The Algorithm for Equality Rewiring STEM to Accelerate Girls and Women
Christina Naidoo, COO Huawei South Africa
The world runs on algorithms. They power economies, industries, and the way we
experience daily life, but algorithms are only as good as the data they are built on. The
structures governing STEM have been trained on flawed inputs, reinforcing patterns that
have kept women on the margins of industries shaping the future.
Women make up nearly 50% of the global population but represent only 35% of the
workforce in science and engineering fields. In emerging industriesâsuch as artificial
intelligence, cybersecurity, and quantum computingâthe gender gap is even wider. A report
by the World Economic Forum found that only 22% of AI professionals worldwide are
women, meaning that the technologies shaping the future are being built with incomplete
perspectives. The problem is not a lack of talent or ambition, it is a system that has not been
designed to fully include women.
If we want to see the scales change, we need to rewrite the algorithm and rethink the rules
that govern opportunity, leadership, and innovation in STEM.
As the world marks International Day for Women and Girls in STEM under the theme
âWomen and Girls in Science Leadership: A New Era for Sustainability,â the focus must shift
from progress to acceleration.
Women at the helm of technological innovation
Technology is not neutral. It mirrors its creators. When women are absent from decision-
making roles in STEM, we donât just lose representation, we lose progress. The
consequences are already evident. In medical research for example, diseases often present
differently in women, yet historically, most clinical trials have been conducted on male
subjects. The result is misdiagnoses and delayed treatments. In engineering, safety gear has
long been designed for the average male body, increasing risks for women in fields like
manufacturing, aviation, and emergency response. These are not just oversights; they are
system failures that persist because the people designing the solutions are not
representative of the people using them.
The next era of AI, cybersecurity, climate science, and green technology must be shaped by
those who embrace diverse perspectives. When women lead in these fields, innovation
expands, and solutions become more inclusive. Progress comes from fully integrating
women into the core of technological advancement.
Beyond the Pipeline
Initiatives to bring more women into STEM have often focused on participation, assuming
the main challenge is access. However, the issue extends beyond the pipeline to visibility.
Girls engage with technology daily through gaming, social media, and digital culture, yet they
rarely see women leading the industries behind these platforms. They recognise influencers,
content creators, and viral stars but not the engineers, data scientists, and AI developers
shaping the digital world.
Representation shapes perceptions across culture, education, and media. STEM careers are
often viewed as highly technical, yet they are also creative and deeply influential. Women in
science and technology contribute to groundbreaking advancements, shaping industries,
designing solutions, and driving innovation. Their visibility should extend beyond academic
journals to cultural spaces where influence is shaped. True change comes from more than
inspiration; it requires mentorship, access to opportunities, and direct industry connections.
As a leader in this sector, I want to see more young women who not only aspire to enter
STEM but who see themselves in leadership, who envision themselves in roles like mine and
beyond. That shift doesnât happen through passive encouragement; it happens when young
women see tangible pathways, when they witness women making decisions that shape
industries, and when they understand that leadership in STEM is not an exception, but an
expectation.
Stopping the Silent Exodus
Women enter STEM with ambition and talent, yet many leave at alarming rates because the
system is not designed for them to thrive. Women in STEM report significantly higher levels
of burnout, imposter syndrome, and workplace discrimination than their male counterparts,
according to the UNESCO Science Report, 2023. They are more likely to be passed over for
leadership opportunities, experience wage stagnation, and face structural penalties for
career breaks.
Retention means creating an environment where women in STEM can build long-term,
fulfilling careers. Success in STEM is often measured by metrics that prioritise long hours and
constant availability over innovation and meaningful contributions. Women in these fields
frequently take on additional responsibilities such as mentorship, diversity initiatives, and
workplace culture-building roles that add immense value but are rarely factored into career
progression. Recognising and rewarding these contributions is essential to creating
environments where talent is retained, leadership pathways are clear, and the industry
continues to evolve.
Who gets funded, gets to build the future
Financial capital is a gateway to innovation, yet access remains unequal. According to a 2023
report by PitchBook, women-led startups receive less than 3% of global venture capital, and
female researchers secure less funding and fewer grants, despite producing equally high-
impact work. This disparity is not a reflection of talent but of structural barriers to funding
and opportunity.
Economic inclusion drives STEM progress. Reprogramming the algorithm for equality
requires investment models that create real opportunities for women-led ventures and
research projects. Initiatives like the Huawei Women in Tech Digital Skills Training
Programme are helping to reshape this landscape by equipping women entrepreneurs and
government leaders with advanced technological skills and leadership development. Now in
its fourth year, the programme has provided training to over 300 women, expanding their
expertise in AI, cloud computing, and 5G, while fostering strong professional networks.
The acceleration of women in STEM depends on access to the right resources, skills, and
opportunities. Investing in women today drives the innovation and technological advancements shaping industries right now. The future is being written now. Women must
be the ones coding it.
About Huawei
Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT)
infrastructure and smart devices. With integrated solutions across four key domains â telecom
networks, IT, smart devices, and cloud services â we are committed to bringing digital to every
person, home and organisation for a fully connected, intelligent world.
Huawei's end-to-end portfolio of products, solutions and services are both competitive and secure.
Through open collaboration with ecosystem partners, we create lasting value for our customers,
working to empower people, enrich home life, and inspire innovation in organisations of all shapes
and sizes.
At Huawei, innovation focuses on customer needs. We invest heavily in basic research, concentrating
on technological breakthroughs that drive the world forward. By December 31, 2023, Huawei had
207,000 employees, more than 114,000 of which were R&D employees (55%). In 2023, our total R&D
spending reached CNY164.7 billion, representing 23.4% of our total revenue. We operate in more
than 170 countries and regions, serving more than three billion people worldwide. In 2023, through
the efforts of all employees, the company achieved an estimated annual sales revenue of CNY704.2
billion, aligned with forecasts. Founded in 1987, Huawei is a private company fully owned by its
employees.
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