Saturday is International Women’s Day, a day devoted to recognizing the critical role that women play across all aspects of society. It’s also an important day in technology, where women make up about 25% of the workforce. To recognize the contributions that women have made in tech and the continued need to push for equality, we have collected selective commentary from women in this field.
Hammerspace SVP of Global Marketing Molly Presley has held many roles over the years. In 2023, she joined the executive board of the Women in High Performance Computing (WHPC), where she has had a chance to help lift other women in the industry.
“My tech career trajectory has been greatly influenced by exceptional leaders who have pushed me to achieve beyond my expectations,” Presley says. “Although I had a solid technical background upon entering the industry, ascending to a senior executive role in tech marketing was not something I had anticipated. The key to my success has been the mentorship of others and my commitment to the job. This mentorship has refined my ability to pinpoint distinctive product attributes and effectively communicate with a varied audience.
Molly Presley is the SVP of Global Marketing for Hammerspace
“Because a significant aspect of my journey has been mentoring women in technology and giving back to those who have mentored me, as my career advanced, I became actively involved with the ‘Women in High-Performance Computing’ organization (WHPC),” Presley continues. “I currently serve as the Director of Communications and Outreach, where I have the opportunity to promote mentoring programs, curated resources, and job access that help women in HPC, and technical computing achieve their professional goals.
“I strongly urge aspiring young women in the tech field to seek guidance from experienced professionals and engage in activities such as joining professional associations like WHPC,” she says. “These communities provide essential support, educational resources, networking opportunities, and motivation necessary for achieving success in their chosen career path.”
Ellison Anne Williams earned a Ph.D. in mathematics before working for the government. She eventually founded Enveil, which a developer of privacy preserving software based on the principles of homomorphic encryption. As CEO of the company, Williams recognizes the importance of women to contribute meaningfully to businesses.
Ellison Anne Williams is the CEO and Founder of Enveil
“On this International Women’s Day, I continue to focus on substance and advancing innovation through significant contributions,” Williams says. “I chose to keep my attention on delivering value which I hope serves as an example of what it looks like to persistently pursue your dream.
“None of us can do it alone; we can and should surround ourselves with people who support our pursuits and offer encouragement when needed,” she continues “My advice to women with entrepreneurial aspirations in tech or any other field is to go for it. Instead of letting fear or any other assumption deter, find meaningful work and pursue it. Delivering value through action will quickly quiet the doubtful–and ready the path for those who follow.”
Claire Nouet, the COO and co-founder of deep learning startup Pathway, has sometimes struggled to be taken seriously by others because of how she looks. Nouet looks forward to the day when that sort of bias is a rarity. In the meantime, she has some advice for other women on how to accelerate change.
Claire Nouet is co-founder and COO of Pathway
“Prominent female role models are the most effective way to accelerate gender equality in tech. Women, especially those in the early days of their careers, need to see that other women are accelerating in the field,” Nouet says. “Representation in the tech and startup media has increased significantly, largely driven by journalists who are making active efforts to showcase the work of women in the ecosystem, but the tech industry can still be seen as a ‘boys club.’ I think that one day the phrase ‘female founder’ will be outdated. The day we don’t need to specify the gender of a founder will be the day that we are close to gender equality in tech.”
Pathway co-founder and CEO Zuzanna Stamirowska, who has a PhD in complex systems from the University of Pari and is an expert in gaming theory, has also experienced bias in the industry. She has some ideas on how it can be countered.
Pathway co-founder and CEO Zuzanna Stamirowska
“A smart and competent man is celebrated by the industry, while women with the same attributes are seen as scary and questioned at every turn,” Stamirowska says. “I have seen this fear compensated for by bringing the woman’s looks into conversations, sometimes in a nasty sense, which would never be a topic point if a smart man was being discussed.”
“A female VC friend, who has a Partner title, once told me that she needs to work 10 times harder with her investment committee to make a deal with a female founder go through, even if small,” Stamirowska says. “I think one of the ways to promote equality in the tech industry would be to give discretionary budgets to female VCs–to be invested in men or women, but they should have check writing capabilities.”
Hinada Neiron is the head of marketing and alliances and community initiator at Aconso
says her 20 years of experience show here that there’s a lack of female representation in tech, and that successful women sometimes suffer from imposter syndrome. That has led her to speak up on the issue of a need for change.
“I don’t believe we’ve created a gender-equal working environment. Women continue to have to work harder and still don’t have equal standing,” Neiron says. “And the stories I’ve heard of derogatory gender-related language being thrown about in workplaces even by the younger generations show this is not a historical or a single organisation’s problem. It will be persistent for future generations unless we continue to fight for change.
“For me, a truly gender-equal tech industry is one where women have not only the same professional opportunities as men in their workplace, but where their working environment is as inclusive of their needs,” Neiron says. “This requires not only a greater commitment from their employers, but also from the government at a policy level, for example by closing the gender pay gap.”
Julia Astashika is senior director of growth at StarTree
The IWD 2025 campaign theme is “Accelerate Action.” Julia Astashkina, the senior director of growth at StarTree, says that theme resonates deeply with her, not just as a leader in tech but as a mother, too.
“My daughter is growing up in a world where women continue to push boundaries in science, technology, and leadership, yet true equality remains just out of reach. I want her to see a future where opportunities aren’t delayed, biases don’t dictate outcomes, and progress happens in real time,” Astashkina says.
“We can’t afford to wait for change to happen gradually. Progress requires action, not just words or promises, but tangible steps that create opportunities for women at every level,” she continues. “This means actively tracking representation, fostering mentorship, and ensuring women have well-defined, well-supported pathways to leadership. Change doesn’t happen in the background; it requires visibility, urgency, and commitment.”
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