10 Successful Women in Technology
(Baonghean.vn) - The technology field has long been considered a male playground, with prejudices about its complexity, dryness and requirement for strong logical thinking. However, in recent years, more and more talented women have emerged and asserted their position in this field.
For centuries, women have struggled to be included in various roles, decision-making processes, etc. While the situation has certainly improved, there is still a lot of room for inclusion, especially in male-dominated roles and professions.
This year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) aims to inspire others to understand and respect women’s participation in building a better world. Simply because when women themselves are inspired to participate, they feel respected, valued, and empowered.
Inclusion remains one of the biggest challenges in the tech industry. Overall, most tech roles are dominated by men. This includes not just developers and data scientists, but also leaders who make key technology decisions.
According to a World Bank report, women make up less than a third of the world’s workforce in technology-related fields. In the United States, women make up 28 percent of employees in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
At major tech companies like Amazon, Facebook, Apple, Google, and Microsoft, women make up 45%, 37%, 34%, 33%, and 29% of their total workforce, respectively. When it comes to leadership positions, those numbers are 29%, 34%, 31%, 28%, and 26%, respectively.
Tech companies recognize the need for more women in the industry and continue to provide programs and training to increase representation. For example, Microsoft, AWS, and Google all offer programs to help train and develop not only the skills of their female employees, but also those in their communities.
10 Successful Women in Technology
As technology continues to transform the future of work, roles are being redefined. And more and more women are taking on these challenges and taking the initiative to address them.
This article will introduce 10 successful women in technology who are not only excellent in their roles but also make a big mark in the industry and have the ability to inspire the next generation of women.
1. Lisa Su, CEO of AMD
AMD (full name: Advanced Micro Devices) is a multinational technology company headquartered in Santa Clara, California, USA. AMD specializes in designing and manufacturing microprocessors (CPUs), graphics processors (GPUs), motherboards, chipsets and other related products.
Lisa Su, an American business executive and electrical engineer, is currently the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors of AMD. Under her leadership, AMD has made significant strides in the semiconductor industry.
Prior to joining AMD in 2012, Su worked at IBM and Freescale Semiconductor, where she contributed to the development of semiconductor technologies. She has received numerous awards for her leadership. Su’s significant contributions have cemented her position as a respected leader in the technology world, especially in the male-dominated semiconductor industry.
2. Wendi Whitmore, Senior Vice President of the cybersecurity organization at multinational cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks
Palo Alto Networks is an American multinational cybersecurity company headquartered in Santa Clara, California. Known for its advanced Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) solutions, Palo Alto Networks provides a comprehensive security platform that helps protect organizations from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
Palo Alto Networks' cybersecurity organization is known for its leading team of cybersecurity experts, including experienced researchers, incident response specialists, and consultants. They work to help organizations around the world protect themselves from ever-evolving cybersecurity threats.
Wendi Whitmore is the organization’s senior vice president. With two decades of experience, she leads a team of elite incident responders and threat researchers who tackle complex cyber threats, from ransomware to state-sponsored espionage.
Wendi advises executive leadership teams on security programs and teaches cybersecurity courses. She previously led IBM’s X-Force threat intelligence and incident response teams and was an appointed member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity Assessment Board. As a globally recognized cybersecurity leader, Wendi has played a key role in addressing major cyber breaches.
3. Dr. Si Hui Tan, Chief Scientist of Horizon Quantum Computing
Horizon Quantum Computing is a Singapore-based quantum technology startup founded in 2018. The company focuses on developing software and tools that simplify the programming and application of quantum computers.
Dr. Si-Hui Tan is the Chief Scientist of Horizon Quantum Computing. With over 18 years of experience in quantum information science, she is an active researcher in the field. Si-Hui holds a BS in Physics from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and a PhD in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
She joined Horizon Quantum Computing shortly after its founding, driven by the ambition to make quantum computing a reality for everyone. Si-Hui leads research and development, overseeing day-to-day operations. Her prolific publications include contributions to leading physics journals and renowned conference proceedings.
4. Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X
Company X (formerly Twitter) is a social networking company founded in 2006, headquartered in the United States. The Twitter social networking platform allows users to post and interact with short messages called “tweets”. Tweets are limited to 280 characters and can include text, images, videos, and links.
