Be Equal

Women

At IBM, women have been making contributions to the advancement of information technology for almost as long as the company has been in existence. Where many companies proudly date their affirmative action programs to the 1970s, IBM has been creating meaningful roles for female employees since the 1930s. Looking for inspiring stories about women at IBM, or resources on learning and development? Want to make a difference in your company and in your communities? It all starts here!

Be Outspoken

Priti Shah

“The opportunities and pathways have been changing for women. Corporate opportunities are changing to acknowledge and support that women pursue and prioritize goals differently than men.”

Priti Shah
Software Engineer, IBM

Be Outspoken

Be Outspoken

“Diversity in terms of color and gender will ensure that the future of technology is not one dimensional.”

Kitty Chaney Reed
VP, IBM

Features

Women leaders in AI
IBM honors women who put AI to work across industries and around the globe.

Collage of IBM women leaders in AI

Features

Women in leadership study
Advancing gender equity is a clear win

Read about the study

Features

You can’t be what you can’t see
At IBM, diversity and inclusion are not policies and programs, they have been integral to our habits, practices, and purpose for more than 100 years. One question we continually ask: What is needed today that we didn’t see before?

3 women in a meeting room

Features

Take the pledge
A call to arms—to engage IBMers, customers and society at large in promoting the advancement of gender equality in business leadership.

A man and a woman holding up signs showing their Be Equal pledge

Community

Meet women leaders paving the way at IBM.

Collage of 9 IBM women in design

The women in design

Collage of 9 IBM women in design

Women in IBM Research progressing cloud computing from all angles

Learn about the challenge

#ChooseToChallenge

We must challenge the factors that lead to inequalities for women

Celebrating IBM women

Celebrating IBM women

IBM women leaders share their advice for the next generation

Numbers

  • 18%

    Average percentage of women serving as top leaders in their organizations.¹

  • 79%

    Organizations not prioritizing the advancement of more women into leadership roles.¹

  • 99.5

    Number of years it will take to reach global gender parity.²
¹IBM Study - Women, leadership and the priority paradox
²World Economic Forum 2020 Global Gender Gap Report

Events

IBM Cyber Day for collegiate women
Announcing the second series of cybersecurity seminars.

Associations

We’re teaming with external organizations devoted to making a difference, leveraging research and offering resources to our employees.

Anita Borg Institute

Society of Women Engineers

Working Mother

Professional Business Women of California

Perspectives

IBM and IBMers stand with women and call for change to ensure equality.

Stem for girls illustration

STEM Education for girls program

Gender equality in STEM: Why men must pledge solidarity

Resources

Learn from established organizations about how to get involved and take action.

Women, leadership, and the priority paradox

Organizations that prioritize gender equality outperform others.

Strategies for gender parity in the workplace

Why tech companies should hire and promote more women.

Tech Re-Entry

Employing skilled women who want to return to the workforce.

Champion diversity

Every one of us is a complex combination of diverse characteristics. Learn more about other communities and embrace all aspects of identity.

Pivotal moments

1911

The newly formed Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company, later renamed IBM, included Black and female employees from its founding.

Pivotal moments

1935

First written equal opportunity policy. This was almost 30 years before the US passed the Equal Pay Act.

Men and women will do the same kind of work for equal pay. They will have the same treatment, the same responsibilities and the same opportunity for advancement. Thomas J. Watson Sr. IBM founder

Pivotal moments

2019

Be Equal initiative launched - To engage IBMers, customers and society at large in promoting the advancement of gender equality in business leadership.