How Girls in ICT Day Empowers Future Leaders in Tech & AI

Each April, Girls in ICT Day shines a light on the need to empower girls and young women to see themselves as leaders and creators in the information and communications technology (ICT) space.

Falling on the fourth Thursday of the month, the day focuses on building a more inclusive digital future by highlighting the importance of equal opportunities in technology and AI.

While the tech sector continues to shape daily life, it remains a space where gender disparities persist.

The gender gap in ICT and AI

Girls in ICT Day builds on momentum from Women in Tech Day earlier in the month, aiming to extend impact by reaching the next generation of women.

This year’s theme, Girls in ICT for inclusive digital transformation, centres on encouraging girls not just to use digital tools, but to help build and lead them.

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The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations agency behind the initiative since 2011, reveals that only 65% of women globally are online, compared to 70% of men.

The gap equals around 189 million more men than women using the internet in 2024.

Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary-General of the ITU, says: “This global call to action celebrates girls and young women not only as technology users, but as leaders, creators and changemakers of the digital age.

“Behind these statistics are real women and girls who don’t have opportunities to learn, earn, connect and create. Connectivity is the foundation of these opportunities.

“For it to be meaningful, we need affordable, safe, relevant and transformative online spaces where girls can thrive. That requires overcoming some long-standing barriers: unequal access to education and digital skills, harmful social norms, affordability constraints and online spaces that too often exclude or endanger women and girls.”

Communities and companies pushing for change

The tech industry holds vast opportunity, but women remain underrepresented.

This gap reflects wider patterns in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers, as well as in emerging fields such as AI.

Ana Cidre, Head of International Developer Relations at identity and access management firm Okta, and founder of GalsTech, has seen this imbalance first-hand: “While we’ve made progress, there’s still more to do when it comes to diversity and gender equality in our industry.

“In the UK, for example, women make up 47% of the overall workforce but only 21% of IT specialists. This underrepresentation was one of the reasons I founded GalsTech back in 2017, a community for women in dev in Galicia, Spain. 

“I wanted to connect with other women in the dev/tech community, to learn from each other and to inspire younger generations to consider a career in ICT. One of our main goals was to get more girls interested in pursuing a technical career.

“I think it’s important to work at an organisation that shares the same values as you.

“At Okta, we’re committed to building a truly inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and included. 

“A great example of this is the Women@Okta community. It’s a platform that supports and empowers women to grow both professionally and personally. 

“We cultivate dynamic conversations on topics like gender equality, unconscious bias and women in leadership through a variety of activities including our internal speaker series and mentorship programme.”

ICT education as a tool for empowerment

Large tech firms are also engaging through educational events.

Cisco, a global ICT company, used Girls in ICT Day to stream stories from women working in tech.

Par Merat, Cisco’s Vice President of Learning, says: “Girls in ICT Day is a tremendous opportunity for all of us to come together to learn from and celebrate women who are making a difference in the field of ICT.”

Cisco data shows only 12.4% of women hold senior leadership roles, such as Vice President or C-suite positions. In AI, just 30% of professionals are women, reinforcing the urgency of addressing gender gaps in fast-developing technologies.

Telefónica, a telecoms multinational, supports the idea that visibility matters. “To stand a chance of thriving in the STEM field, girls and young women need to meet women in leadership positions, encouraging inspiration,” the company states.

Anne Fox, Strategic Accounts Director at secure connectivity firm Xalient, also champions this mission.

Speaking to Data Centre Magazine, she says: “As the technology landscape evolves, there is a growing need for more people to pursue a career in the technology sector.

“This gap must be addressed by attracting more girls and women into the technology industry.

"While some girls will learn coding, app development and computer science and become well-positioned to embrace a career in technology, others who are less technology-minded should also explore career opportunities in the sector.

“Women bring a set of skills that are often overlooked by business generally, but that are highly beneficial in successful and thriving workplaces. 

“These softer skills, such as empathy and listening skills, are valuable to employees, for customer relationships and for gaining an understanding of what customers want.

“Women need to realise that they have a role to play in the future of technology.”

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