Gender diversity plays a key role in technological innovation. Including women in tech teams not only promotes equity, but also drives creativity and improves the effectiveness of digital solutions. However, despite progress, women remain underrepresented in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), making up only 34% of students in these disciplines.

The transformative power of diversity

Gender diversity in the workplace is not just a matter of social justice—it’s a smart business strategy. According to the Women in Business 2025 report by Grant Thornton, mid-sized companies in Europe have reached 34.9% female representation in leadership roles, with Spain leading this progress. It’s no coincidence that companies with greater gender equity in leadership experience significant improvements in innovation, decision-making, and financial performance. Nearly one in four companies (23.1%) state that their gender equality strategies have boosted their innovation capabilities, and one in five (20.3%) believe these measures have increased their appeal to clients and investors.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is one area where the lack of diversity can have significant consequences. Currently, less than 20% of professionals in AI companies are women, limiting the range of perspectives in tech development and potentially reinforcing bias in algorithms. This situation perpetuates gender stereotypes and can lead to digital experiences that disadvantage women. To counter these biases, it’s essential to incorporate more female voices into the development of these technologies. Diversity in AI teams not only ensures fairer systems but also enriches the ability of machines to understand and serve a diverse society.

Let’s imagine a world where tech products are designed exclusively by a homogeneous group of people. Many users would feel alienated or unrepresented. Gender diversity in design and development teams ensures that digital tools respond to a broader range of needs, improving user experience (UX) and ensuring that no one is left behind.

Encouraging STEM careers from the ground up

The root of the underrepresentation of women in tech starts early in education. Although women account for 34.4% of the workforce in science and technology in Spain, there are still significant gaps in specific areas, especially in STEM careers. In technical fields like computer science, the numbers are very low—only 13% of graduates are women. In contrast, women dominate in health sciences, comprising the majority in degrees such as Biomedicine (75.08%), Biochemistry (65.82%), and Biotechnology (61.70%). This proves that the issue is not a lack of interest in science, but rather gender stereotypes and the absence of female role models in technological fields.

Despite advances, gender equality in tech still faces challenges. According to the Closingap Index, Spain would need 37 years to achieve full gender equality. Closing the gender gap in the labor market could increase GDP by €255.755 billion. To speed up this process, it is essential to implement policies that promote work-life balance, continuous training, and the elimination of gender stereotypes from an early age. Additionally, showcasing female role models in tech can inspire new generations to follow in their footsteps.

If we want to build a more equitable society, we must ensure the digital revolution has a gender perspective. Only then can we achieve fairer, more innovative technology that truly represents all of humanity.

This article was originally published on WITH