REDESIGNING GENDER EQUITY IN TECH
Technology has a deeply entrenched culture that makes achieving true diversity harder than in almost any other part of business. Yet it’s also where change delivers the greatest rewards — innovation, performance, and resilience.
Project F partners with organisations to design and embed sustainable gender equity in technology teams, building stronger businesses for the long term.
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The case for gender equity
↓56%
Women leaving tech
56% of women leave tech mid-career
—and not to have children
Source: NCWIT
↑3.5%
EBIT increases
EBIT increases by 3.5% with every 10% rise in
female representation in leadership
Source: McKinsey
↑15%
Better financial performance
When contrasting financial performance, the most gender-
diverse companies perform, on average, 15% better.
Source: McKinsey
Balanced teams outperform homogenous teams
Profits increase as the share of women increases up to 50%
Source: Hoogendoorn, H., & Praag, M. van
Creativity and problem solving spikes
Gender-balanced teams are the most likely to experiment,
be creative, share knowledge and fulfil tasks
Source: Lehman Brothers Center for Women in Business
Competitive advantage
Diversity is a competitive differentiator that shifts market
share toward more diverse companies
Source: McKinsey
Build Gender Equity Into the Core of Your Tech Teams
Benchmarking
Gender Equity Diversity & Inclusion standards for the technology sector benchmark and certify organisations large and small. Aligned with international approaches and including intersectional gender dimensions, the T-EDI Standards support a systemic approach to improving gender diversity in tech teams and leadership. Simply take the self assessments to be benchmarked and receive your action plans and resources.
Learn more →
Toolkit for startups
We help early stage startups with a tech-specific Diversity & Inclusion toolkit that has everything they need to set their foundations for healthy, gender diverse growth. We give a startup accreditation that acknowledges their pledge to building a gender equitable and balanced business.
Learn more →
Engage Project F
Project F is a trusted advisory, partnering with organisations across industries to solve some of the toughest challenges in diversity, equity, and inclusion within technology. We provide strategic, data-driven solutions—from leadership advisory and organisational audits to designing inclusive hiring frameworks and interview processes. Work with us to drive real, measurable change in your organisation.
Get in touch →
Content from The F Word Blog
The Fallacy of “Lowering the Bar” to Hire Women: Breaking Through The Prejudice
How to build a genuinely diverse and inclusive tech workforce without underestimating women’s abilities and potential.
The Power of Diversity and Inclusion in Tech Startups and Scaleups: An Essential Ingredient for Sustainable Growth
By prioritizing Diversity and Inclusion, startups can tap into a multitude of benefits that will propel their success. Let’s explore.
Why Creating Diversity in the Tech Sector Needs True Progressive H
Uncover the differences between traditional and progressive HR and how the latter is essential to build diversity and inclusion in the tech industry, especially on the verge of the fifth revolution.
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Frequently asked questions
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Yes. Project F is a for-profit social enterprise. Our charter aligns with Goal #5 (Gender Equality) of the 17 Sustainable Development targets defined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development set out by the UN, and 2 main pillars of the Australian Government Women in STEM Decadal Plan – Supporting women in STEM careers & Making women in STEM visible.
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Project F is purpose-built to address the severe underrepresentation of women in technology. Solving different dimensions of diversity requires tailored expertise — and we don’t dilute our focus.
Our deep, specialised knowledge of the tech sector means we deliver meaningful, lasting outcomes for women in technology. While gender is our focus, the systemic changes we drive often create broader benefits across all areas of diversity.
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Technology is shaping every part of our lives — and will dominate the future of work, with 70% of jobs expected to be STEM-related by 2050. If women are excluded from designing, building, and leading in tech, we don’t just lose talent — we set back gender equality, innovation, and economic growth for generations.
Balanced teams are proven to drive greater creativity, faster innovation, and stronger problem-solving — all essential for building world-class technology. Without diverse perspectives at the table, technology risks serving an ever-narrower slice of society — entrenching inequality instead of solving it.
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The lack of women in technology is systemic — driven by decades of bias, exclusion, and a male-coded industry culture.
Despite women founding the field of computing, a 1960s rebranding of the “ideal programmer” as a socially awkward man shaped hiring, culture, and career pathways for generations. The impact is clear: girls are still steered away from STEM, women lack visible tech role models, and workplace systems consistently fail to support their progression.
Today, over half of women leave the tech sector mid-career, costing organisations critical leadership and innovation capability.
Project F works with companies to dismantle these barriers — embedding systems that not only attract women into tech, but retain and advance them.
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Look for organisations that are working with Project F and those participating in the T-EDI Standards (www.tedistandards.com) from 2024 onwards. These companies have committed to tackling systemic barriers, not just applying surface-level fixes.
Beyond that, be cautious. Many organisations still suffer from the structural issues that drive 56% of women to leave tech mid-career — no matter how polished their employer branding appears.
Always check the data. The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) publishes key metrics like gender pay gaps, promotion rates, and leadership representation. These are far more revealing than company slogans or awards.
Turn Good Intentions Into Real Gender Equity in Tech
Book a meeting with our CEO to find out how Project F can help you embed real gender equity into your tech teams — and turn good intentions into measurable results. Check availability and lock in your session below.