Every fourth Thursday of April is International Girls in ICT Day. Why would an organization like the ITU (International Telecommunication Union) create a day just to encourage girls and young women to consider studying and working in the information and communications technology field? Because a study the ITU conducted found that “the most important determinant of a country’s competitiveness is its human capital and talent –- the skills, education and productivity of its workforce. Women account for one-half of the potential talent base of the world.”
Although many women are working in the lower level of the ICT workforce, they account for very few of the strategic and executive positions. Yet the ITU study shows a direct and positive correlation between a leadership team with a diverse mixture of men and women to a company’s financial success. The theory is that the more diverse a team is, the better decisions it makes, which ultimately produces more successful outcomes and financial success. Closing this gap between men and women was found to be a key driver in the economic growth over the past decade.
In support of Girls in ICT Day, Cisco planned several activities on its campuses all over the world. This slideshow highlights just a few of the scenes from these global events. For more information about International Girls in ICT Day, visit: http://girlsinict.org
