"You" want to work with IT

The IT and telecom industry is a fantastic industry to work in - I think most people who work in the industry agree. We work in an area where the pace of development is high and businesses must constantly adapt in line with the development of technology and the new needs of society and customers. For me, much of the appeal of our industry lies in the opportunity to work on issues that have a profound impact on societal development and with companies that deliver services that are increasingly important in people's everyday lives. How can you not be attracted to that? Well, "you" do to a large extent.

To be a woman in this industry is to be in the minority. In very many of the meetings I attend or host, I am the only woman in the room. I personally don't always reflect on that or what it means, and it may even have its advantages in some situations, but in many ways it is of course a problem. Most of all for the industry itself, which is facing a skills shortage and needs to attract all the potential employees it can get its hands on. After all, how attractive are companies where women, who actually make up half the population, constantly feel excluded?

In Almedalen this summer, I and a couple of other women who are the exception in the industry started talking about what we can do to get more people like us into the industry - and to feel a little less alone on the way there. The first step towards building a female industry network was taken, and now at the beginning of December, nine of us met at IT&Telecomföretagen to talk about what we want and need and believe we can achieve. The consensus among us on the need to create a more equal industry was both gratifying and inspiring, and there and then we decided: the 50/50 club was born!

In IT and telecoms, 30% of employees are women. 27% of managers are women and at CEO level only 10% are women. Unfortunately, these figures have not changed significantly in recent years.

Through the 50/50 Club, a network of women working in the IT and telecom industry, we want to help change the numbers and achieve a gender-equal industry with 50% women and 50% men at all levels. The target is high, but should not be unreasonable. The point, we believe, is that alone is not strong in this situation. It is together that we can achieve something! For example, by getting more people interested in working with the new digital society that is emerging, but also by supporting and helping each other in various positions.

Are you a woman in business and want to get involved? We welcome anyone who would like to participate or contribute in any way to get in touch with us by emailing 5050klubben@gmail.com.

Let's go!