By Allan Maurer

CHARLOTTE, NC—Women in technology enjoy the field but have mixed feelings about whether or not their companies have “favorable climates” for women, the “Women in Technology 2007 Report” suggests. But ways to improve that climate emerged from in-depth interviews with women chief information officers.

The report, conducted by California-based Women in Technology International in conjunction with Charlotte-based Compel Ltd., is based on an online survey of 1,985 women and more in-depth interviews with 16 women CIOs.

“There are two ‘Big Ahas!’ that emerge from this research,” says Patricia Shafer, president of Compel Ltd. and co-author of the report. “The good news, despite conventional wisdom, is that women are highly energized by technology as an arena where they can be creative and find meaning. The bad news—they don’t necessarily perceive technology organizations as inviting places to pursue their futures.”

Need to be heard
Shafer tells TechJournal South, “Women find they can use their creativity and brain power for their company’s growth and 75 percent say they would recommend the technology field to women coming in.” Yet, only 52 percent believe their organizations offer “favorable climates” for women.

In particular, many women feel they have trouble getting their voice heard, “a factor important to women looking at where their careers can go,” says Shafer. In the survey, 48 percent of the women said their views are not as acknowledged or welcomed as those of men.

Forty-four percent say women receive fewer invitations to participate in and lead large initiatives. While 73 percent are confident they can influence their bosses, significantly fewer (53 percent) describe themselves as more broadly influential in the organization. Women are divided, 55 percent to 45 percent, regarding the extent to which they do or don’t feel “in control of their careers.”

“The report comes at a critical juncture,” notes Carolyn Leighton, founder and chairman, WITI. “The number of available technology and IT jobs is projected to increase in the future, but the percentage of women in the IT workforce has declined significantly since 1996. Insights into women’s experiences in technology are guideposts for addressing the gap.”

Cyber-Southeast
“If there is a single message to technology companies, functions and associations in Georgia, North and South Carolina, and Florida, it’s the need to get serious about committing resources to women’s career development initiatives,” says Shafer.

The Southeast is home to many of the fastest-growing cybercities and cyberstates in the country. According to Site Selection magazine, for example, these cities are among the “Top 60 Cybercities:” Atlanta, Charlotte, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Orlando, Raleigh and Tampa.

Florida added the second largest number of technology jobs in 2005 and was the fastest growing state by tech employment, while North Carolina was the 16th largest cyberstate and 5th fastest growing state by tech employment, according to the American Electronics Association’s (AeA) “Cyberstates 2007: A Complete State-by-State Overview of the High-Technology Industry.”

Atlanta ranks #2 in Popular Science “Top Tech Cities” as well as in the 2006 online edition of “House Hunting 101,” which also ranks 10 booming tech cities. (Orlando comes in at #8 and Charlotte at #10.)

South Carolina has been conducting a vocal public campaign focused on the state’s need to recruit and develop high-growth tech companies and build capacity in the future Knowledge Economy.

CIOs offer solutions

More in-depth interviews with 16 women CIOs, however, provided clues to how companies can create climates to retain talented women executives and how women in tech can climb the corporate ladder effectively.

To advance, women should “choose projects with weight,” says Shafer. They should take on what one woman called “the big, hairy, all consuming assignment.”

Companies need to set up formal methods for providing mentors to women, although the mentors need not be women.

Opening up to what women executives have to say not only improves the climate for women in tech, it can also mean doing better business, says Shafer, who points to a Telecom company Compel worked with as an example of where that happened.

Tomorrow: Part II

For details of the CIO interviews and what women can do to advance and companies can do to keep their women executives, see part II tomorrow morning on TechJournalSouth.com.

A Webinar on the full report is scheduled for Tuesday, May 15 at 2 and 11 p.m:
To register and/or download the complete report see:

http://www.witi.com/center/webinar/.

Southeast Venture Conference, February 29 – March 1, 2012 at the Ritz Carlton in Tysons Corner, VA – Where Smart Money Meets Smart People.
www.seventure.org

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