Girls Power Tech
Attracting young women to tech
Every year, Cisco participates in Girls in ICT Day. We open our doors to young women all over the world and inspire them to pursue careers in STEM through hands-on exposure to the latest technology and engagement with industry professionals.
Women can help fill the skills gap
Women comprise a mere 27% of workers in the computer science, engineering, and physics fields in some of the world’s emerging economies, representing a large, untapped resource of technology talent.
- 1.2 million computing-related jobs will exist in the U.S. by 2022, with only enough computer degree graduates to fill 39% of them
- Women earn 57% of all U.S. undergraduate degrees but only 18% of undergraduate computer and information sciences degrees
- Only 24% of Chief Information Officer positions at Fortune 100 companies were held by women
Exposing young women to opportunities
Every April, Cisco supports Girls in ICT Day. Cisco employees worldwide spend the day with girls age 13 to 18, encouraging them to consider education and career paths in STEM.
- Cisco events include office visits, tours, presentations, and mentoring
- Students meet women role models and men who are advocates for women in technology, learning about their career paths and lives in the technology field
- Students use Cisco TelePresence and collaboration solutions to interact with other girls across the globe and with successful women working at Cisco and elsewhere
2017 impact at a glance
5763 young women participated in 2017
1689 Cisco employees volunteered at 90 offices in 50 countries
15,000+ mentoring hours provided by employees
“We’re part of an amazing industry that is continuously changing the way we connect to everyone and everything. Be part of inspiring young women to imagine, innovate and build the way we connect in the future.”
Kelly Kramer, EVP, Chief Financial Officer — Cisco
Technology enables extraordinary change
Girls Power Tech shows that women are a powerful catalyst for change in society.