Importance of diverse Teams

1 article/video left!

log in or sign up to unlock 3 more articles/videos this month and explore our expert resources.

Alda Zeila
Intelligent Operations Lead for Baltics
Automatic Summary

The Importance of Gender Diversity in Information Technology

Hello, my name is Al Daze, Intelligent Operations lead for Accenture Baltics. I have dedicated my career of over 20 years to the ever-evolving field of IT, spending the majority of this time – 19 years – working with Accenture.

One question that I'm working to address is: why do we need more diverse teams, particularly women, in IT? This question, rooted in both societal and economic concerns, is fundamental for the continued growth and prosperity of our industry. As such, I am here to share our experience as Accenture Baltics in improving gender diversity ratio within our tech teams – a journey we've embarked on while operating in the not-so-progressive Baltic states such as Latvia.

A Diversity Goal for Accenture in 2017

In 2017, Accenture set an ambitious goal – to achieve 50:50 global gender parity by 2025. Despite local obstacles, I'm proud to report substantial progress, trumping even our Nordic colleagues in more progressive countries.

The Importance and Impact of Building Diverse Teams

A major part of my objective today is to serve as a reminder about the positive impacts of having diverse teams:

  1. Diverse perspectives lead to innovation: A team with diversity in race, gender, culture and background brings in different ideas and experiences, leading to creative problem-solving approaches.
  2. It avoids groupthink: With diverse team members, you can avoid scenarios where everyone has the same opinion, thereby identifying blind spots that would otherwise go unnoticed.
  3. Better understanding of diverse needs: A diverse team is more likely to design products that meet the needs of a diverse user base.
  4. Innovation stems from different backgrounds: Different skills, experiences, and knowledges lead to unique problem-solving approaches.
  5. Greater empathy and inclusivity: A diverse team helps create a more supportive and inclusive work environment, leading to increased productivity and engagement.

The Quest for More Women in IT and STEM

Moving onto the topic of gender diversity in the IT industry, it's no secret that the divide is quite wide. A report by the European Commission in 2020 estimated that there could be a shortage of up to 756,000 skilled ICT workers in the European Union by 2025. Combining this estimate with some Latvian-specific figures on gender diversity, it becomes clear there's substantial room for improvement.

The gender diversity landscape in Latvia is still largely dominated by traditional gender roles. ICT and STEM fields only employ 7.3% of all working women, suggesting these professions are still perceived as stereotypically male.

Raising the Bar: Accenture's Approach Towards Gender Equality

As one of the major players in technology, with over 700,000 employees globally and 2000 in Latvia, Accenture is at the forefront of promoting equality within the workforce. Our firm belief is that an equal future workforce starts at the top. We continuously set bold, actionable goals to our aim of achieving a gender-balanced workforce by 2025.

Practical Strategies to Achieve Gender Diversity

At Accenture Baltics, we've developed a four-pronged strategy to attract more women to the IT field:

  • Working with schools: Changing the perception of IT among girls to dispel the stereotype that it's a field for "boring" and "nerds."
  • Partnering with universities: Encouraging them to focus on diversity among students.
  • Reskilling: Providing opportunity for individuals from other fields to switch careers to IT.
  • Upskilling: Providing additional training to already existing employees.

While all these strategies have their place in our larger objective, we realized that reskilling was our most direct and quickest avenue towards attracting women into IT. This means attracting women with a can-do attitude and providing them the opportunity to switch their careers to IT.

Conclusion: The Journey Toward More Diversity at Accenture Baltics

The journey towards achieving more diversity at Accenture Baltics is ongoing, and we're proud of the strides we've made so far. With a woman-to-man new hire ratio of almost 52% in the fiscal year 2022, I believe we are well on our way to reaching our diversity goal by 2025.

Addressing gender gaps and ensuring diversity in IT is more than an individual effort. It's a collective responsibility. Together, we can work towards breaking stereotypes and creating a more inclusive IT industry, one where everyone feels welcomed and valued.

Thank you for joining me on this journey towards fostering diversity in our teams. I look forward to witnessing the impact it will have on the evolution of the IT industry.


Video Transcription

Read More