LMD MARCH 2026 COVER STORY

GIVE TO GAIN

“There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish…”

Michelle Obama

Innovation is often described as competitive – faster ideas, forward thinking and constant progress. Yet, the most meaningful innovation rarely happens alone. It grows through collaboration, shared learning and opportunity.

That’s why the International Women’s Day 2026 theme – Give to Gain – is relevant to women who embrace technology and pursue innovation. It reminds us that progress is not a race where one person’s success comes at another’s expense. When knowledge and support are shared, the entire system becomes stronger.

Tech is one of the fastest evolving industries in the world. It shapes how we learn, work, communicate, manage money and access healthcare.

And women bring perspectives shaped by different experiences, responsibilities and ways of thinking. When they are involved in designing products, leading teams or building startups, innovation becomes more balanced and relevant to wider communities.

What’s more, women have consistently demonstrated equal capability in technical fields. The real gap lies in access – to leadership opportunities, funding, networks and environments that enable long-term career growth. This is where the theme ‘give to gain’ becomes powerful.

A clear gender gap remains – even in many of the world’s largest tech companies

PROGRESS AND GAPS Census data in the US affirms that women have made notable progress in the workforce vis-à-vis science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), growing from a mere eight percent of STEM employees in 1970 to around 28 percent last year.

Yet, a clear gender gap remains – even in many of the world’s largest tech companies.

Across Google, Apple, Facebook (Meta), Amazon and Microsoft, women represent 29-45 percent of employees with an overall average of about 31 percent. Representation is highest at entry level but steadily declines at mid-level and drops further when it comes to senior leadership.

Sri Lanka reflects a similar pattern, although encouraging signs suggest a gradual improvement. The country’s technology industry has taken strides with many corporate IT environments increasingly basing recruitment and performance evaluation on merit rather than gender – a meaningful shift from past workplace norms.

However, the industry remains largely male dominated, particularly in entrepreneurship. Strengthening women’s participation as technopreneurs has the potential not only to empower individuals but also to drive broader economic development. The Sri Lanka Association for Software and Services Companies (SLASSCOM), the national chamber for the knowledge and innovation industry, has set an ambitious goal to bridge this gap.

Founded in 2020, SLASSCOM’s Women Technopreneurs Forum works to foster female led tech startups and contribute to the goal of 1,000 new startups by 2030.

A joint SLASSCOM–IFC report identifies ‘technopreneurship’ as an emerging career path with 82 percent of technopreneurs under 40. In the youngest age group (under 24), men outnumber women by two to one. This mirrors global entrepreneurship trends, where participation peaks between 25 and 34 before tapering off.

Sri Lankan technopreneurs are generally well qualified with more than two-thirds holding a first degree or higher. However, the younger technopreneur landscape is largely male dominated with many men entering the field early, often as undergraduates with early ICT exposure.

By contrast, women tend to enter technopreneurship later, often with postgraduate qualifications. This may be linked to lower participation in ICT studies at earlier education stages. Mid-career is also where gaps widen more broadly.

Personal responsibilities, life transitions and rigid work structures can make it difficult for women to remain on the same trajectory.

Women in tech are not only contributing to the present; they’re shaping the future of innovation

THE FLIP SIDE ‘Give to gain’ is often framed in terms of what organisations should do for women. That is essential; but it is also a shared responsibility. Women give of their time, effort, courage and ambition. Progress often comes from stepping forward, taking risks and staying present in decision making processes.

Sri Lanka, like many countries, aims to grow as a knowledge and innovation driven economy. Women in tech are not only contributing to the present; they’re shaping the future of innovation, shifting the narrative from competition to collaboration and shared growth.

That is the heart of ‘give to gain.’ In technology, where change is constant, strong foundations are what enable innovation to last. As Serena Williams puts it, “the success of every woman should be the inspiration to another.”

– Compiled by Tamara Rebeira

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Collective Momentum

Q: International Women’s Day highlights collective strength. How does collaboration among women accelerate innovation?

A: Innovation is often portrayed as the result of individual brilliance – a single idea, a single disruptor. In practice, the most effective innovation I’ve seen comes from something far less dramatic: the ability to think clearly, together.

When you articulate an idea to others, not to defend it but test it, weaknesses surface early and assumptions are challenged. That process forces clarity. By bringing diverse perspectives into those conversations, the quality of decisions improves because ideas are examined not only for speed but for context, impact and sustainability.

This perspective often emerges more clearly when diverse voices are part of the discussion, particularly in complex environments. The result is not slower decision making but better judgement.

However, collaboration only works when people feel safe enough to be honest. Psychological safety is not a cultural ‘nice to have’; it is a practical requirement for innovation that actually works.

Q: What advice would you offer young women who want to lead, innovate and shape the future of technology?

A: Master your craft first. Early in my career, the technical grounding I gained through the CA Sri Lanka programme and my time at Ernst & Young gave me the confidence that no title ever could. Deep expertise creates credibility and credibility gives you a voice.

Once that foundation is in place, seek experiences that stretch you. Growth rarely comes from comfort; it comes from unfamiliar environments, failed attempts and learning how to recover with better judgement. Build your support system intentionally – find people who are willing to tell you the truth and mentors who have navigated paths you aspire to take.

And as importantly, be willing to do that for others. Impact is built through results, not visibility – visibility tends to follow substance, not the other way around.

Supportive organisational practices – flexible work models, hybrid arrangements and inclusive cultures – are not perks; they’re enablers

Q: How should organisations measure progress when it comes to gender equity in tech – and what metrics truly matter?

A: Representation numbers alone don’t tell us whether systems actually work. The metrics that matter show outcomes: retention by level, time to promotion, pay equity, and access to high-impact and visible work.

Having built a career while raising a child, I’ve seen firsthand how quickly organisational assumptions can change once women become mothers.

Supportive organisational practices – flexible work models, hybrid arrangements and inclusive cultures – are not perks; they’re enablers. Without them, even the most capable talent eventually leaves. Equity becomes real when systems allow people to perform consistently over time, not only when intentions are well articulated.

Q: How can industry, academia, and policymakers work together, to accelerate the entry and retention of women in tech?

A: This requires long-term alignment, not isolated initiatives. The pipeline challenge begins early at school level. Industry needs to work more closely with education systems to provide real world exposure through internships, mentorship and practitioners who can bridge theory and application.

I see the importance of early exposure firsthand. With my 10 year old daughter, I make a conscious effort to introduce her to global innovations and emerging trends.

She has already learned to use AI tools to create simple solutions that support her studies. This early familiarity builds confidence and curiosity, and helps children see technology not as something intimidating but a tool they can actively use and shape.

This is where policy and infrastructure matter: childcare access, safe transportation and systems that recognise non-linear career paths. When industry, academia and policymakers move in alignment, women are not only encouraged to embrace technology, they’re able to stay, grow and lead.