Can Entrepreneur Barbie Help Change Tech Culture?
The glass ceiling may have cracks in some sectors, but it’s still holding strong in the technology industry.
As testament, several tech giants recently released workforce demographics that show striking similarities. Facebook’s diversity figures show that within its global tech workforce, 85 percent are male and 15 percent are female. According to Google, in the company’s tech sector 83 percent are male and 17 percent are female. And while Yahoo has female CEO Marissa Mayer, overall across its tech leadership only 15 percent are women.
“We’re not where we want to be,” the companies lament. The question remains: How do we get to a place where more young girls’ dreams include a career in technology?
Google recently launched Made with Code, an initiative to inspire girls to code and build technology. The theme—things you love are made with code—encourages girls to see code as creative and applicable across many fields.
Remember when Teen Talk Barbie said “"math class is tough"? That was in 1992, and Mattel was subjected to widespread ridicule—and this was before the Twitterverse. Mattel’s latest career-of-the-year doll is designed to help inspire girls to break through ceilings, albeit plastic, “blazing trails along with other female leaders who are proud to be the boss.”
Meet Entrepreneur Barbie.
Okay, this is Barbie, so she’s still wearing pink. But today her accessories are her smartphone, tablet, and briefcase. She’s ready to pitch her startup to a group of venture capitalists.
As part of the promotion, along with career-themed games and activities, www.barbie.com/entrepreneur introduces some successful women entrepreneurs, including Reshma Saujani, the founder and CEO of Girls Who Code.
In a Q&A: From Girl Afraid of Math to Girls Who Code, Saujani admits
I know it's hard to believe because I run a technology organization, but in school I was a girl who was afraid of math. ...I wish now that I hadn't given up so easily, so I always tell girls to push themselves in those science, technology, engineering and math subjects. Don't let anyone tell you you're not good at them—you are!
If you want to network, follow Entrepreneur Barbie on LinkedIn. But beware—she has a twenty-page resume.
