Women's Day 2023: Towards an inclusive digital world
This year the UN’s theme for International Women’s Day is "DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality", highlighting the need for technological change that includes women and girls and bridges what has been called the “digital gender divide”. Meanwhile, the focus of the International Women’s Day platform is #EmbraceEquity, emphasizing that equity entails giving everyone what they need to be successful, according to their circumstances.
The theme for International Women’s Day, 2023 is, “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality”
Digital technologies are continually evolving and expanding in all areas, and the water industry is a prime example of their potential; digital solutions are already providing better insights, more efficient management, and improved delivery of services. The adoption of disruptive technologies has accelerated in recent years and digital solutions, whether software, hardware or analytics, are a main area of innovation in the industry.
But are women participating and contributing to shaping the digital transformation of the water industry? They have not always been part of the development of emerging technologies – women are underrepresented in software development and patenting, for instance - even though it is widely recognized that they bring unique views to the table, and diversity of thought is important for innovation we need to address water challenges.
But are women participating and contributing to shaping the digital transformation of the water industry?
On the other hand, for professionals, the digital realm is linked to a higher earning potential and new economic opportunities that could help close the gender gap. Moreover, the digital age opens the door to new forms of employment that can help achieve a better work-life balance.
We wanted to use this occasion to ask women professionals in our industry about their experiences and their views on women’s participation in digital innovation and the opportunities it might bring to achieve gender parity.
In this interview, Meena Sankaran, Founder and CEO of Ketos, believes in leveraging technology and building business models for challenges that bring about global change. She founded the company in 2015 to transform the water industry with the goal of making water safer and sustainable.
We also had the opportunity to hear from Sabina Todd, Regional General Manager and Vice President of APAC at Envirosuite. She is in charge of the company’s strategy for the Region to solve complex challenges for clients in various industries, including water, through data intelligence technologies.
Smart Water Magazine has a dedicated section to Women and Water, giving a voice to the water women professionals of the sector around the world. You will find interviews and articles of women who work to achieve parity in their career development.
Women entrepreneurs in the water sector: the road less traveled, or not anymore?
We hear from various women who have founded their own water company, to learn a bit more about why they chose this career path and their experience as women business owners in a male-dominated sector.
Inspirational women for the water sector
On International Women’s Day, we draw attention to all women working in the water sector, and also remember and cheer all those who made a difference or who are still making a mark in water and science. This time we asked several women professionals what woman in the water/scientific sector most inspired them and why.
Why are women underrepresented in the water sector?
In 2020, a study by The World Bank looking into the barriers women face in the water sector found that less than one in five workers are women. We reached out to numerous women in the sector to know their views on why women are underrepresented in technical and managerial positions in this sector.
Women in the water sector: closing the gender gap
Smart Water Magazine prepared a cycle of interviews with influential women in the water industry, inviting them to share their experiences and thoughts on how to achieve gender equality.
