About 55,000 people attend 3GSM and the exhibition is spread across 8 (that I discovered) massive exhibition halls. It’s HUGE.
But the overwhelming impression is of men in dark suits going about their business. If I had to guess, 95% or so seemed to be men.
The lack of women is actually emphasised by the use of female eye candy by many of the exhibitors. I’m not going to be drawn into whether using these girls is politically correct these days, but it did heighten the impression that this was a bloke’s event.
I’m with management guru,Tom Peter’s view that women generally make better execs than men (huge generalisation that it is) and given the choice, I’ll often employ women in preference to men. But even if this is gender bias, they have to be at least as good as men, so mobile is missing out, big time, in my view.
As importantly, 50% of the user market are female and having so few within the industry is surely going to lead to missed opportunities and hold back potential growth.
In 2006, I had assumed that the women’s movement had won their battle, made their point and times had moved on. Looking around 3GSM showed that there’s a long, long way to go before any kind of equality is achieved.
Out of interest, does anyone know who the most senior women in mobile are? Do any of the large operators or handset players have any women board members, for instance? The only senior woman I can think of is Nokia’s Lee Epting (pictured).
Anyone have any theories about why there’s so few women? Is it actually their choice to avoid tech industries?
Leave a comment and have your say.
What about HTC’s founder and chairwoman: Cher Wang
There is also Mary McDowell, on Nokia’s board and head of Enterprise Solutions. In general, however, I agree with the lack of women in this industry. The number of women signing up for computer science majors is also on the decline.
Mdm Li Mofang, the CTO of China Mobile
Thanks everyone - keep the name checks coming!
Russell
My girlfriend was with me on the exhibition on one of the four days. She actually remarked that she saw a lot more women on the exhibition ground than in previous years. Looks like your impression would have even been more disasterous in the years before.
I’m a former CEO of a mobile software startup company and actually have met quite a few, very competant women in mobile. While not on the board they carry significant responsibility, but perhaps quietly!
Two women in particular to keep an eye out for are Christine Marsters, Head Portal Management Vodafone Global Products & Content Services and Manjit Watters, Head of Portals, O2.