How to attract women into technology? Jaana and Reelika share their experience

Although Estonia considers its technology industry a success, the share of women in the ICT sector is only 25%. In the data center industry the situation is especially poor: the international average for the industry is only 8% women. How did Jaana Hanikat and Reelika Kont, who in fact have no technology background, end up working in a data center? What tricks attract women into a "man's world", and why is that needed at all?

Jaana works at Greenergy Data Centers as head of legal and compliance. It is her first job in the technology sector. "I am responsible for the whole legal side, audits, compliance questions and so on," she sums up the job briefly.

Reelika is responsible for everything to do with accounting and finance. "In 20 years as an accountant I have worked in many different fields, but this is my first job in the technology sector," she says.

Both say there is no routine at GDC. "If even the accountant can say there is no routine, things are very good," laughs Reelika. "Every day brings topics from wall to wall; you have to adapt, develop and keep up with the times," Jaana adds.

Did not know exactly what job lay ahead

Although Jaana has always been interested in technology, she cannot say she dreamed as a child of working in the field. What drew her was the legal landscape of technology, which changes and develops faster than in many other fields. "It is fascinating to watch how countries and companies alike create a legal framework for new technology. It was a chance to test myself: can I keep up with the pace and make my own contribution to a rapidly changing world," says Jaana.

Reelika admits she had no particular interest in technology before. She joined Greenergy Data Centers five years ago, when it was still being set up. What appealed to her was the chance to see up close how a company gains its footing.

Still, Reelika admits she did not know exactly what she was getting into. "At the time I did not really understand what I was actually applying for. I had no idea what a data center meant, what a cabinet was, how the systems are put together. By now all of that has become clear on the job," she says.

A year ago Jaana was in the same position. "According to the advert I came to do ordinary legal work. Over the first months I started to understand where I actually was. Then I also understood I had made the right decision," she recalls.

Sometimes "silly questions" still have to be asked to understand what is being discussed. That works the other way as well. "When you come from outside, you look at things from a completely different angle. That makes people who have worked in the technology sector for longer see their work from another perspective too. They have to step out of their comfort zone for a moment and think about what they do and why they do it that way," Jaana explains.

In hindsight both say there is no point being afraid of the technology sector. Above all you need your own initiative and the ability to think; the rest comes with the job.

A man's world

Internationally there are very few women in the data center business, on average only 8%. At Greenergy Data Centers the number is better, but the question is not only about statistics. It matters to find out what keeps women away from the technology sector and how we could involve them more.

"The fact that our ratio is better is the result of conscious work," says Jaana. There are certain roles that tend to be held by women. However testosterone-laden an organisation may be, the accountant is generally still a woman. Legal and compliance work is also, across companies, mostly women's domain.

"Some roles have always had more women, but that does not mean the technology world closes its doors to them elsewhere. Our goal is to consciously build a more diverse team and encourage women to apply for technical roles as well. To be honest, you will hardly find women setting up cabinets today, but you will in accounting and in legal," says Jaana.

Jaana spends much of her free time in the company of cars and other four- and two-wheelers. That has a bearing on why a masculine work environment did not frighten her. "For me it has never been a "man's world". I have always worked among men. That is one of the reasons I came here very confidently and boldly," she says. As a light aside, in winter Jaana beat all the GDC men at an ice-karting competition.

A balanced team makes a better working environment

But why is a larger share of women in the technology sector needed at all? Jaana and Reelika believe balance matters for creating a better working environment. "When the ratio of men and women is in balance, the organisation has the right atmosphere, which in turn creates the right working climate and job satisfaction. Women are the counterweight in a masculine group," Jaana believes.

"When women are in the room, the atmosphere is a little different. Maybe the odd juicier expression goes unsaid, but the main thing is that conversations become more balanced and the team spirit genuinely stronger," Reelika confirms.

Why women do not reach the technology sector is largely a question for the education system. For the second year, a visit to the GDC data center is part of one of TalTech's information technology study programmes. "Universities and secondary school classes come to see what role a data center plays in the digital world around us," says Jaana.

While girls are very strong in science and mathematics at secondary school, by university there are several times fewer women than men in the technology disciplines that build on those subjects.

"The most important thing is the first step. If the wish and the will are there, take that step and give it a try. I recommend looking at it as an ordinary job and not overthinking it, as in "oh my, I am going into the technology sector now"," Jaana encourages.

It also gives a big advantage from an economic point of view. Incomes in the technology sector are comparatively good. "We certainly cannot say we feel a pay gap here," adds Reelika, who works as an accountant.

To finish, an observation for all women: very good opportunities actually await women in the technology field. Because there are so few of you in the technology sector, being a woman can give a considerable advantage when applying. Above all, what is sought are people with drive and an open mind.