The pandemic has ravaged industries, causing unemployment numbers to reach record highs. While everyone has experienced the challenges brought on by Covid-19, women and people of color have been hit harder both economically and socially. A year later, 2.4 million women left the workforce with little prospect of returning.

Women made up less than 25% of the tech workforce, and women of color just 18%, prior to the pandemic. Considering the low numbers of women working in the tech industry, the loss of women in the workforce along with the "Great Resignation" is concerning.

Equality has barely moved in decades. In the 25 years since we've recognized Equal Pay Day, the wage gap has only narrowed by $0.08. Between 2015 and 2020, the number of women in C-suite executive roles increased from 17 percent to 21 percent. These numbers reflect the reality that women face today, especially diverse women — a reality that corporate America is still failing to live up to its pledges of support and promises to “do better.”

Reaching girls across the digital access continuum: Digital solutions to address gender-based violence

COVID-19 has exacerbated the ‘shadow pandemic’ of gender-based violence (GBV) experienced offline and online. It is now well documented that extended quarantines, as well as other physical distancing measures, enacted to manage the pandemic have increased women and girls’ exposure to GBV¹. And today, more than ever, online harassment and abuse are significant issues for young people, particularly girls².

This ‘rollback impact’ of the pandemic also includes other decades of advancement toward gender equality, such as addressing harmful practice and advancing girls’ education.

Isn’t giving more women a seat at the table supposed to help gender inequality?

There has been a public reckoning of sorts for numerous female-run companies, especially in the tech industry. Women CEO’s that had previously been hailed as the embodiment of modern-day feminism have been accused of an abuse of power, and of being the antithesis of what is expected of female leaders. Many were forced to resign; some from the companies they co-founded. Where did progress go wrong? Isn’t giving more women a seat at the table supposed to help gender inequality? There is a discrepancy happening: the same spotlight that highlighted female leadership intensified the descent of many female CEOs in the past few years.

Last Thursday and Friday, Startups Galaxy had the privilege to attend the first virtual conference, third in general, for Women of MENA in Technology. However, the exciting thing is, that they were able to bring the whole global community together through one platform; Hopin (the online venue for virtual events).

Women of MENA (Middle East and North Africa) in Technology is a global nonprofit organization that aims to advocate equity, inclusion, and diverse representation for women in STEM. The Women of MENA in Technology Conference 2020 was held online this year, and it was nothing short of inspiring.

In the modern age, the ability for businesses to adapt to new technologies is a critical indication of growth, as well as a prerequisite for success. Extensive online marketplaces, virtual access to customer services, sophisticated data collection and analysis, and forward leaps in surgical technologies and medicine are obvious positive changes that new technology …

We are all more powerful, with more capacity to deeply and positively change the world around us than we will ever learn. Committing yourself to impact the life of someone you don’t know(yet) is a scary charge; it comes with pressure to succeed, guilt regarding your own privilege, doubt whether you can do it, and risk of failure. It also comes with an indescribable feeling of reward, connection, love and hope for progress…

When I first came to the United States from Iran in 2007 for a doctorate in computer science and machine learning, I was surprised by how few women attended industry conferences. Those I did meet were usually fellow immigrants….