MIS Quarterly Executive invited Kristen Lamoreaux and Caren Shiozaki to respond to MISQE’s December 2024 article “Do Women Make Less Than Men in IT? Yes and No!” Lamoreaux is President of Lamoreaux Search, an executive search firm focused on technology leadership. She is also the founder of SIM Women, a national organization that works to boost female representation in IT leadership positions. Shiozaki has held various C-suite roles over the past two decades, including recently serving as an interim CEO overseeing a business restructuring. She has also sat on numerous industry and philanthropic boards.

Sharing Advice on Finding Success in the Field

Crystal Martin landed her first job in tech helping women learn code, but there was just one problem, no one would listen to her in meetings. "Why is it that 41% of women leave the tech field within their tenth year? In my opinion, it's because of messages like keep your head down and say nothing." In this energetic talk, Martin pushes for women to advocate for one another in the workplace, stressing that hard work does not speak for itself--you do.

According to a report released in 2023 by the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO), there is a significant gender pay gap of 21% among full-time workers in the information technology (IT) sector. We examine the gender pay disparity in the IT sector by analyzing a secondary data set. Our findings suggest that female salaries average $110,496 per year while male salaries average $119,418 per year, constituting an 8% gap. Furthermore, there is a notable disparity in wages between men and women in the age range of 35 to 64. This indicates that women may face unequal opportunities as they progress through their IT careers. Research conducted by leading business publications has highlighted the significant impact of the gender wage gap on job satisfaction and the subsequent increase in the likelihood of women leaving their positions. This concerning trend further exacerbates the already low representation of women in the IT industry. We delve into the implications of our findings for current and future IT leaders and human resources departments.

As the fintech industry continues to thrive globally, breaking new boundaries and introducing more innovations to the marketplace, women are taking an increasingly central role at the helm of disruptive fintech companies.