Shrinking Female Presence in Tech Positions Puts Diversity and Innovation at Risk
In the ever-evolving landscape of financial technology, the representation of women in senior tech-focused roles continues to be a topic of significant importance. According to the recently released OMFIF Gender Balance Index (GBI) 2025, while some progress has been made, disparities persist, particularly in sectors such as sovereign funds and commercial banks.
The report, which analyses the representation of women in senior tech roles across various financial institutions, highlights a number of key findings. Overall leadership remains underrepresented, with only 16% of the 335 financial institutions surveyed being led by women, suggesting that the same underrepresentation may extend to senior tech roles as well.
The GBI tracks senior women’s presence specifically at central banks, sovereign wealth funds, and public pension funds. While detailed percentages for technology-specific senior roles are not explicitly reported, the GBI shows continued gender gaps. Central banks tend to have better gender balance in senior roles compared to other financial institutions but still fall short of gender parity. Commercial banks and pension funds show slower progress in increasing women’s senior leadership representation. Sovereign funds, on the other hand, generally have the lowest representation of women in senior roles.
The persistent gender gap is not due to a lack of qualified women but rather long-standing biases and structural barriers within the financial sector. This underrepresentation translates to missed opportunities for enhanced innovation, decision-making, and financial performance, especially important in technology-driven leadership roles.
However, there is a strong business case for inclusion. Institutions with more women in leadership, including technology-related senior roles, tend to perform better financially. Gender-diverse boards lead to stronger returns, improved resilience, and more innovative cultures, making the push for greater female representation both a social and economic imperative.
In positive news, commercial banks have experienced the biggest increase in women’s representation in roles with a digital or technological remit, rising to 21% this year from 13% in 2024. This increase suggests a growing recognition of the importance of diverse leadership in technology functions.
The visibility of women in senior tech leadership positions can create a virtuous cycle of increased representation. Role models are crucial in breaking down stereotypes and debunking harmful misconceptions about women’s capabilities in STEM-related fields.
For those interested in learning more about this topic, the OMFIF Gender Balance Index 2025 is available for download, and readers can also subscribe to OMFIF's newsletter for updates. The technology industry has significant barriers to entry for women globally, and the ongoing work towards gender balance in leadership roles is crucial for effective digital financial policy and more inclusive financial technologies and policies.
[1] OMFIF. (2025). Gender Balance Index 2025. Retrieved from https://www.omfif.org/gender-balance-index-2025 [4] Katerina Liu, former Research Analyst at the Digital Monetary Institute at OMFIF. [5] Arunima Sharan, Senior Economist at the Economic and Monetary Policy Institute.
- The OMFIF Gender Balance Index 2025, which analyzes the representation of women in senior tech roles, reveals that only 16% of the surveyed financial institutions are led by women, suggesting a possible underrepresentation in tech-focused roles.
- The GBI tracks women's presence in various senior roles at central banks, sovereign wealth funds, and public pension funds, but shows continued gender gaps, especially in sovereign funds.
- In contrast to central banks, commercial banks and pension funds have shown slower progress in increasing women's senior leadership representation.
- The persistent gender gap in senior tech roles is not due to a lack of qualified women, but rather long-standing biases and structural barriers within the financial sector.
- Institutions with more women in leadership, including technology-related roles, tend to perform better financially, with gender-diverse boards leading to stronger returns, improved resilience, and more innovative cultures.
- In positive news, commercial banks have seen a significant increase in women’s representation in digital or technological roles, rising to 21% this year from 13% in 2024.
- Role models of women in senior tech leadership positions can create a virtuous cycle of increased representation, breaking down stereotypes and debunking harmful misconceptions about women’s capabilities in STEM-related fields.
- The ongoing work towards gender balance in leadership roles is crucial for effective digital financial policy and more inclusive financial technologies and policies.
- For those interested in learning more, the OMFIF Gender Balance Index 2025 is available for download, and readers can also subscribe to OMFIF's newsletter for updates.
- Furthermore, the technology industry has significant barriers to entry for women globally, making efforts towards gender balance in leadership roles even more crucial in today's AI-driven economy, focusing on climate, health-and-wellness, women’s health, finance, and other science and policy sectors.
