The International Telecommunication Union, a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN), at the Guadalajara Conference decided to establish this date to "inspire and encourage girls to seek a future in ICTs to reduce the gender gap in science, engineering, technology, mathematics and other fields”.
According to the latest report from the World Economic Forum , the percentage of ICT female graduates is 1.7%, while the percentage of male graduates is 8.2%. The lack of participation of young women in ICT-related studies is reflected in the number of women in leadership positions. Grant Thornton's Women in Business 2023 report indicates that in Argentina only 14% of companies have chief information officers (CIOs) , while globally it is 23%.
However, the outlook is encouraging . The Permanent Observatory of the Software Industry and Computer Services of Argentina (OPSSI) of the Chamber of the Argentine Software Industry (CESSI) estimates that by the year 2024 the female labor force will be 40%, which will lead in the future more women to senior leadership.
This year, the theme proposed by the UN on this day is “ Digital skills for life ”. Maria Pretorius , Director and Head of Enterprise Risk Services at SNG Grant Thornton (South Africa) notes that “I often use the word 'out-figurable' – with the large volume of new innovation and solutions, I feel that no problem or issue is too big to find a solution for or to figure out" and for this digital skills are necessary.
Maria began her path in technology “before computers. As an audit article clerk, I had to check that the list of debtors added up and, in those days, I had to cast it manually. I learnt to challenge and not to accept information on face value.”
Mariana Alonso, partner of BRS - Financial Services at Grant Thornton Argentina, comments that "acquiring experience in auditing means developing in several areas, since in addition to applying accounting knowledge, it is necessary to come into contact with various topics of the profession such as those of tax areas, labor, processes, internal control, corporate legal issues, etc. and also of technology and the industries in which we work”.
At Grant Thornton, we celebrate too this date to encourage the participation of women in the field of technology and invite them to develop their careers in our firm. To find out more, visit our careers website.