The women of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will have a major part to play in delivering the country’s economic and social transformation. Already, young Saudi women dominate technology courses at universities and are entering the workplace in ever greater numbers.
Digital Transformation and Innovation Advisor Deemah AlYahya is helping young Saudi women make the difficult transition from a technology degree to a technology career. One of Saudi Arabia’s leading women in tech, Deemah’s “Women Spark” initiative has already helped thousands of young women acquire the skills they need for success in the industry. Here she talks about the contribution that Saudi women can make to the development of their country and about the importance of empowering female entrepreneurs and helping women take advantage of the new opportunities of today.
How and why is the role of women changing in Saudi society and the economy?
The government is implementing drastic changes to empower women in the economy, such as allowing them to drive. Many ministries are opening departments for female empowerment. There is a very clear process of change. When there is a job opening, you don’t hear anyone saying that they want a male or a female for the position. The most capable person takes the job and that might be a woman. I was given the opportunity to lead digital transformation for Saudi Arabia not because I was a woman but because of my talent, capabilities and credentials.
Providing these new opportunities for women will make them more productive for society and transform our economy. For example, we could give women in remote areas access to the Internet and to online learning. We could create new jobs as a result and support home-based businesses and white-collar employment.
In terms of the society and economy, it is very important for women to have a greater role. We are in an era of transformation and we will need all our talent to be in sync with a certain vision. Our kids need to grow up in a culture that innovates by default and is vision-driven. We need a culture at home which encourages that way of thinking. And women have a huge impact at home in transmitting values.
What is still holding women back?
We need to look at changing the culture in remote areas. One of the villages that I just visited has one of the best universities in the country for cybersecurity and programming. It graduates 60-70 women out of 100 every year. Only five get recruited. Why? It is not because of the lack of opportunity, it’s because of where the opportunities are. Because of culture and family these women cannot move.
If we take the jobs to the women we will solve these issues. We need to focus on these remote areas that need more support. The number of female artists in the south of the country is remarkable, for example. If we teach them how to commercialize their art this would have a major economic and social impact. Each region needs to look at what it needs, and then the government can provide the support they need.
Why are there not more Saudi women in the technology sector?
We have a huge talent pool and many female graduates in IT. Last year 64 percent of our IT graduates were women. We do not have a problem in Saudi Arabia in attracting young women to study technology. Our problem is with sustainability. When women graduate, they drift away from the sector.
Tell us about your Women Spark initiative. How does it aim to help women stay in tech after graduation?
I created Women Spark seven years ago. First we carried out a survey to see what female graduates think and why they do not continue in the sector. One reason we found is the lack of career progression in the sector. The second was that women were not confident that they could grow. Third was skills. You need to educate yourself in technology continuously, but there were not opportunities like the academies we have now.
“I am a software engineer and twenty years ago when I started the sector was dominated by men. I have enjoyed a successful journey and I want other women to experience that.”
Deemah AlYahya, Digital Transformation and Innovation Advisor
After the survey, Women Spark started providing technical skills, soft skills and business skills. In the first three years, in partnership with Microsoft, we educated more than 37,000 women. Entities such as the MISK Foundation have also begun providing training, so upskilling is not the problem now.
The main problem is to create opportunities for women to create their own jobs and their own businesses. This is why we have become angel investors: we want to create funding for female-led startups and to help women of wealth diversify their investments and support other women. This year we will publish a report on Saudi female entrepreneurs and about women-led VCs. We will start our first VC pitching in October.
What do you think women can contribute to the tech industry?
Care. Technology is a very cold sector. It is very complex and rigid and needs patience, accuracy and long hours. Women have the qualities needed, and on top of that they also care. Women have more empathy personally and professionally. We do not need to dominate in terms of numbers, but we should have an equal number of men and women so that we can be balanced.
What is your message to young Saudi women considering a career in tech?
Firstly, women need to look at changing their mindsets from consumers to producers and from job seekers to job creators. Secondly, they need to learn how to open a business, know their rights and take advantage of the environment and the opportunities that are there. Every university now has an incubator and an accelerator. Funding from the government and matching funds for angel investors are increasing and the government is providing educational support.
I am a software engineer and twenty years ago when I started the sector was dominated by men. I have enjoyed a successful journey and I want other women to experience that. There is more opportunity now for Saudi women than ever before and I want to help a new generation seize those opportunities
