Tech’s Biggest Challenge: Tackling The Pervasive "Confidence Gap"

Illustrated by Norah Stone.

As the tech community flocks to CES in Las Vegas this week to ogle over the latest gadgets, I’m concerned by the lack of attention paid to the confidence gap: the notion that women are held back in the workplace by a lack of confidence in their own abilities. 

While it’s a cross-industry issue, it’s particularly alarming within tech. For an industry known for being forward-thinking, there’s a shocking shortsightedness around this issue. Much of it boils down to men having the hubris to oversell themselves and their abilities, while women are hesitant to take that risk, whether it’s applying to jobs, asking for promotions or simply offering ideas in meetings.