See yourself in data and tech: Shifting the narrative on women in data

The future of data is female.

Around the globe, data is powering everything from AI to climate modelling, supply chains to social media. Yet, as the demand for data-literate professionals skyrockets, women (especially those from underserved communities) remain significantly underrepresented in the very roles shaping our digital future.

It’s time to change the narrative.

The gender gap in data and STEM

While efforts to bridge the gender gap in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) have gained momentum over the past decade, the numbers still paint a sobering picture. According to the WISE Campaign, women make up just 26% of the STEM workforce in the UK. In more technical fields like data engineering, cloud infrastructure and cyber security, that number drops even lower. 

Socioeconomic barriers compound this inequality. Research from the UK’s Social Mobility Commission highlights that young people from low-income households are significantly less likely to study STEM subjects or access careers in high-growth tech sectors, even when they show the same potential as their peers.

The result? A huge untapped talent pool and a tech industry that doesn't reflect the society it serves.

STACK scholarships: A blueprint for change

In response, companies like STACK Infrastructure are stepping up. The STACK Scholarship Program is a bold initiative aimed at tackling both gender imbalance and social immobility in STEM.

In the 2024/25 academic year, STACK fully funded the tuition and living expenses for a group of female students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds pursuing STEM degrees at UK universities. But it goes beyond financial support. Scholars also gained access to mentorship, internships and data center industry events, giving them an introduction to one of tech’s fastest growing and most critical sectors.

“Data centers are the backbone of digital innovation,” said John Eland, CEO of STACK EMEA. “We believe the sector offers vibrant and dynamic career opportunities for ambitious individuals from an array of backgrounds. The STACK Scholarship Program reinforces our unwavering commitment to social mobility, diversity and driving representation within the data center industry.”

The partnership with financial edtech platform Blackbullion ensures that the program also delivers essential financial literacy and future planning tools, skills just as vital to career success as technical know-how.

Why representation in data matters

This kind of initiative couldn’t come at a better time.

As AI and data analytics become embedded in everything from hiring to healthcare, the risks of biased data (and biased decision-making) are becoming more apparent.

Ensuring diverse voices are present at every stage of data strategy, governance and design isn’t just good practice, it’s essential for equity, innovation and trust.

The women entering this space today won’t just be data consumers, they’ll be shaping how data is collected, analysed and used in the future.

Beyond scholarships: A wider cultural shift 

While STACK’s scholarship is a significant step, it’s part of a broader need to build inclusive career pathways starting far earlier than university.

That’s why STACK is also investing in STEM outreach at primary school level, including programs in Switzerland that introduce young children to technology through data center site visits. The company’s broader EMEA-wide education ecosystem includes training programs, early-career internships and reskilling opportunities for adult learners.

And in 2025, STACK announced the launch of a new Academy which is set to welcome 55 new trainees across their EMEA data centers and is actively encouraging female applicants from underrepresented backgrounds.

These programs not only make data careers visible to a wider group of people, they make them feel accessible, exciting and attainable.

As seen in recent interviews with early-career professionals at STACK, young women like Vanessa, who joined through a sustainability-focused internship, are already proving that non-traditional pathways into the data center industry can lead to powerful, purpose-driven roles:

“Currently we have a lack of younger people in this industry, so I’d encourage anyone to investigate data centers and understand the wide range of roles and opportunities the sector provides.”

The goal isn’t just to bring more women into data, it’s to reshape the sector with their insights, leadership and lived experiences.

The bottom line 

The narrative around women in data doesn’t need rewriting, it needs widening.

We need more stories. More access. More opportunity.

Programs like STACK’s are proving that when industry leaders invest in equity and inclusion, the results go beyond individual success stories; they help futureproof the entire digital economy.

The next generation of women in data is out there. Let’s make sure they know there’s space for them to lead.