There’s a need for more women in technology
- Chenise Upshur is an operations manager at Dell Technologies’ Nashville site.
Careers in technology are some of the most sought after in the United States — yet the tech industry has traditionally been a space where few women have worked.
According to a report by Girls Who Code and Accenture, only 16% of engineering roles and 27% of computing roles nationwide are held by women and that number is expected to shrink within the next ten years.
As a woman in tech, I am eager to call attention to the need for more women in technology, how achieving gender parity is necessary to maintain a thriving tech sector, and highlight steps that can pave the way for more women in this space.
Spark interest in the classroom
Homeschooled and the oldest of 10 children, my parents encouraged my curiosity, even though I know there were moments they wished they didn’t. I recall trying to construct a water filtering system on my mom’s new solid wood table (and ruining it), cutting open an AC adapter and placing my palm on an iron to see if it really was “hot”. Young girls who have an interest in computers are four times more likely to pursue tech as adults.
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Maintaining interest in high school is important as few female students pursue STEM courses in upper grades, with women only making up 19% of students enrolled in high school AP computer classes, according to the National Science Foundation.. My dad sent me to Vanderbilt every Tuesday of my Sophomore year for Medical Explorers where I was introduced to more technology.
With mentorship in mind, Dell Technologies launched its STEM Aspire program, which connects female STEM students to female mentors who work at Dell. Likewise, Dell supports Northwestern University’s Align program, which serves women and underrepresented minorities from non-IT fields who are pursuing master’s degrees in computer science. Dell has provided mentors and offered financial support, funding scholarships and co-op positions within the company.
Make tech jobs more accessible to parents
It’s essential that flexible work models exist to maintain the career trajectory of parents. About half of new mothers leave full-time STEM jobs, according to research done by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the US. 128 grant recipients receive 200 diapers a month through Dell’s grants to the Diapers to Diplomas program to promote degree completion.
Before the pandemic began, Dell’s IT Team Member Experience organization (TMX) had been developing a remote-first approach to providing IT services to its users. Dell was able to facilitate the transition to work-from-home status for the past two years and give working parents the flexibility needed to continue their careers.
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This model not only demonstrates how attractive tech roles are for working parents, but increases employee retention, which is critical to closing the gender gap.
Commit to a gender-equitable workforce
Change and accountability start at the top. Tech leaders need to set attainable benchmarks and track their progress towards reaching a more representative workforce in gender and diversity.
Dell Technologies has committed to building leadership where 40% identify as women and 15% identify as Black/African American or Hispanic/Latino by 2030. Progressing toward that goal has resulted in promoting women globally and minorities in the US at high rates.
I’m proud to be a woman in technology and part of an organization that understands the value of having women at the helm. I look forward to the day when the diverse, gender-equitable future we’re working towards comes to fruition.
Chenise Upshur is an operations manager at Dell Technologies’ Nashville site. Upshur has more than ten years of work experience in the tech industry and is a 2008 graduate of Vanderbilt University.
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