Women’s participation in the tech industry has grown in recent years, but there is still a long way to go in achieving gender equality in leadership roles.
Key Points:
- Women represent 33% of the global tech workforce, but only 28% hold leadership positions, highlighting a significant gender gap (GlobalData, 2024; World Economic Forum, 2023).
- In Latin America, female participation in the tech sector has increased to 32%, with Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina leading growth thanks to inclusive policies (Latin America Tech Report, 2024).
- Companies with greater gender diversity in leadership are 25% more likely to be more profitable, prompting Latin American companies to set gender equality goals (McKinsey & Company, 2023).
According to a 2024 report by GlobalData, women make up 33% of the global tech workforce, a notable increase from previous years.
However, this figure drops significantly when it comes to executive and leadership positions, where women still occupy only 28% of high-level roles in tech companies, according to the World Economic Forum’s 2023 report.
María Fernanda Juppet, CEO of CryptoMKT, stated: “As a female leader in an industry historically dominated by men, I welcome the sustained rise of women in leadership roles within the fintech ecosystem. This change is not only fair, but also urgent and strategic. Every time a woman takes on a leadership role, she paves the way for others, inspiring through conviction, preparation, and execution capacity.”
“As Sheryl Sandberg said, the goal is not to have ‘female leaders’—just leaders, with no adjectives. The diversity of perspectives in decision-making not only enriches teams but also drives innovation and strengthens trust in an increasingly demanding market.”
Despite these challenges, women continue to make headway. In Latin America, for example, there have been significant improvements in recent years.
According to the Latin America Tech Report 2024, women represented 32% of the tech workforce in the region—an increase of 5% since 2020. Countries like Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina have led this growth, driven by government policies and corporate programs focused on gender inclusion.
At the business level, several tech companies are implementing strategies to increase female representation in executive roles. According to a 2023 report by consulting firm McKinsey & Company, companies with higher gender diversity in leadership are 25% more likely to outperform their competitors in profitability.
This finding has led many companies in Latin America to commit to improving gender equality in leadership roles. For example, the Mexican firm KIO Networks has set a target of 40% women in leadership positions by 2025, according to El Financiero.
Culturally, the rise of women in tech has been supported by initiatives such as mentorship programs, scholarships for women in STEM, and online communities offering support and resources.
Furthermore, the success of women-led tech startups in Latin America is helping to break stereotypes and proving that women play a key role in driving technological innovation in the region, according to Tech LatAm.
Despite this progress, statistics show that women still face significant barriers to leadership, such as lack of support networks, gender bias, and low visibility of role models.
According to the World Economic Forum, it is estimated that women will not achieve equal representation in tech leadership until 2030, unless substantial changes are made in corporate and educational policies.
While the path toward gender equality in the tech industry is underway, it is crucial that companies continue to promote diversity, implement inclusive policies, and provide equitable opportunities for women—especially in Latin America, where growth potential is enormous.
