Women in IT: About inequality of opportunity and barriers

Women in IT

Three career paths, three perspectives – and many challenges

The IT industry stands for innovation, change, and the future – but when it comes to gender equality, it is often still surprisingly conservative. Although more and more women are entering the tech world, they remain underrepresented, especially in technical and leadership positions. Three women who have taken this path share their concrete experiences: Verena, Sindhu, and Olga. All of them work at COMbridge, with very different backgrounds and perspectives.

Their stories show that the path into IT is possible – but it isn’t always easy. And in addition to specialist knowledge, it often requires a healthy dose of self-confidence.

What Verena, Sindhu, and Olga report from their experiences:

Verena - Scrum Master

Verena is a Scrum Master – a job that requires responsibility, coordination, and communication. She entered the IT field at just 19 years old. She discovered her passion for technology through a consulting position focused on quality assurance and testing. But the start wasn’t easy. Especially in her early years, she felt like she had to prove herself more than her male colleagues.

“Especially as a young woman, I was often reduced to my appearance, and there were many subtle comments that questioned my professional competence.”

These experiences have shaped her. Today, she uses her role to empower others and confidently advocate for greater equality.

“Know your worth and don’t let yourself be discouraged. Not all feedback you receive is valuable.”

Sindhu - Software developer

Sindhu is a software developer with roots in India. She studied computer science there before coming to Germany to pursue her master’s degree in embedded systems. Well-prepared in her field, she also overcame language barriers.

Her entry into COMbridge was more of a coincidence:
“I was contacted via LinkedIn by one of our COMbridge employees, and everything happened pretty quickly. It’s been five years now, and it’s been a great journey,” she says. But despite her positive experiences, she openly admits that she has often experienced how differently women and men are perceived in her career:
“If a male colleague says the same thing, it’s often taken more seriously.”

And even though the work environment can be supportive, structural challenges remain. “It really depends on the company and the people you work with,” she says. There are always situations where you realize that you’re not perceived with the same degree of naturalness.

The topic of work-life balance is also a key one for Sindhu:
“Women often balance many different areas in their lives, and this means they can’t always invest 100% in their careers. This can influence the perception that they can’t take on the same responsibilities as men.”

Her appeal to other women, however, is clear:
“Do it if you’re interested. If you give 100%, you’ll shine more than you can imagine.”

Olga - Consultant

For Olga, entering IT wasn’t a coincidence, but a conscious decision. She originally studied translation studies before deciding to study computer science at the FernUniversität in Hagen (Fern University of Hagen) in Russia. The choice was pragmatic: migrating to Germany required a career change, and IT promised good prospects. While still in Russia, she successfully applied to Combridge, signed her contract, and then moved to Germany.

At first glance, her path was surprisingly smooth. She didn’t encounter any particular barriers and generally sees the industry as open and diverse. She hasn’t yet experienced her opinion being valued less because of her gender in her team.

Olga notes, however, that assertiveness is required in IT – even if, like Olga, you’ve had positive experiences. “If women are interested in going into IT, they shouldn’t have any problems asserting themselves.”

Her reference to the advantages of the industry is pragmatic and direct: “IT pays well and offers many challenges.”

A sober perspective, but also one that encourages women:
Those who dare can make a big difference in the tech world.

Conclusion: The path is open – but there is still much to do

The stories of Verena, Sindhu, and Olga are different, but they have one thing in common: They demonstrate the potential of women who choose a career in IT. However, the path to this goal is often fraught with hurdles, doubts, and sometimes even prejudice.

What’s needed:

More visibility for female voices in tech teams and leadership positions
Open conversations about discrimination, even if it’s subtle
Structures that enable real compatibility – and don’t just sound good
Mentoring and networks that encourage women to pursue their own path

IT needs more women. Not just because it’s fair, but because diversity breeds innovation. If you’re interested in technology: Take the path.
But take it with open eyes and the certainty that you’re not alone.

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