What Women Like About Working in a Tech Company

Lenovo recently conducted a survey aimed at women in their company, with the purpose of answering the question: “what is enjoyable, exciting, different about working in technology?”. The results of the survey give cause for optimism and were presented by WIL member and Lenovo’s Executive Director, Corporate Marketing & Communication Catherine Ladousse at this years’ Women’s Forum Global in Deauville, France, an event partnered with Lenovo.

In line with Lenovo’s long-lived commitment to embrace and encourage diversity, the objective of this survey was to capture positive trends and sentiments, and to develop a diversity program that fosters positive proclivities for the female workforce.

Over 1000 female employees from Lenovo International and Lenovo China participated in the survey. The results, represent the tone from women actually working in the high-tech industry, and differ considerably from the stereotypes traditionally attached to the sector. To highlight some of the results, the survey showed that 55% of respondents were proud to work in technology because it is still unexpected for a woman to do so. Whereas the presumed reason for a lack of female presence in the technology sector is often attributed to fear of a male dominant work environment and challenging work, this survey shows that female employees actually gain fulfilment from succeeding in a challenging job and that almost 70% have a sense of pride to be working in such complex subject matter.

Additionally the survey participants enjoy having a “front-row view” on the technological development of today and love the innovative element of their job. After innovation, the second and third most exciting aspects in technology was said to be the rapidly changing sector and dealing with complexity. Furthermore, women at Lenovo felt that working in the high-tech industry enhances their credibility and creativity and therefore their possibilities to move to another sector. All in all, the findings of the survey underpin a turning point in the perception and reality of the gender gap in the digital industry and hence can help to further dismantle fears and prejudice.