Removing the lip-service from D&I in tech
Project F is a for-profit, social impact business with a laser focus on solving the problem of poor gender diversity in technology.
We meet companies where they are and we’re committed to supporting every size, from startup to enterprise.
Our services have been developed with a deep understanding of the key drivers of culture, performance, innovation and commercial impact that are directly affected by gender diversity in the unique subculture of technology.
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Our story
Project F began when we realised that even the most progressive tech companies were struggling to attract and retain top women in tech. The desire was there, but there were fundamental gaps at a systemic level that prevented sustainable progress.
We built a unique accreditation program that gave companies a roadmap to drive sustainable gender diversity outcomes.
Over 6 years of working with incredible organisations like Google, Canva, ABC, Harrison.ai, Immutable and many more, we developed industry standards to systematise this valuable work, based on a solid foundation of empirical data and our own results.
With so much governmental, investor, boardroom, and media focus on gender equity, it’s clear that there’s a real hunger in the technology community for actionable change. Project F is excited to help organisations deliver that change.
Our purpose and mission
At Project F, our mission is to drive change in the tech industry by empowering organisations to create a more inclusive environment for women and help them shift their approach to D&I.
We believe that addressing low gender diversity requires a data-driven and systemic solution that goes beyond surface-level efforts. By eliminating the structural and cultural barriers that hinder women’s advancement in this field, we aim to remove the lip service often associated with D&I in technology.
Join us in making a difference and paving the way for a more diverse and equitable future in tech.
Our vision
Through our work with organisations across Australia and beyond, we want to create a world where everyone can flourish in technology careers, there is no gender gap to mention and organisations are thriving as a result.
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Frequently asked questions
Project F is a social impact, for-profit business. Our charter aligns with Goal #5 (Gender Equality) of the 17 Sustainable Development targets defined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development set out by the UN, and 2 main pillars of the Australian Government Women in STEM Decadal Plan – Supporting women in STEM careers & Making women in STEM visible.
Project F has a clear charter to tackle the egregiously low representation of women in technology. Each of the other underrepresented groups requires a unique approach to solve these issues and this isn’t what we specialise in.
We have deep knowledge and years of experience that are specific to the subculture of technology. Also, while focused on women in technology, the outcomes of our program result in a positive impact on all forms of diversity.
Technology is increasingly powering the world we live in and our future lives, and women should be a part of it, in terms of designing, building and leading (but currently are not). It is predicted that 70% of jobs by 2050 will be STEM-related. If we do not act now, gender equality and our economy will experience a dramatic setback.
Balanced teams are proven to be more creative, better at problem-solving and faster to innovate. These are all critical elements of creating great technology products and services. Diverse perspectives are also critical in representing the diversity in the world the technology is built to serve.
It’s well documented that girls are not readily being nurtured into STEM careers in many countries and cultures. This has resulted from a cultural history that dates back to the mid-1960s, when the first computers were built by IBM, before this, all computing was done by women.
IBM commissioned two psychologists to define a social profile of what a computer programmer should be and the two men came up with the profile of a socially inept man who liked puzzles and math but not people. That stereotype has pervaded the sector ever since and the world still generally caters for the male stereotypical “computer geeks” or “nerds”. You can find out more in our blog post here.
There have been a good number of women in technology’s history, including those who originally taught men how to program the first computers, through to the woman who wrote the code that put the first man safely on the moon. But today, systemic barriers for women in tech have lead to a lack of female leaders in the sector so girls don’t have the clear role models boys can look up to for inspiration (think Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs etc). A lack of representation, opportunities for promotion and inclusive culture drive more than 50% of women to leave the tech sector mid-career.
We address all these specifics aspects and systemic barriers within our accreditation process and work with you to get rid of them, one step at a time.
Look for organisations that are existing clients of Project F and/or are participating in the T-EDI Standards (www.tedistandards.com) from 2024. Other than that, most will still be plagued by the systemic detailers that cause 56% of women to quit technology mid-career, despite attractive window-dressing techniques and slick employer branding that can make them look wonderful. Look at their data on the WGEA website too where you can see their gender pay gap and other useful data points.
Work with Project F
Project F has years of expertise in the tech space, coupled with a passion for creating real structural change for women in the industry.
If you’d like to sit down with us and begin the journey to gender equity for your organisation, we’d love to hear from you.
