Women in Tech – Businesses in Canada
By Doina Oncel – October is Small Business month in Canada and that calls for a celebration among business owners who are following their dreams to make something happen, not only for themselves but also for their families. Women are also stepping up to the growing number of businesses launched in Canada yet, in the 21st Century, women are still trying to make a breakthrough in success stories.
Yes, there are successful women out there and we see them in the headlines but do they really have it that they can say “Oh, this was easy!” ? It is hard to believe so. Although the number of women in business is growing, women are still limited to the types of businesses they are entering and they recognize more barriers compared to their male business partners, according to Statistics Canada. Besides financial difficulty, women are lacking the role models to inspire them in the fields that they choose to penetrate. We know that in the service industries women have more visibility or expectations, if you will, to be in, however the knowledge based industries are still dominated by men . Let’s take the male dominated tech start-up industry or the STEM field (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), for example; to this day there are still obstacles that women are facing from a young age. During elementary and middle school girls are not presented with the opportunity of the knowledge based education although the interest is there; and if there is that rare opportunity given during young age, young women are facing a societal influence that they are inclined to follow and it does not involve a career in physics or computer science neither does a career in STEM field.
Is there a solution to this? Yes! Positive role models and mentors for young girls early in their education will make a positive difference in the choices young women will make for their future careers. Developing programs in this industry is the confirmatory action that is essential to women’s careers in the STEM fields. Waiting until young women will get into a higher education to be exposed to such education will probably be too late as early intervention is essential to spike early interest and acceptance in this field.
The evolution requires to be continued in Colleges in Universities with priority given to women in this field where opportunities of advancement can be limitless. Strong societal and individual dedication are crucial to revolutionizing gender bias in the business world, especially in tech industry.
While we take in consideration that education is fundamental in a young woman’s success, we don’t need to stop there. Barriers while pursuing a career needs to be eliminated and recognition must be given to women when necessary. Diversity in business world is much needed now and not only during business month but all year round.
Doina Oncel is a Social Entrepreneur and the Founder of Doina’s Infinite Solutions, a social media agency from Toronto. Doina is also a leader of the Entrepreneurial Moms of Toronto while she sits on the Board of Directors and Fundraising Committee of Ernestine Women’s Shelter supporting women who have fled violent situations.
very well researched and thoughtful words. these words are motivation within themselves. the people like Doina Oncel are the role models and mentors for the upcoming an young ladies. But once a speaker taught very nice thing in a training, “Add value preposition in your entrepreneurship to become remember-able”
Doina… I agree that women have certainly come a long way and have much to offer. And ditto, very well researched..
Great article! I think you are spot on. We don’t have very many women role models as we are still pioneering many areas in business. Would love to see more women in the Tech Startup Industry.
Thank you all for your comments! I have certainly conducted research for this article as this is an issue that I am seeing taking place in the city I live it, Toronto, Canada. I can only imagine how hard it must be for women from around the world where they have to face so many other attributes to survive.
Yes, I want to see more women involved in the Tech Startup Industry and also women involved in Tech at C-Level.
Cheers!