Countries aspiring to become technology-driven and knowledge-based economies need a workforce with a sound foundation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). However, gender disparity in STEM fields persists, holding back economic progress. 

A 2023 report from the World Economic Forum says women are consistently underrepresented in STEM jobs. They make up only 29.9% of all STEM workers, when they account for almost half or 49.3% of total employment across non-STEM occupations. Women also have the lowest representation in leadership roles within STEM occupations. Women account for 29.4% of entry-level workers; yet for high-level leadership roles such as vice-president and C-suite, representation falls to 17.8% and 12.4%, respectively. The report cited data from business-focused social network LinkedIn.

To mark Gender Equality Month, this webinar examined the barriers affecting women’s participation in STEM and industries relevant to STEM. It explored how to address these barriers and the crucial roles of government and business in ensuring equitable and inclusive STEM career pathways for women in the Asia and the Pacific.

The webinar, which is part of the Digital Policy Webinar Series organized by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Amazon Web Services, and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, was co-organized by Tata Consultancy Services. The webinar series aims to enhance understanding of digital technologies, their benefits, and policy best practices for digital transformation. The webinar series promotes multistakeholder dialogue by bringing together policymakers, regulators, think tanks, academia, industry, and other key sectors. It looks at how forward-thinking and pro-innovation policies can accelerate the digital transformation of countries.

Speakers

• Samantha Hung, Director, Gender Equality Division, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, ADB
• Shveta Bhardwaj, Head, Sustainability Services, Asia–Pacific, Tata Consultancy Services
• Sabrina Wang, Founder, People’s Inc. 360
• Esra Özçömlekçi, Founder, Nutradient
• Talitha Amalia, Director, Operations, Solve Education!
• Nusheen Nalwala, Head, Corporate Social Responsibility, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Employee Well-being - Asia–Pacific, Tata Consultancy Services
• Moderator: Manvinder Bhullar, Public Policy Analyst, Amazon Web Services