Ioannis Deligiannis
CTO and Board Member of the social enterprise, Women in Banking & Finance (WIBF)
The landscape of tech careers is evolving. Career journeys and experiences are shifting from male-dominated to diverse and inclusive tech fields, shaping a brighter future for everyone.
The past 30 years have seen tech and finance become powerhouses, absorbing a diverse range of STEM graduates. My colleagues, from laser physicists and rocket scientists to mathematicians and psychologists, were all driven individuals passionate about their fields.
Lack of women in STEM
While tech may not have offered the same prestige as law or medicine — or the immediate financial rewards of finance — it was, and continues to be, a field brimming with creativity and innovation.
However, a glaring issue persisted: the lack of women. It was a lonely reality in a world that was rapidly transforming everything around us. Could STEM truly be a field reserved for men?
Shifting STEM landscape
Fast forward 30 years, and I see a different story unfolding with my daughter. Initially struggling with maths, a subject considered ‘unacceptable’ not to understand in our family (though disliked initially), she blossomed after a month of dedicated father-daughter tutoring.
The prestige associated with tech careers has risen dramatically, with flexible working arrangements and remote opportunities becoming commonplace.
Now, maths is one of her favourite subjects. This experience highlighted a crucial point: for girls, especially, there’s an unspoken expectation of not excelling in STEM. However, the landscape has shifted. Tech is no longer the underdog. It’s a financial powerhouse and a driver of global progress.
Flourishing and diversifying tech careers
The prestige associated with tech careers has risen dramatically, with flexible working arrangements and remote opportunities becoming commonplace. Today, tech offers a vibrant ecosystem for diverse talent — a stark contrast to the homogenous environment I once knew.
Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful for my path in technology. It’s been a privilege to work in a field that’s constantly evolving and making a real impact on the world. The future of STEM is bright, and it’s thrilling to see more and more women taking their rightful place at the forefront of innovation.