Why are women in tech questioned

💻 20 years in IT. That’s how long I’ve worked in this industry. In that time, I’ve built my career on technical knowledge, hard work, and a deep love for what I do. But despite that, I still walk into rooms where people assume I can’t be the technical SME. Not because of my experience. Not because of my skills. But because I’m a woman. Over the years, I’ve had to fight harder to prove myself than male colleagues with less experience. I always believed things would get better, that we’d evolve past those outdated assumptions. Sadly, even in 2025, I still encounter that same disrespect, and not just from men. Sometimes, it comes from other women too. Let’s not forget the women who helped shape this industry, Ada Lovelace, Margaret Hamilton, Dorothy Vaughan. They were pioneers, innovators, and leaders. Women have always belonged in tech. 👉 So here’s my ask: If you work in IT, assume the woman in the room knows her stuff. Assume she’s the SME. Assume she’s a badass. Because more often than not, she is. Let’s break the bias. Together. #WomenInTech #GenderBias #InclusionMatters #TechIndustry #STEM #BiasInTech

"Oh... you're the founder?" "Oh... but this isn't a full-fledged business? Just a consultancy? "How are you so fluent in English? I thought you grew up in India…" Today, I want to highlight the mental toll of overcoming bias (because I'm tired!) Every woman, every immigrant woman in tech carries a second job: Managing other people's discomfort with our existence. The constant internal monologue to fit in is exhausting. I keep telling myself: "Bosky, Don't be too ethnic" "Bosky, sound confident but not aggressive" "Bosky, showcase your ambitious idea but make sure they know you're humble" "Bosky, don't come off as intimidating" A woman PM who just arrived in the US a couple of months ago asked me: "How do you handle being the only woman in C-Suite meetings?" "Do you also rehearse your presentations to sound less... foreign?" I wanted to hug her through the screen. But moreover, I was angry. Why did she have to go through this? Why do any of us? I still, very much : - Practice my speech to "neutralize" my accent - Over-explain my credentials - Laugh off inappropriate comments - Swallow my rage when interrupted And so, this is to every woman who has been: - Mistaken for the assistant - Interrupted by mediocre men - Told you're "surprisingly technical" - Asked, "Who helps you with the business side?" Please don't change. Keep being "surprisingly" good at everything they didn't expect you to be. Because every time you walk in and stay in a room that makes you feel like you don't belong, you make it easier for another woman to walk in. And if you're one of many handing out these inappropriate remarks, it's time to stop.

"Your AI pitch is impressive... for a woman." 🤢 I heard it in investor meetings. Saw it in term sheets. Felt it in every handshake. The reality about being a woman in AI: They don't just question your company. They question your competence. What they don't tell you: ➡️ Late-night product release reviews ➡️ Explaining basic tech to men who assume you're non-technical ➡️ Being the only woman in rooms full of "visionaries" ➡️ Fighting for legitimacy while others fight for funding The price of female founders: • Double the scrutiny • Half the trust • Triple the preparation • Quarter of the funding My reality check: ❌ Being brilliant isn't enough ❌ Being technical isn't enough ❌ Being successful isn't enough You also have to be: ✅ Twice as prepared ✅ Three times as confident ✅ Four times as resilient Because when you're a woman in AI: Every pitch is a test. Every meeting is a proof point. Every success is "surprising." To every woman building in High Tech: Your battle isn't just about funding. It's about changing the game. Stay technical. Stay fierce. Stay you. Follow Eva Karnaukh for AI, Voice & Dialogue ➕ Subscribe: https://lnkd.in/ewZTxFcE

Women who use AI are 'cheaters.'  Men who use AI are 'innovators.'  See the problem? It's the classic double standard. When a woman uses ChatGPT, she might fear being seen as "taking shortcuts." When a man does it, he's "leveraging innovative tools." In a recent Harvard Business School article, researchers show women are adopting AI tools 25% less than men. The research reveals a staggering truth: men are building career advantages with AI while women deliberate ethical concerns, potentially widening existing workplace disparities. Remember when executives first got email? Their assistants (mostly women) managed it while they dictated responses. Now imagine being the last executive to adopt email - that's the career disadvantage at stake with AI. It’s not a unique problem though. Every technological advance faces this pattern: initial resistance followed by universal adoption. From calculators to the Internet to now AI, the early adopters gain the advantage. At Mother AI, our research shows not only is there a gender gap but a massive "parent gap" in AI adoption. (Read the top five reasons for the parent gap in the comments) Working moms are falling even further behind - sacrificing productivity and time gains while shouldering more household management than ever. Ask yourself: If you had a tool that could save hours each week, would you let concerns about "cheating" stop you from using it? What's been your biggest hesitation about trying AI tools? Let's discuss in the comments! #AIAdoption #WomenInTech #MotherAI #ShePowersAI

You Know You’re a Woman in Tech When… You’re the hiring manager, but the candidate directs all their answers to your male colleague. Whether it’s being overlooked in meetings or watching people engage with the male new hire you brought along—while ignoring you—it’s an all-too-common experience for women in tech. To put it in perspective, I’ve been in multiple interviews where the candidate knows I’m the hiring manager. Yet, after I ask a question, they turn and direct their entire response to the male colleague in the room. Why does this happen? I assume it’s unconscious—perhaps they default to speaking to the person they’re more comfortable with. But even when they know their fate is in the hands of the woman in the room, they can’t seem to break the habit. And frankly, that’s a red flag about what’s going on inside that candidate’s mind. The good news? I’ve noticed that younger candidates don’t exhibit this behavior nearly as often. Here’s hoping the future looks brighter! Have you experienced something similar? Let’s talk about it. #WomenInTech #HiringBias #DiversityInTech #GenderBias #WomenInLeadership #TechLeadership #InclusionMatters #BreakingBarriers #EquityInTech #FutureOfWork