"Now we're picking up the pace"

- Several of the companies from previous years are still with us, which we are pleased about. And we also welcome new ones. We are learning from the work of the past years and accelerating the pace of what lies ahead. There is still a lot of work to do.

While gender equality and inclusion is moving in the right direction in some areas - for example, the proportion of women in some key training courses for our industry is increasing - Zetterberg feels that progress is too slow. A feeling that is confirmed by the statistics.

- We need to tackle the challenges together and that is why IT&Telecom will continue to run Womentor as a major part of our work for gender equality and inclusion. The people involved in the program are the tip of the spear and a bit of our elite force that shows the way and spreads hope. I am very grateful for the tremendous work of all the companies, mentors and mentees.

During the coronavirus crisis, the tech industry has delivered when it was needed most and Åsa Zetterberg wants to see the same approach when it comes to diversity.

- After all, we are the number one industry of the future, enabling growth, climate and health. If we are to continue to be so, we also need to be an actor that leads the way towards the future in inclusion and gender equality. The Board of IT&Telecom has therefore adopted new goals and ambitions through a strengthened plan for the industry's work. Womentor is still a big part of the plan, but we are taking an even bigger and broader approach to support our member companies. We in the industry need to do what we can, with the right culture and approach, to pave the way for a more even gender balance. We need to make visible all the exciting jobs, roles and contexts that our industry of the future has to offer.

The ambition is, among other things, to help and support other good initiatives in the area to create a ripple effect and to continue to influence the government and other actors in, for example, education to get help.

- We want and need to attract and retain even more talented women to the various exciting jobs in the industry. We have come a long way in our joint work, but now we are stepping up the pace!