In commemoration of International Women’s History Month, The Future Project hosted a virtual webinar titled Digital Inclusion, Technology, and the Future of Women’s Work. The discussion brought together leaders across technology, media, and innovation to explore systemic barriers limiting women’s participation in the digital economy. This insight brief summarizes key challenges identified during the discussion, outlines policy and ecosystem recommendations, and records the commitments made by panelists to advance gender inclusion in technology. 

Event: Digital Inclusion, Technology, and the Future of Women’s Work
Organizer: The Future Project
Moderator: Christiana Onoja (CEO, SheCode.ai)
Speakers:
• Dr. Kieva Chris-Amusan (Fertitude)
• Olamide Femi-Taiwo (The Media Answer) 

Purpose:
To examine barriers limiting women’s participation in the digital economy and identify practical steps toward inclusive innovation. 

Key Systemic Barriers Identified 

The discussion highlighted several structural barriers that continue to limit the full participation of women in the digital economy. Our panelists emphasized that these challenges are interconnected, often beginning with early social expectations and extending into professional spaces, access to resources, and leadership opportunities within the technology ecosystem. Understanding these barriers is essential to designing solutions that create a more inclusive and equitable digital future. 

Gendered Socialization and Early Barriers 

From a very young age, young girls are trained with the thought and idea of being caregivers, more like mothers. In certain traditions, they are even named “young mothers” from birth. This social defect is touched on by our panelists, who believe the young girls are denied the opportunity to imagine and be exposed to professional spaces, especially STEM, as their career options are limited, seeing as they are mainly raised to believe certain jobs are for men or not for women who should be “home keepers.” 

Limited Access to Digital Resources 

Due to these social defects and other barriers placed by society on young girls and women, their access to digital tools, resources, training, and mentorship required to thrive in the technology ecosystem are limited. Till this present day, campaigns are still being run to give girls computer training and more technological training, which should not be. However, it is important we keep acting, ensuring that technological literacy is spread across all genders to give all our youths the tools to build a better future for themselves and their generations. 

Underrepresentation in Leadership and Investment 

Another systemic challenge discussed during the webinar is the persistent underrepresentation of women in leadership positions within the technology sector. While the number of women entering digital spaces has increased in recent years, senior leadership roles, technical decision-making positions, and investment networks remain largely dominated by men. This imbalance affects how opportunities are distributed across the ecosystem. Individuals in leadership positions influence hiring decisions, funding allocations, and strategic priorities. When women are not adequately represented in these spaces, it becomes more difficult to advocate for policies, initiatives, and workplace cultures that support greater inclusion. 

Pipeline Gaps and Funding Barriers for Women in Tech 

Women entrepreneurs in the technology sector often face significant challenges when seeking investment and financial support. Venture capital and startup funding ecosystems have historically favored male-led ventures, leaving many women founders with fewer opportunities to access the resources needed to scale their innovations. Even when women-led startups demonstrate strong potential, unconscious bias and limited representation within investor networks can influence funding decisions. At the same time, the issue extends beyond investment to the broader pipeline of women entering technology-related fields. Social expectations, limited exposure to STEM education, and insufficient mentorship opportunities continue to discourage many girls and young women from pursuing technical careers. This combination of barriers reduces the number of women positioned to found or lead technology ventures in the first place, while also limiting access to the resources needed to grow those ventures. Without intentional efforts to strengthen the pipeline and create more equitable funding ecosystems, the technology sector risks reproducing existing gender gaps for future generations. 

Key Takeaways from the Conversation 

Here are some key insights from the webinar: 

• Inclusion must extend beyond access to leadership and decision-making roles.
• Representation shapes opportunity distribution within the technology ecosystem.
• Strengthening the pipeline of women entering tech is essential for long-term equity.
• Gender equality in the digital economy requires coordinated action from institutions, policymakers, and industry leaders.

Commitments Made During the Webinar 

Beyond identifying challenges and proposing recommendations, the discussion also emphasized the importance of individual and institutional accountability. To ensure the conversations lead to tangible impact, our panelists made specific commitments aimed at ensuring the conversation does not just end within the meeting, but measurable actions are taken and everyone has a sense of responsibility to making sure they create change. These commitments serve as immediate actions that can contribute to broader efforts to strengthen gender inclusion in the digital ecosystem. 

In Conclusion

The discussion reaffirmed that achieving gender inclusion in technology requires sustained collaboration between industry leaders, policymakers, and communities. The Future Project remains committed to advancing these conversations while supporting concrete actions that expand opportunities for women and girls in the digital economy.