10 April, 2025
In a sector desperate for talent, women still remain significantly underrepresented. Only one in five IT professionals are women, and more than half of them will leave the profession within ten years. High time this changed, Megan Weidema thinks. That is why she is pushing for more diversity in IT. And she was one of the driving forces behind the Women in IT Gala, the first edition of which took place last month.
On 7 March, the Women in IT Gala took place. You were co-organiser. How did you get there so much?
"I saw something come up during my training for Microsoft SC-900, Women in cybersecurity, by two women from that group. They were organising a fun event for women working in IT. It started with a nice idea: we should actually set up something that doesn't create pressure, something without a specific goal, without having to learn anything and where no one has to speak. A place where it is relaxed and where we can be together without having to prove ourselves as women. To Emily van Putten, one of the two initiators, I asked if I could contribute in some way. Because as a young woman in IT, the theme immediately appealed to me AND I am a fan of communities and networks anyway. By recognising other stories about the need to prove yourself and being in a minority, an all-united feeling can arise during such an event. That seemed beautiful and valuable to me!"
"Together we are strong, possess expertise and have something to say"
So the gala was also a way to convey a message?
"The Women in IT Gala ended up being a wonderful party with over 100 women from the IT sector, but at the same time it was also a statement from the community: as IT women, we are together, we are strong, we possess expertise and we have something to say. It was also a statement towards the male world: we want to party in a safe environment, where we don't have to watch our drinks or worry if our split is too high. A sore point, but widely supported was evident from the feedback we received back. Participants indicated that at the gala they found the freedom they were looking for: a safe environment, not being watched and no judgement."
How tough is it for women in IT?
"Only one in five IT professionals are women and more than half of them leave the profession within a decade. While men stick around much longer. Why is that? Good question. I think because the tech world is not quite set up for women yet. This has to do with a stereotypical image many people have of 'technology and men' and 'computers and men'. And besides: women attract women. If you end up as the only woman in a company where there are already 20 men, it is less attractive to be there as a woman.
The underrepresentation of women in the IT sector starts already in education. Traditionally, the proportion of men studying engineering has been by far the highest. In the past, the government even had to encourage women to study engineering, think of the campaign A smart girl is prepared for her future. Whereas today, engineering is not a male thing at all. It is much less physical than it used to be, especially with the advent of the cloud."
"Every time you have to prove that you have knowledge"
"The organisation Dutch Women in Tech, which Emily is also a member of, is committed to getting more women into engineering. But also to give them a face and stand up for those who work in the sector but struggle quite a bit with having to prove themselves. As one of the figureheads, Emily is strong in explaining how things work in the business world. For example, about how companies move towards women. Some companies claim that they do this well, but in practice it turns out that they are not very good at shaping that.
As a matter of fact, I heard that 'having to prove' recurring often during cybersecurity training. I met many women there who run into the same things as me. That you are addressed in a different way than a male colleague at a trade fair. Or that they think you do something in administration or marcom. Every time, as a woman, you have to prove that you have knowledge."
You've been working in IT yourself for a while. Can you tell what attracted you to it?
"I was always interested in IT, but never thought of working in this sector. Eleven years ago, I worked as an assistant manager for a restaurant where I met my then partner. Through his father, I got into IT and became an office manager. And very different industry, but it fitted quite well. This was also because I used to tinker with computers a lot and built websites during the Hyves period. As an office manager, I soon discovered that I could also contribute to helping customers and finding solutions. I helped customers when our technical people were briefly occupied. The suggestion "Have you restarted it yet?" worked well a few times. This was at a time when Microsoft was moving more towards the cloud and IT was becoming less physical. I thought that was a very interesting development. Also for myself, so then I moved more on the functional axis and sales axis."
"Everyone is welcome with us and given a fair chance"
What about the proportion of women in the workplace at IT Local?
"With a 22% share, we have relatively many women on board. And they are also in MT positions. That high share really came about because of what I said earlier: women attract women. In addition, IT Local is a free-thinking employer where everyone is welcome and given a fair chance, regardless of gender, colour, age or whatever. A fair chance also means that women are not favoured when applying for a job; the person and qualities come first. I also personally don't think you should always choose the woman, but the one who fits best within your organisation and clients. Otherwise, you get a counterproductive effect and make a different statement. It is already great that when applying for a job, gender is not considered, but suitability and also pay equality.
Because we are not only a diverse company, but also want to radiate that, I dared to knock on the management's door to sponsor the gala. With success: "We stand behind it and see that you also step forward", I was told. And the best thing was: for my colleagues Hanny and Gaby and for me, Remko sponsored the gala dress on his own initiative. I thought this was so cool and thoughtful that I shared this with the group during the gala in my role as presenter. There was a very positive response to this."
"Good to contribute to this"
Remko Kleij, director IT Local: "By supporting and giving visibility to the Women in IT Gala, we help improve the tech sector. Because diversity and inclusion are key to innovation. We can learn from women to approach IT in a less technical way."
Hanny van Vugt, commercial manager: "Women in IT bring a new dynamism and creativity that our sector needs to keep growing and evolving. Their presence helps break traditional thinking patterns and encourages progress."
Gaby Phielix, customer success team leader: "The IT world is not just screens and code. It is human, full of inclusion, opportunities and yes... the occasional sponsored gala dress."
What can other IT companies do to bring in more women?
"During the gala, I heard that the companies that want this don't always know how to go about it. How do you attract women and how do you make sure employees understand each other more? Ambassadors within your company are very important in this. But you have to have them. Otherwise, to start with, you might have to hire someone to get the right mindset and for a bit of missionary work."
"See where your doubts are and how you can remove them"
What would you say to young women who are unsure whether IT is for them?
"See where your doubts lie: do you find IT complicated or is it because of the 'man's world' label? Of course, you can remove the former yourself by immersing yourself in the field. Know that there are lots of different opportunities in IT, technically, but certainly also functionally... from customer success to sales and development. Do you have doubts about the culture? Then delve into a community like Dutch Women in Tech and look for a company you feel comfortable with and where it doesn't matter what gender or colour you are."
Finally, will there be a sequel to the gala?
"Indeed, the date for the next gala is already set: 6 March 2026, just before International Women's Day again. The format of that edition will be bigger and more diverse. Emily and I are thinking of doubling the number of participants. And we will take feedback from the last gala on board. For example, the desire for a networking space where there is no music for a while. Because besides relaxation, there is still a need for networking. An inspiring speaker who provides empowerment is also a valuable addition. According to the 2025 participants, the pressure I mentioned at the beginning is perfectly fine. As long as that pressure is not on them....
Nice to get back into it with Emily, because our collaboration is really great! We have several ideas to organise some things beyond the gala, for example in the summer months. We are also looking at the scope of our initiative and the organisational aspects. But I can't say everything about that yet."
Photo above: Hanny van Vugt, Gaby Phielix and Megan Weidema during the gala.