Business Insider recently released their picks for the Top 30 Most Influential Women in the UK's tech arena, and thereby showcasing that women are occupying some of the most important and impactful roles in the UK's most innovative companies.
This represents a huge step forward in the efforts for equality at work - the tech industry in the UK harbours some of the country's most forward-thinking companies which have the potential to transform our lives for the better in countless ways. The fact that the women occupy such a variety of important roles within the industry can only bode well for the future of women at work, and showcases the success that women leading from the front in industry can generate.
However, the wider industry still has some work to do: in their roles as entrepreneurs, technologists, and investors, women continue to face inequality and sexism, whether implicated by conscious or unconscious biases. In 2017, 83% of all UK VC funding was allocated to startups whose founding teams were exclusively male, according to Diversity VC.
Hephzi Pemberton, Founder of Equality Group, commented on the increasing number of women in tech, and what must be done to ensure continued growth: "It is fantastic to see so many women step into these high-profile positions and deliver incredible results. They represent role models to working women everywhere, and it is my hope that they will encourage other institutions and industries to consider the value of their female staff and their contribution to the sector.
"Study after study has shown that diverse teams improve financial results with the higher the percentage of women in management positions, the greater the returns. This is because more diverse companies can attract, develop and retain a broader talent pool and because of this, are able to serve niche markets with a better understanding of their customers. It also allows companies to tailor their approach to every facet of society, improves their image, staff satisfaction and net income. Ultimately, diverse businesses do better and all companies should strive for diversity, not simply to meet implemented targets, but to reap the rewards that increased diversity will enable."
Business Insider spoke with Dharshini David, economist, broadcaster, and author of "The Almighty Dollar." David talked about why the Euro hasn't challenged the Dollar as an international currency, despite being used by more people than the American currency. She also talked about how the Yuan could become the world's dominant currency.
