Women in data: Progress and key milestones so far – News

At Qlik Connect 2025, the spotlight rested extensively on cutting-edge developments and partnerships in data and AI. Subsequently, it turned to inclusion, mentorship and the future of women in data, examining the current state of affairs and proffering areas of improvement.

From initiatives such as “Women Who Qlik” to other grassroots involvements supporting underrepresented minorities, QlikTech International AB is setting the pace for conscientious inclusivity,  drawing in thousands of new participants and giving them a new lease of life.

“If you look at women in data, you find that you have a lot of young girls and women who, when they’re in school, they love data — they’re good at mathematics,” said Stephanie Robinson (pictured, middle), IT business intelligence manager of Qlik platforms at JBS USA Pilgrims (JBS USA Food Company Holdings). “But when they start to graduate, they don’t go into STEM or IT. And this is one of the things we found; I think there’s like 24% of girls out of school who are going into IT-type careers to study. And of that, there’s less than 15% actually to move up and then end up in management positions.”

Robinson, alongside Sadie St Lawrence (right), founder and chief executive officer of Human Machine Collaboration Institute; and Miranda Foster (left), vice president for worldwide communications at QlikTech International AB, spoke with theCUBE’s John Furrier at Qlik Connect, during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, News Media’s livestreaming studio. They discussed the future of women in data, touching on the unique challenges women face in balancing career growth with personal responsibilities. (* Disclosure below.)

Democratizing AI and leveling the playing field for women in data

A recurring theme has been AI as a key democratizer for entry into technology fields. With tools that now simplify coding, prompt-driven insights and intuitive interfaces, more women can enter data careers without formal STEM degrees. AI isn’t eliminating jobs — it’s creating new ones, according to Foster. Empowering women to explore, experiment and bring their unique perspectives to these tools is essential in building inclusive innovation ecosystems.

“With the explosion of AI, it’s going to open so many new doors — not just for women, but young women, women out of college,” she said. “Are people going to lose their jobs? No. It’s quite the opposite: It’s going to create new opportunities and new pathways and new opportunities for these young women to come in and potentially have new career opportunities. I think it’s actually a wonderful evolution and will open a lot of doors.”

The convergence of data analytics and generative AI is clearing uncharted career paths for women. The Women in Data network spans 55 chapters across 70 countries, highlighting how AI tools such as Qlik Answers are revolutionizing access, according to St. Lawrence. No longer confined to [structured query language] or traditional data science, careers in AI, analytics and data engineering are now accessible to individuals from diverse, non-technical backgrounds.

“You can pretty much put data in front of any word now, and it’s a new job that’s forming and evolving,” St. Lawrence said. “What’s happening that we’re seeing is just as people are coming in for new career changes, new pathways are also being evolved. We first started with data analytics and data engineering, and now expanding into a lot of the AI work that’s happening, as well.”

Here’s the complete video interview, part of News’s and theCUBE’s coverage of Qlik Connect:

(* Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for Qlik Connect. Neither QlikTech International AB, the sponsor of theCUBE’s event coverage, nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or News.)

Photo: News