International Girls in ICT Day: Let's Bridge the Gender Gap in STEM!

[Marcelo Santiago]

Girls in ICT Day

 
Did you know that women represent only 29.2% of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) workforce?

The World Economic Forum's data paints a stark picture: at the current rate, closing the gender gap will take generations. With women still significantly underrepresented in core STEM fields, particularly in areas like software development and engineering (less than 25% globally), what urgent and impactful actions can we take to accelerate change?

That's why it's so important to celebrate International Girls in ICT Day! This global initiative, led by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), is all about inspiring and encouraging girls and young women to pursue studies and careers in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Since 2011, millions of girls from over 170 countries have participated in workshops, hackathons, and networking events.

International Girls in ICT Day - Powered by Cisco

All Voices, One Digital Future: Empowering Girls of Every Background

Cisco is stepping up to the plate! In honour of International Girls in ICT Day (April 24, 2025), Cisco is hosting an event focused on empowering girls of every background. This year's theme is celebrating the power of standing out to drive change.

Join Cisco's female leaders – Adele Trombetta, Par Merat, Natalie Jones-Owen, and Jacqueline Guichelaar – as they share their personal journeys, mentorship experiences, and bold visions for the future of tech, exploring AI, inclusivity, and the limitless possibilities ahead.

This event is a tribute to the women and girls reshaping technology through fearless innovation.

Meet the speakers:

• Adele Trombetta | Senior Vice-President & General Manager CX EMEA
• Par Merat | Vice-President of Learning at Cisco
• Natalie Jones-Owen | Managing Director Service Provider Sales EMEA
• Jacqueline Guichelaar | Senior Vice-President & General Manager CX APJC

Watch Event on Demand: Click Here

Let's discuss: What are your thoughts on bridging the gender gap in STEM? What initiatives have you seen that are making a real difference? Share your ideas and experiences!

#GirlsInICT #STEM #WomenInTech #GenderEquality #TechDiversity #Cisco

[Jimena Saez]

Excellent opportunity @Marcelo Santiago , thanks for sharing!

[Vivien Chia]

I'm a big fan of this initiative! The brand-new cisco.com page dedicated to International Girls in ICT Day and the new Learn-A-Thon courses (Modern AI, Data Science, Cybersecurity) are SO cool!

Hope we could all spread the word and get more young girls to consider STEM career.

Thanks for sharing @Marcelo Santiago!

P.S. For anyone interested to catch the replay of last year and other Women Rock-IT links, check out: https://community.cisco.com/t5/cisco-cafe-blogs/cisco-women-rock-it-closing-gender-gap-in-tech/ba-p/5035445

[Marcelo Santiago]

Hello Community! We have great news.

Our special session International Girls in ICT Day powered by Cisco is now available with Spanish, Portuguese and French subtitles. If you missed the live session or want to revisit the content, you can now access the full session anytime.

Watch Event on Demand: Click Here

Hear from our Cisco leaders as they share their career journeys, mentoring experiences, and perspectives on the future of technology — including topics like artificial intelligence, inclusion, and diversity in the tech industry.