Why Diversity in Computing Matters: Wendy DuBow

Summary

In an insightful interview, Wendy Dubois, Director of Evaluation at the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT), discusses the importance of diversity in computing. She highlights research showing how diverse teams are more creative, innovative, and successful. Wendy also shares NCWIT's efforts to promote gender diversity by providing resources, research, and best practices to organizations. Looking to the future, she envisions a more equitable workforce where women and underrepresented minorities have equal representation and leadership opportunities in tech, ultimately fostering a more inclusive and innovative technological landscape.

Takeaways

• 😀 Diversity in computing enhances creativity, innovation, and team performance.
• 😀 Research shows that women's participation in technical teams correlates with higher returns on investment in tech companies.
• 😀 Computing underpins nearly every aspect of modern life, making it crucial for diverse perspectives to shape the technology we use.
• 😀 A lack of diverse voices in technology development can lead to products that fail to meet the needs of underrepresented groups, as demonstrated by early voice recognition systems that failed to recognize women's voices.
• 😀 Women comprise 50% of the population and more than 50% of college degree recipients, yet only 26% of the computing workforce is female.
• 😀 The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) shares research on best practices for increasing gender diversity in computing.
• 😀 NCWIT supports over 300 member organizations that include K-12 institutions, post-secondary universities, corporations, and startups.
• 😀 NCWIT provides resources, research findings, and strategies to organizations to help recruit, retain, and advance women and underrepresented minorities in computing.
• 😀 The goal of NCWIT's work is to make existing diversity practices accessible and actionable for organizations, from schools to workplaces.
• 😀 Looking ahead, NCWIT aims for a more equitable workforce where the percentage of women in computing mirrors their share of the general population and professional workforce.
• 😀 In ten years, increased participation of women and underrepresented minorities in computing could lead to more leadership roles and meaningful contributions in the field.

Q & A

Why is diversity in computing important?

Diversity is crucial in computing because it enhances creativity and innovation. Research shows that diverse teams perform better, and women’s participation in technical teams correlates with higher return on investment for tech companies.

Can you give an example where lack of diversity led to problems in technology?

One example is the early voice recognition systems, which struggled to recognize women's voices because they had not been trained to detect the higher octave. This issue became apparent only when a woman tester used the system.

What is the current gender gap in the computing workforce?

Women make up only 26% of the computing workforce, despite comprising over 50% of the population and holding more than 50% of college degrees in the U.S.

What role does the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) play in promoting diversity?

NCWIT shares research on best practices for increasing gender diversity, provides free resources for organizations to implement these practices, and works with over 300 member organizations to make systemic changes in the field of computing.

What resources does NCWIT offer to help organizations promote diversity?

NCWIT offers free downloadable materials that highlight evidence-based strategies for recruiting, retaining, and advancing women in computing, and distributes them through their website and hard copy formats.

How does NCWIT collaborate with organizations to drive change?

NCWIT works with a range of member organizations, including K-12 institutions, universities, corporations, and startups, equipping them with the tools and knowledge to implement diversity initiatives in their specific environments.

What is NCWIT's vision for the future of women in computing?

NCWIT aims to create a more equitable workplace where women and underrepresented minorities hold more leadership positions and contribute to the development of technologies that reflect diverse perspectives.

How does Wendy Dubois envision the workplace evolving over the next decade?

Wendy believes the workplace will become more equitable with an increased percentage of women and underrepresented minorities in computing. She anticipates more leadership roles for women and a shift towards more inclusive workplace policies and cultures.

What are some barriers to diversity in the tech industry?

Barriers include cultural biases, traditional workplace hierarchies, and a lack of diverse perspectives during product development, which can lead to innovations that don't meet the needs of all users.

What changes do we need to see in the education system to increase diversity in computing?

There needs to be more focus on recruiting and retaining women and underrepresented minorities in computing degrees and programs, starting at the K-12 level and continuing through post-secondary education.