According to Women In Tech, just 29% of the digital technology workforce in the UK is made up of women. It’s a reminder that a significant gender gap still looms large, despite owing so much to a number of female pioneers who shaped the internet as we know it today.
While undeniably transformative, women’s achievements have often been overshadowed by those of their male counterparts throughout history. However, there is growing optimism that attitudes are changing as the number of women applying to computing programs increased by 113% in 2024 compared to 2019. Additionally, the United Nations uses worldwide days like Women and Girls in Science to encourage more women to enter the industry and close the gender gap. While we can always do more, it’s heartening to see these opportunities moving in the right direction.
Given that March has been Women’s History Month, it’s the perfect opportunity to highlight the successful careers of women – from the past and present – who made a big impact on the internet.
The essential elements for success
There’s no doubt about it; women are stronger when we work together. We have a chance to impact each other’s careers for the better, and supporting our colleagues in the workplace is critical to expanding women’s interest in computer science careers. Across industries, sharing our advice and experiences to help those who are newly navigating their futures can be pivotal to setting someone up for happiness and success.
For me, I have learned three qualities that help drive success:
- Being an active leader
- Staying curious
- Building trust with your colleagues
Active leadership means knocking down barriers and supporting teams with advocacy. As leaders, we have a responsibility to support those who come after us, ensuring that the path remains accessible and that opportunities for growth are not limited or out of reach. The number of women in STEM careers is certainly growing, but we should continue striving for even greater progress. Being open about our successes and, perhaps most crucially, our mistakes along the way will pave the way for women to embrace risk and make lasting change.
Encourage your team to be curious, ask questions, seek knowledge, and embrace lifelong learning. This applies at every stage of a career. No one is expected to have all the answers, but a continuous drive to learn fosters growth and keeps your team inspired.
Finally, trust is the foundation that connects us all. Demonstrating trust through actions fosters mutual support, especially when your team is encouraged to take risks, learn from mistakes, and grow with confidence. After all, this is often where discoveries emerge and true innovation happens. Most importantly, showing your team that they have the unwavering trust and support of their leaders creates an environment where they can thrive.
The women who revolutionised the internet
There are countless examples of these qualities, especially in the early days of the internet and DNS. While many women played pivotal roles, Radia Perlman, Elizabeth Feinler, and Joyce K. Reynolds stand out for their transformative contributions to shaping the landscape of digital identity.
Often referred to as the “mother of the internet,” Radia Perlman is a network engineer and software developer. She made significant contributions to the development of network protocols, most notably the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP), which is fundamental to how network bridges operate. Her work has been crucial in enabling the reliable and efficient operation of large computer networks, which underpin the internet.
Similarly, Elizabeth “Jake” Feinler played a key role in the early development of the internet. As director of the Network Information Center (NIC) at Stanford Research Institute (SRI), she managed the ARPANET, which was the precursor to the internet. Her responsibilities included assigning domain names, which was a crucial step in making the internet more user-friendly. She and her team essentially created and managed the first domain name system, which laid the foundation for today’s digital identities.
Another early pioneer is Joyce K. Reynolds, who worked at the Information Sciences Institute (ISI) at the University of Southern California and was involved in the fledgling days of the internet. She assisted in managing the Request for Comments (RFC) process, which is the formal publication process for internet standards. Her contributions helped ensure that internet standards were well-documented and accessible, which was essential for the internet’s growth.
The next generation of women in computer science
While reflecting on the pioneers who came before us is essential, it’s equally important to focus on the future. Every day, trailblazers are doing remarkable work, waiting for their efforts to bear fruit in domain names and beyond.
As we envision the future for women in computer science, creating work environments where trust and leadership are top priorities will foster growth and open new opportunities for women to thrive.
Lisa Box
Lisa Box is SVP, Strategic Alliances and Business Development at Identity Digital.
