Attracting women to IT is "a bit of a catch-22" says CEO of PensionBee

The lack of role models is hurting the industry

Last week the world celebrated International Women's Day, recognising the women who have changed and are changing the world that we live in. Despite that, some industries - IT and technology among them - are still dominated by men.

That was our thinking when we launched the Women in IT Excellence Awards last year, to great success. As well as boasting the highest rate of attendance we've ever seen for a first-year event, it was fantastic to see so many inspiring women in one place.

Romi Savova, founder and CEO of pensions aggregator PensionBee, was one of the winners, taking home the Entrepreneur of the Year award. Although the company was only founded three years ago it is growing quickly, with more than 30,000 customers.

"We're a company of around 30 people, [but] we have around a couple of hundred million [pounds] in assets," Savova said. The use of technology at the firm is not her area of expertise, though; her background is in finance, having previously worked in the City at investment banks like Morgan Stanley.

"I was absolutely delighted [to win the award], as pensions and IT are both very complex and traditionally technical industries. To have made a difference in this space is truly encouraging, not just for us, but also for the customers we serve. It was wonderful to get the recognition!

"I'm not a technologist, so it really showed me that women who are not necessarily technologists can make an impact in IT, and I hope that will encourage more women to join our sector, even if they have not been coding since the age of five."

While we were talking, Savova described her perception of the diversity problem that IT is facing:

"It's partly about breaking down myths, but it's also about seeing more women in technology companies, so that women in particular can relate and can look at role models and say, ‘That seems like a good place to be, so I can consider a career in that sector'. It's a bit of a catch-22, though: you have the perception problem, so you don't get the women in, and then you don't get the women in and so the perception problem persists.'

The Women in IT Excellence Awards were a great step towards tackling that issue, Savova felt. She told us, "I have to admit that I have never seen more women in tech in one place, so just getting us all together was fantastic! I think there should have been more publicity. People always ask me: ‘Where are the women in tech?', and the awards did a great job of answering that question."

Are you a women in the technology sector, or do you know one who should be recognised? Computing 's Women in IT Excellence Awards return this November, and entries are open now.