International Women’s Day 2020: Celebrating Women In Tech

International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on the 8th March as the focal point in the movement for women’s rights and equality. To celebrate this year, we’ve pulled together a list of some of the top women in tech to honor their accomplishments. While the technology industry has a reputation of being male-dominated, these inspiring women—along with thousands of others–are proving that gender is no barrier to success.

Women In Technology

While more and more opportunities are available for female undergraduates in IT, in 2018 only 25% of all US tech jobs were held by women. The percentage of female IT leaders across the globe also remains at just 9%. But why?

Stereotypes surrounding the tech industry have contributed to the decline of women working in the sector. But following the hit film “Hidden Figures”, it’s clear that people are becoming more interested in how women are making an impact in tech. The women in “Hidden Figures” were mathematicians and engineers who made valuable contributions to the space program. Along with the fact that they dealt with both gender and racial discrimination at work, they made a pivotal impact on the way that women in tech are perceived today.

That’s why the Women in IT Awards were launched in 2015: to address the gender imbalance in the technology sector by showcasing the achievements of women in tech. The awards organization works across several divisions around the world to provide a high-profile platform that supports women in tech and eliminates gender stereotypes.

To coincide with this year’s awards and to celebrate International Women’s Day, here are 7 influential women in tech, from the past and present:

1. Ada Lovelace

Born: 1815
Died: 1852

Ada Lovelace is an English mathematician who, despite the fact that she was the daughter of renowned poet Lord Byron, paved her own way to success. One of the most famous women in technology, she is widely regarded as the “first computer programmer” and is known for writing a crucial algorithm for Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine, an early computing machine that only existed on paper in the mid-1800s.

2. Grace Hopper

Born: 1906
Died: 1992

Grace Hopper was an American computer scientist and a rear admiral in the U.S. Navy. She was one of the first programmers of the Harvard Mark I computer and had invented one of the first linkers. Following her studies in math and physics at Vassar College, she completed her master’s degree in mathematics at Yale, going on to earn a Ph.D. in the subject. She was one of the first few women to accomplish this academic feat. Hopper then joined the U.S. Navy during World War II, where she was assigned to program the Harvard Mark I computer.

3. Margaret Hamilton

Born: 1936

Margaret Hamilton is a computer scientist, systems engineer, and business owner who was critical to landing the first astronauts on the moon. She graduated with a minor in philosophy from Earlham College in Indiana before working in the meteorology department at MIT. Impressively, she went on to join the team that created the onboard flight software for the Apollo space missions. Her talents are out of this world, so it’s no surprise that she’s also one of the most famous women in technology to date.

4. Sheryl Sandberg

Born: 1969

Sheryl Sandberg is the COO of Facebook as well as the founder of the non-profit LeanIn.Org. She graduated from Harvard in 1991 with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and was awarded the John H. Williams Prize for being the top student in her graduating class. She’s now a top technology executive and author, who was one of the first women to serve on Facebook’s board, bringing them from a $56 million loss to $22.1 billion in profit in 2018.

5. Jen Fitzpatrick

Born: 1976

Jen Fitzpatrick started out in Google’s very first class of interns and went on to become one of the first female engineers at the company. She has since co-founded Google’s user experience team and worked on search, advertising and Google News, all before taking on the responsibility for Google Maps and Local as the company’s VIP for geo. Prior to her career at Google, she graduated from Stanford with a bachelor’s degree in symbolic systems and a master’s degree in computer science.

6. Tracy Chou

Born: 1987

Alongside Nadine Harik and Jennifer Tsai, Tracy Chou was one of the engineers behind Pinterest’s mobile redesign. More importantly, Chou, a software engineer with a computer science degree from Stanford University, promotes diversity in her line of work. Following her experience at Pinterest and Quora, she has become a voice of authority on diversity issues within the technology industry, inspiring young women to take classes in science, technology, and engineering.

7. Ginni Rometty

Born: 1957

Ginni Rometty is the chairman, president and CEO of IBM, and the first woman to head the company. Since becoming CEO of IBM in 2012, she has transformed and reinvented the business to lead in the new era of Artificial Intelligence, blockchain, cybersecurity, and quantum technologies. And that’s not all: She also finds the time to serve on the Council on Foreign Relations, the board of trustees of Northwestern University, and the boards of overseers and managers of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.

Now it’s time for you to honor the women in your life—or even yourself! Looking for International Women’s Day gifts? This year Nixplay is offering up to 35% off on selected frames*, so treat an inspiring woman or send yourself a gift to celebrate the occasion. Our smart photo frames are the perfect way to showcase the women in your life and their accomplishments: by sending those memorable moments straight from your phone to your frame.

*Offer only valid from February 26th – March 8th.