Society is evolving at a dizzying pace, largely due to the global health crisis that we have just experienced, marking a before and after on our path towards digitization. We are facing a moment of brutal renewal in which technology has become the lever that pushes us towards change.

These are times of challenges, but also of great opportunities, to look to the future with an open mind and for this, we need people who strongly lead us on this path towards a much more inclusive and egalitarian society. In this context, it is essential that women are part of the whole process, so that equality is emphasized, allowing us to move forward in the best possible way. Although we have made great advancements in recent years, there is still much to be done. The latest study “Women Matter Spain 2023,” prepared by McKinsey & Company, puts Spain in sixth place in terms of gender equality in the European Union (EU), with only 6% of women in general management positions, 17% of women in M-1 positions who report directly to the CEO and 33% of directors being women, compared to 8%, 21% and 31% for the European average, respectively.

Economically, STEM careers are taking a leading role in our society. According to data from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), in 2030 more than 80% of jobs in the world will require technological knowledge, and so it is expected that STEM areas will be the ones that most promote our growth and from where the best paid jobs of the future will be created. In addition, several studies state that a basic STEM worker earns more than twice as much as a non-STEM worker, so this trend will surely continue to increase for an extended period.

However, this trend still does not apply within the female workforce, since, according to the Digital Scoreboard for Women by the European Commission, women represent only 34% of STEM graduates and 17% of ICT specialists. With these numbers out in the open under analysis, it is imperative that we change this trend. Despite the fact that different levels of society, whether national or international, promote the increase in these vocations for everyone, we must all do our duty to specifically increase female participation in these areas.

As a leader in digital transformation, I see it as necessary for us to pass on our knowledge and experiences to younger people coming into the workforce so that we can arouse their interest in technology and the promising future that comes with it. For this, it will be necessary to draw several strategic lines from which we can advance from beginning to end. In this sense, the closest environment plays a very important role in female education, especially in their formative first years of school. Both within the educational environment and in the family, it is imperative that girls and women are shown the benefits that these types of professions offer to advance them successfully in their future careers.

In addition, it would be very useful if women had close role models, visible female figures who tell their stories, their own personal reality and that of the sector as a whole, who inspire new generations and motivate them to follow in their footsteps. In my case, I am taking concrete actions to give visibility to my professional career so that all women and girls can see first-hand the advantages and disadvantages that will be found along this entire path. I invite all women to do the same and convey their own legacy as examples to those just entering the workforce.

In Spain we have many role models, women who are leaders in the field of technology to whom we listen and whose experiences serve as guiding points for future generations. We must make the important choice to be among them.

Cristina Valles, Country Manager NEORIS Spain