The Current State of Women in Technology Consulting
Our mission is to empower women with the skills and knowledge to enter and excel in the field of technology consulting
⚡️What was the driving force behind starting Women in Tech Consulting? I wanted to build a community and inclusive learning platform for women in tech consulting because it is rough for women in this industry.
It’s not looking so good out there 😬
Women in consulting earn 18% less than men on average (Zippia 2023).
The 2022 mass layoffs disproportionately affected women, with 69.2% of those laid off being female. Women are 1.6x more likely to face layoffs than men, often due to less seniority (WomenTech Network 2023).
Only 52 women are promoted to manager for every 100 men (Mckinsey 2022)
66% of women lack a defined career advancement route in their companies (WomenTech Network 2023)
While 58% of women say they aspire to be in leadership positions, only 39% say they feel they have a mentor who can help them achieve that goal (Mckinsey 2023)
78% of women in male-dominated fields said they experienced gender discrimination at work (Pew Research Center 2023)
50% of women in tech roles leave them by the age of 35 (Accenture 2024)
How does WiTC address these challenges? 💫
Many of the challenges in the stats above are due to structural and institutional gaps. We need companies to do more to protect and empower women at the organizational level, cultivating female talent and building a better leadership timeline. Simultaneously, women need the community, support, and training at the individual level to advocate for themselves, advance their careers, and reach new financial heights. This is where WiTC comes in.
Our focus areas are
Technical Upskilling & Industry Trends - Deep dives of trending AI case studies, breakdowns of technical concepts, and commentary on the latest state of tech with an emphasis on digital growth and transformation, data and AI, cloud strategy, sourcing and ecosystem optimization, contract and cost optimization, applications rationalization, and security and risk management.
Interpersonal Skill Development - Best consulting practices for strategic communication, client relationship management, influencing others, and leadership.
Career Acceleration - Advice on asking for a promotion, networking, identifying new opportunities, managing your finances, and moving up the corporate ladder
Community and Mentorship - Insights, support, and mentorship from a global community of female tech consultants
Why focus on empowering women in technology consulting?
The average salary of a tech consultant is $112,000 (Indeed 2024). This is $50,000 more than the average salary in the US.
There is incredibly high demand for tech consultants. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that computer and IT occupations will grow 11% from 2020 to 2030, which is much faster than the average of most occupations.
You don’t need a computer science degree to become a tech consultant. Unlike other technical roles, you are not required to have a bachelor’s degree in CS. Tech consulting is about understanding how to apply the technology to your client’s use case, so as long as you have the necessary skills, experience, and mindset to learn, you can qualify for a tech consulting role.
Consulting primes you for leadership positions. As a consultant, you are uniquely positioned to work on strategy, stakeholder management, and execution, key skills that are foundational for anyone who wants to become a leader.
You are constantly expanding your network. As a consultant, you work on multiple projects with different teams or companies, so you get to meet more people who become part of your network. You gain more professional opportunities consulting with multiple teams a year than you would working with the same team, and in the event you get laid off, you have more people in your network who have personally worked with you who could potentially bring you onto their team.
You gain the skills and experience to do freelance consulting or start your own consulting firm. Many organizations look to hire freelance consultants or experts, so becoming a consultant opens additional income opportunities for you. And if you decide you no longer want to stay with your current employer, you can start your own consulting firm and provide your expertise to previous or new clients.