About this episode
This is your Women in Business podcast.Welcome back to Women in Business, listeners, where we celebrate the unstoppable force of women shaping tomorrow's economy. I'm your host, and today we're diving into how fierce women are navigating the turbulent tech landscape amid economic ups and downs like layoffs and AI booms. Let's jump right in with five key discussion points that empower you to thrive.First, representation is rising but still lags—women hold just 26.7 percent of global tech roles, according to Deloitte's 2025 report, with 28 percent in US computing jobs per NCWIT. At giants like Apple with 35 percent female workforce, Google at 34.4 percent, and Microsoft at 31.2 percent from Statista, we're making gains, yet core technical spots hover under 25 percent. In this economy, sisters, lean into high-growth areas like web design where women lead at 48.6 percent, per BLS data, turning underrepresentation into your entry point.Second, the pay gap persists at 84 cents on the dollar, as WomenHack's 2026 stats reveal, but transparency is our weapon—83 percent of women prefer companies reporting positive gender pay data, says Digital Silk. Amid inflation and uncertainty, demand audits and equity; companies with 30 percent female execs outperform financially, proving your value drives profits.Third, retention challenges hit hard—50 percent of women leave tech by 35, 45 percent higher than men, per Accenture and ISACA, often citing toxic culture at 56 percent and stalled advancement at 48 percent from McKinsey. Post-2022-2023 layoffs, women were 65 percent more likely to be cut despite being only 26 percent of the workforce. Listeners, combat burnout—57 percent of women feel it versus 36 percent of men—and prioritize firms with strong DEI, where 92 percent report better experiences.Fourth, AI is your superpower—95 percent of women pros would shift to AI roles with support, per Talent500's 2026 report, though only 22 percent hold global AI jobs and 34 percent use it daily versus 43 percent of men. In economic flux, master analytics and machine learning, topping women's interests at 41 percent, to future-proof careers as STEM grows 8.1 percent by 2034, faster than average.Fifth, leadership demands action—women are just 29 percent in C-suites, 16 percent of CTOs per Boundev, but 85 percent join orgs with female leaders, and 91 percent of companies promoted women in 2024. VC funding to female founders is a measly 2.3 percent via Crunchbase, yet 37 percent of startups now have women founders. Build networks, seek mentors for 25 percent faster promotions, and remember: when women thrive, we all rise, as International Women's Day 2026's theme declares.Listeners, you're the innovators closing gaps—stay bold in this economy. Thank you for tuning in, and don't forget to subscribe for more empowerment. This has been a Quiet Please production, for more check out quietplease.ai.
