#CiscoChat: Why the World Needs More Girls in Tech

Did you know that women account for only 30 percent of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) workforce? Or that they earn 57 percent of all U.S. undergraduate degrees, but only 18 percent of undergraduate computer and information sciences degrees?

Though shattering the glass ceiling is almost always never easy, women around the world have made great strides in forging careers in fields previously dominated by men. From healthcare and politics to the automotive and financial services industries, women continue to make headlines for ascending to coveted corner offices and executive suites. However, women continue to remain highly invaluable – yet grossly untapped – resources within the ICT industry.

As Cisco prepares to participate in this year’s international Girls in ICT Day and encourage young women to embrace ICT careers, answering the question of why the world need more women in tech has become one that needs answers. We have our thoughts and we want to hear yours.

We’re hosting a #CiscoChat to discuss this very topic. Be sure to join us on Tuesday, April 14 from 10 to 11 a.m. PST and share your ideas, solutions and real-world experience to help us answer the question “Why the World Needs More Girls in Tech?”

Hear from our featured guests: Kristin Luck, founder of Women In Research, a not-for-profit organization which facilitates education, entrepreneurship and career development for women; and Monique Morrow, CTO Evangelist-New Frontiers Development and Engineering at Cisco.

What will be talking about?

There will be more than 1 million computing-related jobs in the United States by 2020, but only enough graduates to fill 39% of them. With the growth of the Internet of Everything (IoE) and the estimated 50 billion devices and objects expected to be connected to the Internet by 2020, ICT workers are in demand more than ever. And with the grossly underrepresented female demographic within the industry, educating and empowering women with the necessary skills to meet the rising demand for ICT workers is critical.

An even more compelling case for ensuring women are positioned to grow within the ICT industry? Technology is a massive global economic opportunity driver and women with proficient skills are more than capable of filling the positions that come with it.

ICT development has completely changed economic growth patterns worldwide. From the United States to the Asia-Pacific region, government officials are racing to position their countries as economic champions through strategic investments in ICT. By 2018, it’s estimated that government sectors across the globe will spend more than $440 billion on ICT infrastructure and services. With the staggering potential impact on both government and private sector bottom lines, women are a prime talent pool to source for employees in this ever-changing industry.

Join the conversation on Tuesday, April 14 from 10 to 11 a.m. PST using the hashtag #CiscoChat.