Celebrating International Women’s Day 2023

Krome Celebrates International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March 8th to honour women’s achievements, raise awareness about their struggles, and promote gender equality.

As an organisation, we are committed to having a continuous focus on equality, diversity and inclusion all year round and today we celebrate the success and achievements of the women in tech.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “embrace equity,” highlighting the importance of challenging the gender divide and prejudices to forge a more inclusive and equal world.

Despite some progress over the years (an estimated 2% increase since 2019), the gender gap in the technology industry remains noticeably significant and the industry continues to be predominantly male dominated, with barriers to entry, such as a lack of female mentorship, unequal pay, and a hostile work environment, leading to fewer women remaining in these roles.

Globally women account for 47.7% of the workforce, however, according to a government-funded growth network, Tech Nation, reports that the UK tech industry employs approximately 9% of the country’s workforce, equating to nearly three million individuals. Unfortunately, women comprise just 26% of the tech workforce.

At Krome, we have some incredibly talented women working across the business, in technical, sales, admin, managerial and director roles, sadly however only 20% of our overall workforce is made up of women, and whilst we proactively recruit to find female talent to join our team, there is a void in female candidates in the technology market.

Krome’s female workforce

Whilst our female workforce is slightly below the industry average, 29% of our female colleagues are in managerial roles and 28% of our board of directors are female.

Our Operations Director Danielle Hammond comments:

“Throughout my 20-year career in the IT industry, whenever I have been introduced to a woman in a senior management position, especially in our industry, I feel immensely proud, but also, a part of me is still pleasantly surprised, as unfortunately, we are so used to seeing mainly men hold those positions, whether competent in the role or not. We must change this perception by recognising that not all women are given equal opportunities in various aspects of work/life, and then once we acknowledge this, we must do all we can to promote and support women’s growth actively, across all industries and across the world.”

The lack of female representation in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) roles can be attributed to various factors. Historically, STEM fields have been male dominated, leading to the perception that these fields are not suitable for women.

The lack of early education offered to girls and women is another major factor that contributes to the under-representation of women in STEM roles, with research suggesting that girls are less likely to be encouraged to pursue STEM fields during their academic pursuits compared to boys. However, this is slowly changing with more females now being encouraged at an early age into tech-based roles.

There is growing recognition in the need to address these gender stereotype issues in our industry, with more initiatives and programs to increase diversity and promote gender equality.

One such initiative is the Tech Talent Charter, which aims to increase diversity in the UK technology industry. The charter has over 600 signatories, including companies like BT, Cisco, and Deloitte, committing to promoting diversity and gender equality in their organisations. Similarly, organisations like Girls Who Code and Code First Girls are working to inspire and equip more girls with the skills and confidence to pursue careers in tech.

One of our Helpdesk Support Consultants Rani Krishna commented:

“While it is still true that career-oriented women encounter a lot of obstacles as they explore their potential and sense of self, it is safe to argue that the environment today is more favourable than it was 15 or 20 years ago. Women are stepping up and trying to reclaim their power and authority in every field all around the world. Women have mastered the art of juggling their personal and professional life because they are intelligent, talented, and ambitious. They are an inspiration to everyone and unparalleled in this regard. Being a member of an organisation that values our strengths and offers us the freedom to express our original thoughts and grow is tremendously inspiring.”

Whilst we celebrate International Women’s Day today, recognising these gender gaps and embracing equality is paramount every day, as our Managed Services and Training Co-ordinator Nimantha Liyanage comments:

“I support International Women’s Day and embrace equality. The world is a much better place when all people are treated fairly, despite differences of gender, race, age etc. Not only on International Women’s Day, but every day; we must appreciate ourselves, all as strong individuals, who have worked hard to bring equality to the present world. I’m proud to work in the IT industry, which is inherently a male dominated industry but is equally inclusive and supportive to its best, which provides opportunities to grow all its employees equally. Our differences are what makes us all unique and beautiful, and real harmony comes through respecting, and accepting those differences, in ourselves and in others.

On this day, I would like to make a request to all the women out there: Let’s be there for one another, let’s support each other to achieve our goals and applaud others when they do, let’s help each other to pick up the pieces when needed, and be supportive in all the means.”

