We can’t "Accelerate Action" while plagued with self-doubt
Caller ID, Kevlar, circular saws, life rafts, and home security systems. What do they all have in common? Apart from the fact that they are strokes of innovative genius—many of which changed the course of history—they were all invented by women.
Despite a history of trailblazing women whose innovations have shaped our modern world—from Ada Lovelace's foundational work in computing to Rosalind Franklin's pivotal contribution to DNA structure—women today remain underrepresented in technology.
According to the Australian Computer Society's 2022 Digital Pulse Report, women account for 29% of the tech industry. This starkly contrasts the statistics of women who make up the total workforce at 47%. This persistent gap begs an urgent question: Why, in an era that champions diversity and inclusion more than ever before, does the tech industry struggle to reflect gender equality? As this year's International Women's Day theme—Accelerate Action—implies, we need to bridge this gap faster.
One of the biggest challenges holding women back in these fields isn't a lack of skill or knowledge—it's self-doubt.
A study by Harvard Business School Associate Professor Katherin B. Coffman shows that one reason women might be shying away from certain professions is that they lack confidence in their ability to compete in fields that men are stereotypically believed to perform better in—for example, science and technology. The research also reveals that women are more reluctant to share ideas in group discussions on these subjects and that even when women possess the necessary skills in these fields, they downplay praise and underestimate their abilities.
This self-doubt leads to hesitation. Hesitation to take risks isn't just limiting individual careers; it's slowing down the pace of innovation in industries that desperately need diverse perspectives.
The tech industry is built on continuous learning and adaptation. Those who succeed are not the ones who hit the nail on the head the first time, but those who are willing to take risks and learn from mistakes. As women, we too often hold ourselves to an impossible standard of perfection. However, success is invariably about taking calculated risks and adapting.
When it comes to technology in general and cybersecurity in particular, most organisations operate with an engineering-first mindset. This approach values structured problem-solving and the ability to adapt and refine solutions over time. Most importantly, it's a culture that embraces failure as a necessary step towards success.
Although our understanding of AI is progressing, researchers must test multiple models before landing on one that works. In cybersecurity, identifying threats requires analyzing patterns, refining strategies, and adapting to evolving risks. In the fields of AI and cybersecurity, failure isn't a setback—it's a necessary step to finding the way forward.
Despite this, I see women in our industry feeling pressured to ensure their ideas are fully formed before presenting them.
The most successful technological advancements—AI, cloud computing, enterprise software, and more—have emerged through experimentation. Those who hold the engineering-first mindset understand that failure is not the opposite of success but rather a vital part of it.
For women, shifting from a perfectionist mindset to an engineering-first mindset is key. Our industry's future success depends on those willing to take bold steps. We must not wait for permission to lead. We must step forward, speak up, and embrace the reality that failure is often the first step towards success. If we can do that, we can drive meaningful change for ourselves and the entire industry.
The call to action is clear: move beyond hesitation, break free from perfectionism, and take up space in the tech sector with the confidence necessary to truly Accelerate Action.