The key to increasing women in technology is shifting focus from initial attraction to understanding and improving retention.
Women often leave tech not due to lack of ability but because of imposter syndrome and a lack of psychological safety to ask questions.
A strong emphasis on mathematics and science in Eastern European schools provides a solid foundation that builds confidence for university-level computer science.
Historical factors, including the view of engineering as a path to economic stability and the normalization of working women under communism, contributed to a smaller gender gap.
The pressure to choose between expressing femininity and being taken seriously as an engineer creates an unnecessary and harmful dichotomy for women in tech.
In Eastern Europe, strong parental and cultural expectations around education normalize struggle and encourage persistence through difficult technical subjects.
Survey data and personal experience show that feeling isolated is a key reason women leave tech, highlighting the importance of friendships and community.
Seeing women in senior technical roles provides crucial representation, and true seniority involves mentoring and helping junior developers grow.
The ultimate goal is to create environments where belonging is so ingrained in the culture that retention improves for everyone, not just women.
Jobs that call for the skills explored in this talk.