Jéssica Braga, Marketing Director, Ascenty, on efforts to highlight the importance of female presence in data centers.
The presence of women in the technology sector has been a widely discussed topic. However, there is still a path to be trodden to achieve equality in the job market.
Recently, I read a United Nations Women’s study that revealed female exclusion from the digital sphere has cost over US$ 1 trillion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of low and middle-income countries in the last decade. This data led me to think about how much companies are losing by limiting women’s presence in their operations and leadership.
The low number of women in the data center sector is not unique or local – 75% of global data center managers reveal that the female workforce represents only 10% of the total staff. Despite this segment’s constant growth, on an annual basis, it is necessary to reflect on whether job opportunities are also extended in the same proportion to women.
In over 10 years working in the sector, I believe that being a woman in a leadership position in a predominantly male sector brings various challenges, but also allows for contributing to positive changes.
In recent years, experiencing Ascenty’s growth closely, I observed that actions were taken to provide more opportunities for women to pursue a career, making the company even more egalitarian.
An example of this was the Elas Por Elas Committee, created and fostered by female leadership at Ascenty, which includes projects to increase the number of women in the company’s headcount, conducting professional training programs and female leadership.
In addition, we established the Female Advisory Committee – a group exclusively composed of women to address sensitive issues.
This initiative plays a fundamental role in approaching topics such as harassment, prejudices, and issues related to the corporate environment. Confidentiality is a priority, allowing employees to express their concerns safely and receive the necessary support.
When analyzing the broader context of the Latin American market, the challenges faced by women in technology are evident.
Despite representing 51.1% of the Brazilian population, women make up only 24.5% of data professionals.
Currently, at Ascenty, the female audience represents 20% of the overall staff and 19% among the company’s leadership positions.
I don’t see the female presence in data centers as just an equity issue but also as a smart business strategy. Diversity brings with it a wide variety of perspectives and approaches, essential in a sector that is constantly evolving.
We are paving the way for positive change, facing challenges and implementing effective measures to ensure that women not only enter but also thrive in the data center sector by making succession and career plans.
By highlighting the importance of female presence in data centers and implementing concrete initiatives, companies are not only shaping their own futures but also contributing to a broad transformation in the technology sector in the region
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