Insights

Expanding Diversity in ICT: Conversations from the Telecom Review Leaders’ Summit Women in ICT Panel 2024

Jan 22, 2025

The "Women in ICT" panel at the 2024 Telecom Review Leaders" Summit focused on women’s contributions to the technology landscape thus far and their aspirations for the future. Key speakers from the ICT industry, including Somos’ CEO, Gina Perini, spoke about the need for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the field. The conversation underscored both what had been achieved and what remains to be done in order to create a more inclusive industry.

Gina acknowledged that the number of women in the C-suite rose from 17 percent in 2015 to 29 percent today. As the panelists outlined, these gains are temporary and must be framed as part of a longer-term, structural shift towards gender parity. The panelists concluded that diversity needs to be an approach at the very foundation of business strategies, not just as part of “initiatives”.

Several practical approaches to engendering diversity were recommended by the panelists:

• Measure and Set Targets: Establish baseline metrics across hiring, promotion, pay equity and attrition to identify gaps and track progress. Frameworks like EDGE Certification help benchmark gender parity and provide structured guidance for organizations.

• Implement Diverse Hiring Practices: Mandate diverse hiring panels and candidate shortlists to minimize unconscious bias. A 2020 McKinsey study revealed that companies using diverse hiring panels achieved 25% higher female participation in ICT roles.

• Build Leadership Pipelines with Sponsorship Programs: Sponsorship programs, where senior leaders advocate for high-potential women, have proven more effective than mentorship in advancing women to executive roles. Research from Catalyst highlights that sponsorship is more impactful than mentorship in advancing women to executive roles.

• Create Inclusive Workplace Cultures: Organizations investing in inclusion training and zero-tolerance policies for discrimination report a 20% increase in women's job satisfaction. Training on unconscious bias and interactive sessions were highlighted as best practices.

• Focus on STEM Outreach: Partnering with universities and nonprofits to build scholarship and internship opportunities creates a steady pipeline of female talent in ICT. Programs like Rewriting the Code and Break Through Tech are key partners in this mission.

Gender bias and institutional obstacles remain – even as things move forward. The panelists shared a vision for a future ICT industry where women influence new technologies such as AI, 5G and cybersecurity. The panel agreed this will take long-term dedication, diversity integration strategies and cross-sector collaboration. They also highlighted the importance of governments supporting women in STEM – in the UAE alone, women make up more than half of the ICT workforce.

Somos is committed to collaborating with groups such as Rewriting the Code and Break Through Tech to develop the next generation of women in ICT leadership. Our belief is that diverse talent fosters smarter decision-making, innovation and resilient businesses. Somos is a company that takes diversity into consideration in every facet of our business.

Taking lessons from the 2024 Somos Summit, it is imperative that we continue to work collaboratively, act explicitly and commit boldly to a more inclusive and diverse ICT sector. By putting diversity first now, we can create a stronger industry in the future – one in which women are the pioneers of tomorrow’s technology.

Somos is proud to support this vision, partnering with organizations and industry leaders to drive meaningful change!