Our Head of HR Marion Dubery also commented:

“Standing side by side and embracing my fellow women of Krome and around the world to support International Women’s Day. I am very proud to be working for a Tech Company, that is generally male dominated, that has some amazing women working for them. When we embrace equality, we embrace diversity, and we embrace inclusion. Huge progress has been made for equality for all but there is still work to be done so really happy to celebrate IWD. Let’s all keep up the good work for everyone!”

But promoting gender equality goes beyond the tech industry. It is a global issue that affects women in all countries and across all oppressions and regimes. Women are often discriminated against and excluded from opportunities, education, and decision-making processes. They are more likely to live in poverty, suffer from gender-based violence, and face healthcare and reproductive rights barriers.

According to UN Women, 1 in 3 women worldwide experiences gender-based violence. Women also earn less than men, with the global gender pay gap estimated at 16%. Women’s participation in politics is also significantly lower than men, with only 25% of parliamentary seats worldwide held by women.

These statistics are alarming and highlight the need for action to promote gender equality worldwide. International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate women’s achievements and to call for more action to achieve gender equality.

Our Management Accountant Lindsay Hofgartner recognises the importance of continuous improvement worldwide to close the gender divide:

‘International Women’s Day is a day to mark the advancements in equality between the sexes and the achievements of women throughout history.  So many amazing women have paved the way for the rights of women to be where they are today.  Equally, this day highlights the need for continuous improvement to achieve true equality between all.  There are so many areas of industry, society and entire nations where women are denied equality.  This needs to be continually challenged and further advancements made so that future generations grow up without the experience of discrimination, bias and inequality based on their sex.

I personally am inspired and proud to be working for a company, in the typically male-dominated tech industry, that has so many wonderfully talented women working across all departments. Recognising the talent and ambition of an individual regardless of gender is a stance all industries and companies should aspire to, whether at entry-level positions or board level.  Krome encourages such diversity and inclusivity, and it makes the team all the more powerful because of it.’

Our CEO’s Executive Assistant Catherine Wright comments on the barriers women face worldwide:

“Being a woman in any walk of life can, sometimes come with barriers – however we are recognising more and more now that we indeed belong at the table, in the board room, at exec level – wherever we want to be – as much as anyone!

Female empowerment saturates the internet, social media and when needed, our streets! We have more of a voice now than ever before. As we recently saw in Iran, countries that still live with suppression are also starting to find their voice… It is the start that they need and progress because of this will be made.

On a lighter note, I have been working for Krome for 18 months and have seen how genuinely supportive the whole business is towards all the women that work here – be it the Tech Team, Professional Services, Office Admin, HR, Accounts, and our Exec Board. It creates a great network of like-minded, hard-working, dynamic women all working together as part of a great team. Career progression is solely based on effort and skills here, regardless of gender; we are all supported and encouraged to work towards our goals.

I am particularly grateful that I am able to continue to support and look after my young family whilst also feeling confident I am not missing out on opportunities for professional development.

Happy IWD ladies – may we be them, raise them and support them!”

And finally, as a female Marketing Director, with 24 years of experience in the tech industry, I strongly believe that diversity drives innovation and helps businesses to thrive, and women are an essential part of that diversity. From the creativity and fresh perspectives that women bring to the table, to the empathy and compassion that allows us to connect with customers and colleagues on a deeper level; women are a valuable asset to any company. Yet, despite the progress we have made in recent years, there is still a long way to go to achieve true gender equality in our industry and to be recognised and respected equally by our male peers. As a Director of Krome, I am committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for the women in our company. I will continue to champion diversity and encourage women to pursue careers in this exciting and innovative industry.

International Women’s Day is an opportunity to reflect on the progress we have made and to celebrate the women who have paved the way for us. It is also a reminder that we still have work to do, we need to recognise the challenges that remain, and we need to stand up for equality for women across the world, in all countries and against all oppressive regimes.

We can all play a role in promoting gender equality. We can challenge gender stereotypes and biases, support initiatives that promote gender equality and advocate for policies that support women’s rights.

By working together, we can create a more inclusive world where women have equal opportunities and are free from discrimination and violence.

In support of International Women’s Day, Krome has made a donation today to Womankind Worldwide, a charity that supports women’s rights organisations and movements to secure equal rights for women and girls so they can live without fear of violence, have a say in decisions that impact them, and control their own life.