In today’s world of technology, where innovation is something that happens very fast, in many cases famous male figures appear. But not only that, there are many women emerging on different continents. From programmers to engineers, designers or visionaries who do not stand still and who are part of emerging technology companies.
They are women who are breaking all kinds of stereotypes and who are working on real-world problems, always trying to adapt technology to help humans.
Let’s explore some of their careers, challenges and the impact they are making as they have stepped out of the shadows and become CEOs of many start-ups.
Even with the progress we’ve made in gender equality, the startup landscape still reveals a noticeable gap. Numerous reports show that women represent less than 25% of startup founders, and when it comes to venture capital, female-led startups still secure a disproportionately small share of the funding available. It is a sobering reality, but numbers alone can’t capture the full picture.
Fortunately, trends are starting to change and women have stepped forward as founders of many technology companies. This allows for a new overall perspective where women are creating companies that address certain needs that are often overlooked or neglected. A clear example of this is mental health and motherhood along with cybersecurity designed for female users and educational technologies adapted to care for students.
All these contributions bring creativity, empathy and a great overall social responsibility. Because through this, not only women benefit, but also the public at large.
Of course, not every female founder begins with a technical background. But many do, and for those women, the journey frequently starts with a passion for solving problems through code.
For most skilled people, programming is much more than just acquiring a skill. It is a gateway to a world that is full of possibilities. These days, whether through university courses, tutorials or workshops, learning about programming has been offered to women who want to empower themselves. This not only gives them a tool to work with, but also allows them to create solutions to better understand technology and adapt it to everyday life.
This learning has a unique value for leadership positions. Women are able to communicate with all work and development teams and make good decisions about it.
In the early days, setting up a business is not easy. The founders sometimes find themselves doing everything from product development to sales and customer service. It certainly makes for great leadership training for them as it teaches them resilience and adaptability. In this way, they will be better able to perform their jobs and understand their team members in the future.
To truly appreciate the scale of change happening, we need to look at some of the women who have not only coded but built entire companies, shaping industries as they go.
Anne-Marie Imafidon is nothing short of extraordinary. A British computing prodigy, she passed her A-level computing exam at the age of 11. She went on to work for global giants like Goldman Sachs before launching STEMettes, a social enterprise dedicated to inspiring the next generation of girls in science, technology, engineering, and maths.
Thanks to her leadership, thousands of girls across the UK have discovered new pathways into STEM careers. Her efforts combine deep technical expertise with a fierce commitment to gender equality, making her a beacon for aspiring women in tech.
Over in the United States, Reshma Saujani has built a legacy that spans continents. After a career in law and politics, she founded Girls Who Code, a non-profit organisation aimed at closing the gender gap in technology.
Through coding clubs, summer programmes, and advocacy campaigns, Girls Who Code has taught millions of girls not just to code but to believe in their potential as tech leaders. Reshma’s vision has shown that empowering young women with technical skills can create waves of change that extend far beyond the classroom.
Alice Bentinck is another standout figure. She co-founded Entrepreneur First, a talent investor that helps individuals build startups from scratch, even if they don’t yet have a team or an idea. Alongside this, she launched Code First: Girls, one of the UK’s most successful initiatives for teaching coding to women.
Her dual focus on education and entrepreneurship reflects a broader mission: to ensure that women have the tools, confidence, and support to lead in tech from the outset of their careers.
As inspiring as these stories are, they exist alongside an uncomfortable truth: the journey from coder to CEO is fraught with obstacles.
Gender bias remains a stubborn issue. Female founders often report that investors question them differently from their male counterparts, focusing more on potential risks and less on growth potential. This subtle, yet pervasive, bias can shape the opportunities that women receive — or don’t.
Venture capital is still an arena dominated by men, and the data backs this up. Time and again, female-led startups receive less funding, even when their performance matches or surpasses that of male-led ventures. This funding gap is not just a hurdle; it’s a barrier that limits how far many women can scale their businesses.
Beyond the boardroom, there is also the reality of work-life balance. Startup culture is notorious for glorifying constant hustle, but this mindset rarely acknowledges the additional pressures many women face, particularly those balancing entrepreneurship with family responsibilities. Without adequate support, the risk of burnout is very real.
Despite the hurdles, many female founders are not only succeeding but are actively creating spaces where others can thrive too.
Support networks, depending on the women, contribute critically to their journeys. Many women call mentorship groups, women-led venture capital funds, and accelerator programs lifelines. These communities offer a little bit of more: they give their camaraderie, encouragement, and reminding them that they are never alone in their unique struggles in the tech industry.
Increasingly, women CEOs are redefining what leadership looks like. They are moving away from rigid, hierarchical models to more collaborative, empathetic, and flexible styles of management wherein innovation flows together with employee well-being.
Another trend among female-led startups is a strong sense of purpose. A lot of these businesses want to help society by solving problems like climate change, making healthcare more accessible, or closing gaps in education. These founders don’t just measure success by how much money they make; they also look at how much good they do.
If we want more women to move from coder to C.E.O. we need to create a better environment from the beginning.
It’s important for girls to learn coding, digital making and problem-solving at an early age. Girls Who Code, Code First: Girls, STEMettes and other initiatives are doing phenomenal work but more investment would be needed to make sure that all girls from all backgrounds can have these opportunities.
The funding landscape must evolve. There are more female-focused venture capital firms, grants and investor networks coming on scene, but systemic change is still necessary. Investors need to fight their own prejudices and acknowledge the enormous impact and value that diverse leadership brings.
Representation truly matters. When younger minds witness women leading in tech — not as a token representative, but as visionaries and decision makers — it has a transformative effect. None of us are blameless in that, but media and educators, as well as the tech industry itself, all have a part to play in elevating and amplifying these success stories.
Is the path from road builder to CEO strewn with obstacles, and are these women here to prove it doesn’t have to be? They are reshaping technology leadership, and bolting it through with vision, empathy, tenacity and technical competency.
Moving forward, rather than just celebrating a few amazing women founders, the entire tech ecosystem must be reconfigured to enable many more to do the same. At the very least, equitable support, inclusive educational pathways, and workplace cultures that honor and respect diverse leadership styles will.
Indeed, the path from code to CEO is not just an accomplishment BUT a design blueprint for a smarter, more inclusive, and decidedly Human tech industry.