??Interview with Tara McGeehan from CGI

We are dedicated to creating pathways for diverse talent to thrive, fostering innovation and inclusivity in the tech sector. We believe supporting individuals from all backgrounds is a collective responsibility, essential for a more equitable future. Tech companies have the power to drive positive change, and our goal throughout the month of March is to celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion while recognising the ongoing work ahead.

This article is part of a series of interviews where techUK members and stakeholders share their experiences, shedding light on the diverse realities of working in the industry. By exposing the good, bad, and ugly aspects, we aim to underscore the significance of cultivating a diverse tech future through their stories.

Meet Tara McGeehan , President, CGI UK and Australia.

???In your opinion, what are some of the persistent barriers preventing more women from entering and thriving in tech roles??

Throughout my career, I have learnt that as women, we often subconsciously put limitations on ourselves for a variety of reasons, which can hamper our careers. I have also learnt that limitations are often imposed upon us, outside of our comprehension or control.??

While the tech industry has made progress in terms of encouraging and supporting women in their careers, there is a still a long way to go to break down the barriers to women looking to enter the industry. There remains significant bias within business, and tech in particular, which is both conscious and unconscious and affects attitudes to women in the workplace.? Current working practices and structures still very much cater to men and can at times mean their careers are treated as a priority.???

The fact of the matter is that women in the workplace are still more likely to experience microaggressions, have their authority questioned, and not be promoted at the same frequency as their male counterparts.??

Women have the same ambition to advance in their careers but with current workplace culture, they face headwinds that signal it will be harder to advance.?

??Have you noticed any positive changes or initiatives within the tech industry to promote diversity and inclusion, specifically for women???

When I started my career in the mid-90s, there were very few women in the science, technology,?engineering, and?mathematics?(STEM) industries.??

As time has gone on, I’ve increasingly come to appreciate the importance of diverse, equitable and inclusive business cultures that attract and nurture the best talent, and thereby help deliver the?innovation?and advances that benefit everyone in our society.?

Much has been made of encouraging women into STEM in the past few years, and while it’s a positive rallying cry I do think more effort needs to be made to make STEM workplaces more supportive to women.?

As President of CGI’s UK & Australia Operations I’m privileged to be part of an organisation that has a wide breadth of networks aimed at supporting different and diverse groups of employees, including women. We regularly offer “know how” sessions across a breadth of areas affecting women’s experiences in the workplace, including parenting, the menopause, and balancing work and life.?

??How do you navigate and address gender biases or stereotypes in your day-to-day work environment???

People are without doubt an organisation’s most valuable asset; like many leaders, I strongly believe that leadership must unwaveringly put people first.? Every team member must feel valued, included, and cared for without exception.??

But this uplift becomes especially powerful when its in service of those who might be consciously or unconsciously discriminated against.??

One of the most compelling reasons to celebrate and uplift women, and indeed every individual, is the undeniable impact that a diverse workforce and the diversity of thinking has on an organisation's culture, the ability to bring innovation and to be more productive and profitable.??

Studies have shown that investing in women’s education and economic participation from an early age leads to positive outcomes, including closing the poverty divide, and the skills gap, and helps to improve health and education for families, ultimately contributing to economic growth and prosperity.??

????What advice would you give to young women aspiring to pursue careers in the tech industry, considering its reputation for being challenging for women??

?For women looking to pursue a career in tech, it’s important to look for a company that reflects your values. Ask yourself, does it already employ role models you can look up to and learn from? Will it inspire you? Can you see yourself thriving and developing your career there? Asking these questions can help to identify whether a company will be the right fit. You want to work in a comfortable, supportive.?

Once you have secured your first role, I’d encourage you to share your thoughts and ideas. Diverse talent creates diverse ideas. This, in turn, pushes boundaries and innovation. It’s important to have strong female voices across the whole business – be it those in leadership positions or those in their first professional role. There’s still a long way to go in tackling the glass ceiling, and so none of us, regardless of our role, can afford to let up in our efforts to make our industry as diverse, equitable, and inclusive as it absolutely must be.?

My final piece of advice is that it’s okay to aspire to a successful career as a woman. If you have the ambition and the drive, and are working with a company that embraces this, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t achieve it.?

???How do you see the role of mentorship and sponsorship in supporting women's advancement in tech?

It is so important that we are communicating to young women and girls that it’s okay to like STEM and aspire to have a successful career in STEM. Often, women don’t even realise a career in tech is a possibility due to lack of representation. We need to identify and develop strong, inspirational female role models that can explain how they are creating enjoyable and successful careers across the entire tech industry.?

These role models must be from every background and area of our society and be as diverse as the spectrum of career opportunities that they advocate. They must be able to honestly show and explain that there is no ‘barrier to entry’, no blinkered thinking, and no limit to ambition and success.??

While the industry has made progress, it is important companies continue to support the careers of women, at whatever stage they’re at – in education, starting their career, a family or even in menopause and at the end of their career.

???Do you think there's still a gender pay gap in the tech industry, and if so, what steps do you believe are necessary to address it??

??Accountability will be vital to accelerate the pace of women in tech. As a sector we need to be having serious discussions around subjects like the gender pay gap, and encouraging businesses to be accountable is the only way we are going to progress.?

Initiatives that support with diversity and inclusion need to be treated as a business obligation rather than something that is optional. Measures need to be put in place that hold businesses accountable, such as mandatory reporting on the gender pay gap, providing the right benefits to improve women’s day-to-day work experiences, and take the right steps to identify and address where these gender gaps are. Ensure that you are taking meaningful action to address this, support local educational programmes that provide more gender equitable opportunities, actively look to close the gender pay gap, and provide ongoing professional mentoring for women.??

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