Celebrating women in technology. And why we must keep pushing for progress

Events like this matter in helping to recognise achievement, celebrate role models and shine a light on women making a significant difference in our industry.

However they also make us reflect on how much further we have to go.

My whole career has been in tech, from my first job after university at a disruptive technology marketing agency to my role as Managing Director of Storm ID. Over those 20-plus years, I’ve seen the difference talented women make to this industry. I’m proud of the women who lead and deliver across Storm ID and of what they bring to our success.

I also know progress doesn’t happen by accident. It takes deliberate action and, often, the courage to go first. None of that is easy, but each time someone does, it helps open the way for the women who come after them.

Celebrating talent and achievement

One of the highlights of last night's awards was seeing our own Asha Mullen recognised among the shortlisted finalists.

Being shortlisted for the Rising Star award is a fantastic achievement in itself and very well deserved. Asha has made an important contribution to our work at Storm ID, including research into the opportunities and implications of AI for businesses and public services. We're proud of her and delighted to see her recognised alongside so many inspiring women from across Scotland's technology community.

Congratulations to everyone recognised at this year's awards and thank you to SWiT for creating a platform that celebrates achievement, builds connections and champions inclusion across our industry.

Recognition matters because visibility matters. When women see other women succeeding as engineers, researchers, entrepreneurs and business leaders, it challenges assumptions about who belongs in technology.

The business case for change has never been stronger

Last week the UK Government announced new measures to tackle investment bias and workplace culture in the technology sector.

The figures make for sobering reading.

Women make up just 22% of the UK's IT workforce. The Government also pointed to evidence that closing participation gaps could add up to £4 billion a year to UK GDP, and that women starting and growing businesses at the same rate as men could unlock £310 billion for the economy.

These are big numbers; they represent talent we're failing to attract and potential we're failing to realise.

Culture matters too, with 74% of respondents to the Government's call for evidence saying better workplace culture would support women's progression and leadership in technology.

I welcome the attention these challenges are getting, including proposals for new standards on workplace culture and fairer investment practices. The responsibility for change sits with all of us who lead and work in technology businesses, as well as with government.

For me, this is about fairness and it's about building better businesses.

Better teams build better technology

At Storm ID we work with organisations tackling complex challenges, from improving public services and modernising legacy systems to building new digital products and making the most of AI.

The quality of what we deliver depends on the people doing the work.

When we bring together people with different backgrounds and perspectives, we challenge assumptions, ask better questions and make better decisions. We're also more creative and more thoughtful about the people who will use what we build.

That's particularly important as AI becomes a bigger part of our industry. The decisions being made now about how AI is designed and deployed will shape services, workplaces and people's lives for years to come.

We need women involved in those decisions as researchers, engineers, designers, technical specialists and leaders setting the direction of our industry.

Women make a significant contribution across our leadership and delivery teams at Storm ID, and our business is stronger for it.

Our customers benefit too. Diverse teams are better placed to understand the people they're designing for and to build solutions that work for a wider range of users.

Diversity and business performance go hand in hand.

Turning commitment into action

Of course, celebrating women in technology means little if we aren't also prepared to create more opportunities for women to enter, develop and progress within the industry.

At Storm ID, that's part of our wider commitment to social value.

Our Social Value Strategy recognises that our responsibilities extend beyond the digital services we deliver. It places skills, learning and employment, alongside community inclusion and economic opportunity, at the heart of how we operate.

We're committed to widening access to careers in technology, including through our recruitment and early-careers activities, and to creating an environment where people from different backgrounds can build fulfilling and successful careers.

That includes being thoughtful about how we recruit, recognising that talent doesn't always follow a conventional route into technology, and ensuring that women can see genuine opportunities to develop and progress within Storm ID.

Our latest Social Value Report highlights the broader impact of this approach, with £1.4 million in social value generated during FY25/26 through our work with people, clients and communities.

But I don't believe any business should regard this as a job completed.

We need to keep asking ourselves difficult questions. Are we reaching a sufficiently diverse pool of candidates? Are we removing unnecessary barriers from our recruitment processes? Are we giving people the support, opportunities and confidence to progress? And are we creating a culture where everyone feels their contribution is valued and their voice is heard?

Those questions require more than good intentions. They require leadership, action and a willingness to measure progress.

Leadership means creating opportunities for others

As a woman leading a technology business, I'm conscious of the responsibility that comes with my position.

I want Storm ID to be a business where talented people are encouraged to be ambitious, where leadership isn't defined by gender, and where women have every opportunity to shape our future.

That means making space for different voices, backing people to take on new challenges, recognising achievement and challenging the behaviours and assumptions that hold people back.

Women shouldn't have to change who they are to succeed in technology. We should be building an industry where different leadership styles and perspectives are seen as strengths. Women supporting and championing each other is important, and lasting change needs everyone in our industry behind it.

Celebration should inspire progress

Last night was a wonderful reminder of the depth of talent among women in Scotland's technology community.

We came away feeling proud of our colleagues, inspired by the achievements of women across the sector and optimistic about what we can accomplish.

It also makes me more determined.

We need more women entering technology, more women staying and progressing in the sector, and more women shaping its future at every level of leadership.

That's good for women, for our businesses and customers, and for Scotland's economy and society.

Congratulations again to Asha, to all the finalists and winners, and to the women across Storm ID and the wider technology community who make a difference every day!

Let's celebrate their achievements, and make sure we're creating the opportunities for many more women to follow.