Beyond the Code: Empowering Women in Non-Technical Roles in Technology

Clare Muscutt, Founder, Women in CX hosts Ejieme Eromosele, GM EMEA, Quiq, Charlotte Kennett, Sr. Director, SS&C Blue Prism, Laura Campbell, Strategic Business Development Director, ASAPP & Jennie Lewis, Customer Insights Senior Manager, Airship.Women and minorities are underrepresented where it matters most, in positions of power and influence that can shape the future of Customer Experience. Whilst the business benefits of diverse leadership teams are well known and publicised, a recent study by McKinsey & Company found that women make up only 28% of senior leadership positions in the technology industry globally, but why is this?Whilst the movement for getting more women into STEM roles has made important strides in developing the pool of women who can code there has been little impact at a leadership level with only 8% of US Chief Technology Officers being women.But, as the majority of conversations about ‘women in tech’ center around the technical narrative, could we be inadvertently reducing the potential of greater representation of women in leadership more broadly by failing to ‘empower women’ who are in non-technical roles to the same degree?The panel will explore the reasons behind the gender gap, including the lack of emphasis on non-technical roles in diversity and inclusion initiatives and explore the perception that technical roles matter more.The panellists will discuss how this underserved group of women can be better supported, including through communities, mentorship and sponsorship programs, advocacy for the importance of non-technical roles, and addressing biases in hiring and barriers to promotion.