Linda Yaccarino is the CEO of X. Yaccarino was appointed to the company to create a reliable, accurate, and real-time source of information. Despite intense scrutiny, she has navigated the complexities of social media under the scrutiny of the public and CEO Elon Musk himself.
5. Safra Catz, CEO Oracle
Oracle Corporation is a multinational technology corporation headquartered in the United States, specializing in developing and providing software, services and technology solutions for businesses.
Safra Catz, CEO of Oracle Corporation, is a key figure in the technology industry. In roles including president and chief financial officer, she has steered Oracle’s success. Catz is recognized as one of the most influential businesswomen in the world, with an estimated net worth of $1.6 billion. Her leadership continues to shape the company’s trajectory.
6. Mira Mutati, Chief Technology Officer of OpenAI
OpenAI is a non-profit artificial intelligence (AI) research company founded in 2015, headquartered in the United States. OpenAI's goal is to promote and develop safe and beneficial artificial intelligence for all humanity.
Mira Murati has been the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of OpenAI since 2018. Her notable contributions include leading the development of groundbreaking AI technologies such as ChatGPT, DALL-E, and GPT-4. Murati oversees OpenAI's research, product, and safety teams, pushing the boundaries of machine learning while advocating for the responsible and ethical use of AI.
In November 2023, she briefly served as Interim CEO of OpenAI. Her ability to assemble teams with technical expertise and a deep appreciation for mission has been instrumental in OpenAI's success.
7. Raja Teh Maimunah Raja Abdul Aziz, CEO of Aeon Islamic Digital Bank
Aeon Islamic Digital Bank is the first Islamic digital bank in Malaysia, established by Aeon Financial Service Co Ltd (Japan) and Aeon Credit Service (M) Bhd. The bank will start operations from January 2024, providing Shariah-based (Islamic) financial services to users in Malaysia.
Financial inclusion is key to the inclusive development of communities. Digital banks play a key role in facilitating this as they have the ability to provide the best products and services to the unbanked in rural areas.
Raja Teh Maimunah Raja Abdul Aziz is no stranger to the financial industry in the region. Having held various leadership positions at various banks, Raja Teh is currently the CEO of Aeon Islamic Digital Bank in Malaysia. This Islamic digital bank is also the first of its kind in Malaysia.
8. Catherine Lian, Chief Technology Officer at IBM ASEAN
IBM ASEAN is the IBM subsidiary operating in the Southeast Asia region. Headquartered in Singapore, IBM ASEAN is responsible for IBM's business operations in 10 countries in the Southeast Asia region.
Catherine Lian has been active in the technology world for several years and is widely recognized in Southeast Asia for her ability to help companies adopt the best available IBM technologies. In 2023, Lian was honored with the Women in Technology Award for Private Sector and NGOs at the prestigious World Innovation Alliance (WITSA) Global Innovation, Technology and Services Awards.
Inspiring inclusion, Lian's win is a testament to the resilience and relentless efforts of women in tech to break down barriers and pave the way for greater representation and inclusion.
9. Tan Hooi Ling, co-founder of Grab
Grab is a multinational technology company headquartered in Singapore that provides a variety of services, including car-hailing services, motorbike-hailing services, bus services, food delivery services, etc.
Tan Hooi Ling, co-founder and COO of Grab, is a Malaysian entrepreneur. Together with Anthony Tan, she founded Grab in 2012, creating a mobile app that connects people looking for taxis with drivers.
Under her leadership, Grab has raised over US$9 billion and expanded across Southeast Asia. Tan Hooi Ling’s drive and innovation continue to shape the region’s transportation and technology landscape. Although she is stepping down from her executive roles at Grab at the end of 2023, Tan Hooi Ling will remain with the company as an advisor.
10. Lucy Peng, co-founder of Alibaba Group
Alibaba is a Chinese multinational corporation that operates in e-commerce, financial technology, and cloud computing. The company was founded in 1999 by Jack Ma and a group of other investors.
Lucy Peng, a Chinese billionaire businesswoman, is the co-founder of Alibaba Group. Her entrepreneurial spirit has played a major role in Alibaba's success. Peng was a director at Ant Group and held key positions within Alibaba.
After a brief stint as CEO of Lazada, Peng is now Executive Chairwoman of Lazada Group, where she has spearheaded Lazada’s expansion within the Alibaba ecosystem. Her journey is a testament to perseverance, innovation, and leadership in the technology space.