is happening all around us.

Tell me a company and I'll tell you an amazing woman moving and shaking and doing things. (And I won't just say, "Marissa Mayer.") Instead, I'll say other words. Ones like Clara Shih. Nancy Duarte. Leila Janah. Ramya Raghavan. Kate Lee. And I'll keep going. And with every year that passes and Girls Who Code fundraiser that tops the coffers, that list will get longer. Because it’s a job we’re doing and a journey we’re on and we women are fighting. But it’s not just the women, of course. If you live with or are currently raising a real, live female, you are just as important — as an employer, encourager, cheerleader, coworker, and friend.

Because women just might be the state — and the future — of Silicon Valley.

***

For more from Claire, read her free ebook on developing a morning routine, check out her blog, follow her on LinkedIn, or find her on the Twitters via @claire.

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M. R. RAO

Independent and self oriented

8y

All the best for creation of Angel Fund Let the women count increase in not only silicon valley but also in other locations

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Veronica Yudyaning

Sulawesi selatan di Holand bakery

8y

hrlloooo

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Christine Emich

Professional Photographer & Artist

8y

Yeah..?

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