Breaking the Code: Women Redefining Tech from Silicon Valley to South Carolina

This is your Women in Business podcast. Welcome to Women in Business. Today I want to talk directly with you about the reality and resilience of women in the tech industry as we navigate this rapidly shifting economic landscape. Whether you’re just starting out, or you’ve been shaping digital futures for years, understanding the terrain is crucial, especially with technology influencing every corner of our lives—business, health, finance, even how we build community. Let’s get right to it. While women now make up about 35% of the tech workforce in the United States, according to the WomenTech Network, it’s still a field where the gender gap is visible at every level. Only around 17% of tech companies have a female CEO and less than a third of digital sector roles are held by women. The story is no different in Silicon Valley powerhouses like Apple, Google, and Microsoft, where women make up only about a third of staff. These numbers tell us we’ve made progress, but they also show how far we still have to go. But progress is on the move, and location can make a world of difference. For example, the fastest growth in female tech earnings isn’t just in the old standbys like San Jose, but in places like Little Rock and Columbia, South Carolina. These cities are breaking new ground in pay equity and leadership diversity, demonstrating that opportunities really are expanding—sometimes in places you least expect. Let’s look at one of the major themes shaping women’s experience in tech right now: leadership and management access. Although women are slowly gaining seats at the table, only a small fraction rise to the C-suite. In fact, just 8% of CTOs are women. The wage gap persists, too—female CEOs at tech startups are paid on average $20,000 less than their male counterparts. But here’s a promising trend: women in tech are actually being promoted at a slightly higher rate than men, particularly in project management and emerging technologies. The next big disruptor is artificial intelligence. According to Skillsoft’s 2024 report, only 40% of women in tech are currently using AI in their roles. But the impact is significant—nearly three out of four women using AI report increased productivity and efficiency. With companies planning to ramp up AI use dramatically in the next five years, the most competitive women in tech are those who invest in upskilling right now. Retention and advancement remain ongoing challenges. As many as half of women who enter tech leave the field by age 35, often citing a lack of professional growth and chronic burnout. There’s real urgency here for organizations to not just recruit more women, but to foster an environment where women can thrive and lead—whether through structured mentorships, flexible work options, or transparent advancement pathways. To recap, I want to leave you with five key discussion points from today: First, how the ongoing gender gap shapes opportunities and obstacles for women in tech. Second, th This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.