Part 2: International Women’s Day Highlights the Growing Influence of Women in Technology and AI

This is part 2 of our International Women's Day cyber series. Read part 1 here. As artificial intelligence transforms nearly every sector of the economy, the conversation around who designs, builds, and governs these systems has taken on new urgency.

Across enterprise technology, cybersecurity, and digital innovation, women leaders say the next phase of technological progress will depend not only on new tools but on who shapes them.

Jessica Hammond, Senior Director of Product Management for AI at Protegrity, believes the rise of autonomous AI systems makes representation more important than ever.

“This International Women’s Day, I am reflecting on what it means to be a woman building technology at a time when AI systems are gaining unprecedented autonomy. As machines begin to reason, generate and act with increasing independence, the defining question is not only what these systems can do, but who is shaping how they do it. Women are not standing on the sidelines of this transformation. We are leading it.

Over the past decade, I have had the privilege of leading product and engineering teams, scaling autonomous AI systems, and bringing generative AI into secure, regulated environments. One truth has remained constant: how we build matters as much as what we build.

Women in technology are defining this next era of AI with technical excellence, operational rigor and ethical clarity. As capabilities advance faster than the policies surrounding them, our leadership is essential, helping ensure accountability is built directly into the systems we design.

We celebrate the women engineers, product leaders, researchers and executives who are shaping technology with integrity and humanity. On International Women’s Day, we celebrate not only progress, but the women actively building what comes next.”

Despite growing visibility in technology leadership, structural challenges still limit advancement for many women in STEM fields.

Kelli Stephens, Director of Product Marketing at Securin, says the numbers tell a complicated story about representation in technology.

“Research shows that companies with strong female leadership provide better returns on equity, profits, and innovation through decision making. So, why aren’t more companies looking at how they can support and promote women more proactively in the workforce faster?

For example, over the past 50 years, women’s representation in STEM has increased from 8% to about 28%. That’s meaningful progress. But women make up nearly half of the overall U.S. workforce and remain underrepresented in technical roles, particularly in senior positions where major decisions are made.

STEM jobs already account for about a quarter of total employment and are projected to grow much faster than non-STEM roles over the next decade, and if women are not fully represented in these fields, we are limiting the talent driving one of the fastest growing parts of the economy.

When representation declines from junior to senior roles, it highlights a gap in long-term career development for women. Advancement in STEM is not just about entry-level access. It requires sustained support, clear promotion pathways, sponsorship and leadership opportunities over time. Without intentional structures that help women advance across decades-long careers, organizations risk losing experienced talent just as that expertise becomes most valuable."

For executives who have spent decades in technology, the industry’s evolution reflects both progress and persistence.

Susan Odle, CEO of StorMagic, recalls entering a tech industry where leadership looked very different.

“International Women’s Day is a time to recognize the progress women have made and reflect on the journeys that drove that progress. When I entered my career in technology more than 25 years ago, the industry was overwhelmingly male dominated. However, I chose to step into that environment and focus on delivering results, while understanding that being a woman was not a limitation. It brought strengths that shape how I lead, communicate and build teams to this day.

I began my career in straight commission sales and worked my way through leadership roles to the CEO seat I hold today. Throughout that journey, I have seen that performance, resilience and discipline ultimately drive success. No career path is linear, and growth comes from learning through each challenge along the way.

In challenging markets and uncertain times, steady leadership, open communication and diverse perspectives make organizations stronger. My advice for women building a career in any male dominated field, committing to the long game, continuing to learn and leaning into your strengths is not just important, it’s imperative and powerful. Our perspective, persistence and leadership belong in every room where decisions are made.”

Many leaders also emphasize that inclusion is not only about representation but about how organizations structure opportunity.

Kellee Classey, Head of Human Resources at C3 Integrated Solutions, says equity must be treated with the same rigor organizations apply to compliance and governance.

“International Women’s Day is a reminder that progress doesn’t happen because we say it should, it happens because we build it into how we operate. This year’s theme, ‘Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls,’ resonates with me because equity is not abstract. It shows up in hiring decisions, in how pay is structured, and in whether people feel safe raising concerns. Those aren’t cultural talking points, they’re operational choices.

In industries like cybersecurity and defense, we already understand the importance of structure, accountability, and compliance. Equity should be approached with the same rigor.

That means clear expectations, consistent decision-making, and transparency around how people grow and advance. When we intentionally design fair processes and hold ourselves accountable to them, opportunity becomes predictable and sustainable, not dependent on who you know or how loud you are. Real progress is measurable. And it requires action.”

For many leaders, International Women’s Day serves as a moment to reflect on how much has changed across the technology landscape.

But the real milestone, they say, will come when the industry no longer needs a specific day to spotlight women in technology because leadership diversity has become standard practice.