International Women’s Day (IWD)is an important day at Veri Connect and has been celebrated globally since the early 1900s with origins that can be traced back to women’s movements in North America and Europe. The first National Women’s Day was observed in the United States on February 28, 1909, to recognize women’s social, economic, and political achievements. In 1910, a woman named Clara Zetkin proposed the idea of an International Women’s Day at an international conference of working women in Copenhagen, and it was celebrated for the first time on March 19, 1911. Today, International Women’s Day is recognized as a global celebration of women’s social, economic, cultural, and political achievements, as well as a call to action for gender equality and women’s rights.

This International Women’s Day, 8 March 2023, we are joining UN Women and the United Nations in celebrating under the theme DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality.

The DigitALL theme focuses on reducing the gender gap in technology. The world is rapidly digitising, and women need to be a part of this revolution. The good news is that progress has been made, and more women are entering the tech industry. However, we still have a long way to go.

The gender gap in technology jobs exists due to societal norms, biases, discrimination, lack of role models and training, and work-life balance challenges. To address this, we must promote diversity, provide equal access to education and training, eliminate biases and discrimination, and create supportive networks and communities. Encouraging women’s participation in STEM fields from a young age and implementing initiatives such as flexible work arrangements and diversity training can also help to close the gender gap in tech jobs. By creating a more inclusive industry, we can tap into a wider pool of talent and perspectives, leading to a more innovative and successful tech industry.

Veri Connect Champions Women

As a female-led digital training management company, we understand the importance of empowering women not only in the technology industry but it all aspects of life. As it stands Veri Connect is a predominantly female organisation and although this is not by design, there are number of contributing factors that have led to this being the case.

Ann Marie McSorley, CEO, has always championed women to enter the workforce. One of the benefits of working in Veri Connect is that there is a level of understanding and empathy for women who are raising children. It is understood that women face unique challenges in the workplace, particularly when it comes to balancing their careers and their family responsibilities. That’s why a supportive and flexible work environment that allows our team members to achieve their professional goals while still being present for their families is essential.

When women take time out of their careers it can be difficult to return and this cohort of women have so much to offer and are eager to learn. A strong culture of mentorship and continous professional development means that the women who come to work at Veri Connect thrive. 

We are lucky in Ireland to have a reasonably equitable society but this is certainly not the case internationally.  We believe that reducing the gender gap in technology is not only a moral imperative but also a smart business decision. Women make up half of the world’s population, and their ideas, perspectives, and talents should be represented in the tech industry and other industries traditionally filled with men. By empowering women in technology, we can drive innovation, increase diversity, and create a more inclusive world.

On this International Women’s Day we hope to continue championing women’s success and contribute to the closing of the gender gap in technology and beyond.