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Why Women’s Day still matters

  • Reading time: 8 minutes
  • Category: team.blue

When talking about Women’s Day in a company setting, this question often pops up: Is it really necessary to still focus on improving gender diversity? 

Put simply—yes. Many of us may feel we already have equal rights, but let’s see why—despite that—we still really need an International Women’s Day. 

We spoke with a group of brilliant female colleagues from across team.blue to see what they think—and why tech isn’t just for geeks. 

First—gender diversity makes good business sense. You’ve heard it before, but it’s true: research consistently shows that diverse teams perform better, make smarter decisions, and create stronger business outcomes. There are many widely accepted benefits for companies: 

  • Better Financial Returns & Reputation – Companies with diverse leadership teams outperform their competitors financially and have a better reputation among talent, consumers, and investors, who prefer businesses that prioritize equality and social responsibility.

    Working with all functions and brands across team.blue, I’ve learned that the more diverse a team is, the broader the perspective and the better it can understand the problem and identify solutions. Without diverse perspectives, we can’t develop and innovate products to deliver on the needs of everyone.  Elise Carpentier 

  • Greater Innovation & Problem-Solving – Diverse teams bring different viewpoints and experiences, driving creative and innovative solutions, as well as more effective decisions— up to 87% of the time compared to non-diverse ones. 

    If tech companies don’t work to challenge the stereotype, it’ll become a reality because they will only attract a very small percentage of the talent pool. To ensure a strong talent pipeline, we need to create and show a diversity of leaders. team.blue’s leadership programme LEAP is a great example of how to get it right because it acknowledges we all build up confidence in different ways. Sophie Burrows - Director of Business Control

Second, we’re still behind in gender representation across industries—including digital and tech—so we can’t reap these benefits in full. Women still make up only 19% of ICT specialists in the EU and less than 20% of IT students, 20–30% of founders in Europe, and funding for women entrepreneurs dropped by 12% in the last year. 

These numbers barely change (or worsen) year on year because stereotypes about women in the workplace endure, creating real barriers to career advancement due to discrimination, bias, and a lack of equal opportunities. These persist because of cultural biases, but they don’t reflect reality. 

The stereotype in tech is introverted men, but I was inspired and encouraged by a woman to become a developer and continue to be inspired by women leaders in tech. She told me to go for it and that’s what I would say to other women too – we're natural problem-solvers and that’s what the industry is all about. Marianna Bittencourt - PHP Developer

Here are some of the most common stereotypes and why they are not true: 

1. Women are too emotional – Many people assume that women let their emotions interfere with their decision-making, making them less rational or capable leaders. 

However, studies have shown that women are not more emotional than men and that emotional intelligence (EQ) is a key leadership skill that actually benefits workplace decision-making. One of the biggest stereotypes about tech is that we’re all developers and that the majority of those developers are introverted men - but what I see at team.blue is very different. There’s so much more to the people who work in tech, and so much more to tech than developing code. You shouldn't be afraid to consider a  tech career because you're not tech savvy because what matters is being curious and open to learn. Elise Carpentier - Group Lead Communications 

2. Women are less competent in male-dominated fields – Whether in STEM, finance, or executive leadership, there’s a persistent belief that women are not as skilled, knowledgeable, or capable as men. 

However, women have repeatedly proven themselves in STEM, finance, and leadership roles. Competence is about skills and experience—not gender. The stereotype is young, male, and geeky, but women shouldn’t be put off by it. It‘s true that I work with more men than women, but that doesn’t mean I’ve had to change my personality to fit in. Have confidence in your own abilities, and find a female mentor who can be a sounding board as you progress. Sophie Burrows - Director of Business Control

3. Women are not as committed to their careers – There’s a common assumption that women will eventually prioritize family over work, making them less reliable for promotions or leadership positions. 

But many men also balance work and family, and studies show that when workplaces offer flexibility and support, women remain highly committed. Many people will say female computer engineers are weird, and this often puts off girls from pursuing this career. But that’s not true, and what’s more, the reality is that being a woman in this industry is an advantage because of our interpersonal skills. Whether you’re young, old, or a mother, if you’re considering a career in tech, you should just go for it. Laura Montells - Co-founder Metricool

At team.blue, we actively challenge these stereotypes and urge women to just go for it when it comes to a career in tech. 

This is why Women’s Day remains as important as ever. A crucial moment to celebrate women, but also to remember why gender diversity is vital for businesses and why we need to act on this all year round, not just today.  

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