Building a Better Future for Women in Tech: Why Included Is Donating to Girls Who Code (and You Can Too!)

As a company, we strongly believe in the power of diversity and inclusion to drive innovation and build better products. The tech industry, unfortunately, has a significant gender gap, with only 24% of computer scientists being women. That’s why we are proud to support the nonprofit organization Girls Who Code for Included’s 2022 Holiday Fundraiser. As DEI advocates, we can help close this equity gap by building a pipeline of passionate programmers. By supporting organizations like Girls Who Code, we can make a tangible impact and create a more dynamic and inclusive culture within our industry.

Included customer Kristen Weber has seen the impact of Girls Who Code firsthand. She is a DEI leader and former host of two Girls Who Code summer programs at Expedia Group. Kristen shares that, “We can’t transform the tech industry without transforming the pathways to technology for women and other underrepresented – and unconsidered – talent. Programs like Girls Who Code show young women that tech jobs are creative, rewarding, and lucrative. And, more importantly, these programs show young women that they are both capable and deserving of a career in tech.” 

How Girls Who Code Is Transforming The Tech Talent Pipeline

Girls Who Code is a national nonprofit organization leading the movement to inspire, educate, and equip girls with computing skills. This creates pathways for girls to enter the computing workforce at a young age. Through their Summer Immersion Program and Girls Who Code Clubs, they aim to close the gender gap in technology. Research shows that 66% of girls who are interested in or enrolled in computing programs are between the ages of 6 and 12. However, by the time they reach age 13, that percentage drops to 32%, and by the time they are college freshmen, it is a mere 4%. Girls Who Code is working to reverse this trend by providing girls with the background, experience, and inspiration to pursue a career in computer science.

Girls Who Code is also working to increase diversity in the tech industry through its #HireMe program. Sixty companies have pledged to hire Girls Who Code alums, helping to create more opportunities for women in tech. They have had an incredible impact over the last ten years; imagine what they can accomplish in ten more with your support! Some highlights from the previous decade:

• Girls Who Code has served 500,000 girls, women, and nonbinary students to date.
• Over 50% of the girls served come from historically underrepresented groups in tech.
• As of 2022, there are 115,000 Girls Who Code alums who are college-aged or post-college.

You Can Help The Next Generation of Women Tech Leaders 

Included.ai is proud to support Girls Who Code this holiday season and celebrate their efforts to close the gender gap in tech. By teaching girls to Code, we are giving them the skills to be change agents and advocates in their communities and the world. 

Inspired to support Girls Who Code? Here’s you can help:

Donate: Contribute to Included’s campaign, or start your own fundraiser! 

Volunteer: They are also looking for mentors; sign up here. 

Stay in touch: Check them out on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook Linkedin, or sign up for their newsletter.

Together, we can help create a more diverse and inclusive tech industry.