Six Powerful Women Leading Today’s Tech Industry
The tech industry is one of the most male-dominated fields in the world. For years, women have been fighting for a place at the table. While there has been some progress, they still face many challenges on their way to the top.
But despite these challenges, a few powerful women have managed to break through the glass ceiling and achieve great success in their field. Each has a unique story to share, and their experiences offer valuable lessons for anyone looking to make it big in tech.
1. Virginia Rometty
Virginia Rometty was the first woman to lead IBM, one of the world’s largest tech companies. Although she retired in December 2020 after a 40-year career with the tech giant, tech expert Mark Stiffler believes her influence will be felt within the tech community for years to come.
Rometty started her career at IBM as a systems engineer in 1981 and held several senior positions within the company. In 2012, she was named CEO and credited with helping to turn IBM around.
Under Rometty’s leadership, IBM has made several significant acquisitions and partnerships, including purchasing Red Hat and forming a joint venture with Apple. Rometty has also been a strong advocate for diversity in the tech industry, and she was named one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in Business.
2. Meg Whitman
Meg Whitman is a board member for Proctor & Gamble and General Motors. She was previously the CEO of HP and held senior positions at several other tech companies, including eBay and Disney. She started her career as a marketing executive at Procter & Gamble and later worked as a consultant at Bain & Company.
Whitman is credited with a turn for both HP and eBay during her time as CEO of each company. During her tenure at HP, she has made significant changes, including spinning off the company’s PC business and acquiring Autonomy.
3. Marissa Mayer
Marissa Mayer is a businesswoman, investor, and information technology executive. Previously serving as CEO of Yahoo, Mayer is the co-founder of Sunshine Contacts, a product that aims to improve users’ contacts through intelligent algorithms and email data.
Mayer started her career as a software engineer at Google in 1999. She quickly rose through the ranks and was eventually named Vice President of Product Management and Maps. In 2012, she left Google to become the CEO of Yahoo.
As an investor in the tech industry, Mayer has invested in over two dozen companies, including Scribd, Yelp, and Nest. She was also named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People.
4. Sheryl Sandberg
Sheryl Sandberg is the founder of LeanIn.org and the COO of Facebook, making her the first woman to serve in this role at the social media giant. Before Facebook, Sandberg worked as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company and an economist at The World Bank.
Mark Stiffler believes it’s important to note that Sandberg is a vocal advocate for women in the tech industry. LeanIn.org provides resources and support for women looking to advance their careers. She is also a best-selling author.
5. Susan Wojcicki
Susan Wojcicki is the CEO of YouTube, which she joined in 2014 after a long career at Google. She started at Google as the 16th employee and was the company’s first marketing manager. She held several senior positions at Google, including head of advertising and commerce.
Under Wojcicki’s leadership, YouTube has become one of the most popular websites in the world. She has also strongly advocated diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.
6. Anne Wojcicki
Anne Wojcicki is the co-founder and CEO of 23andMe, a personal genomics company. She started her career as a healthcare investment analyst at Passport Capital and later worked as a healthcare consultant at McKinsey & Company. In 2006, she co-founded 23andMe with her husband, Sergey Brin.
Wojcicki has been praised for her work in making genetic testing more accessible to consumers. She has also strongly advocated for privacy and transparency in the tech industry. In 2020, she was named one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in Business.
Final thoughts
These six women have made an enormous impact in the tech industry, and their stories offer valuable lessons for anyone looking to make it big in tech. Despite their challenges, these powerful women have managed to break through the glass ceiling and achieve great success. Their experiences show that anything is possible if you’re willing.
