84% of women in tech say more female leaders would improve workplace culture: Acronis report

As many as 63 per cent of women in the tech industry reported they feel there is a lack of female leadership in cybersecurity. Meanwhile, 84 per cent of employed women in IT agree that tech organisations would benefit from more female leadership roles.

“Closing the gender gap requires more than good intentions. Organisations must recognise these disparities and design programs that expand leadership opportunities, confront bias head-on, and create environments where work-life balance doesn’t derail women’s careers,” said Alona Geckler, SVP of Business Operations and Chief of Staff at Acronis.

Further, the report underscores that 70 per cent of women prioritise leadership development programmes tailored for women, a significantly higher proportion than men (56 per cent). Meanwhile, 41 per cent of women cited bias and stereotypes as the main barrier to entering cybersecurity careers.

“For companies across the tech sector, highlighting women role models, addressing bias directly, and fostering inclusive cultures can benefit the entire industry,” said Melyssa Banda, senior vice president at Seagate Technology. “The opportunity now is to turn these insights into action that drives innovation and ensures everyone can thrive.”

While the share of women in the global tech workforce remains at 29 per cent, Acronis’ report shows that progress toward equity should go beyond hiring metrics. The call to action, according to the study, is to invest in targeted initiatives that empower women to lead and reduce the persistent sense of fear of missing out in the digital workplace.