Women continue to be underrepresented in STEM occupations—numbers have actually declined since the 1990s, dropping from 35% to 25%. We wanted to be proactive about paving paths for women in the industry.

Our gender diversity efforts are focused on creating an environment where individuals can advocate for themselves and their communities. The women whom Headspring has hired are passionate about both their own careers and supporting their peers. Several of our employees, for example, are members and presenters with Women Who Code, a non-profit that elevates women in tech roles.

Women of Headspring (WOH) an employee-led group where members can share resources, discuss issues, and create community action. WOH has been integral in connecting our organization to the greater community of women in STEM. Last year, WOH partnered with Women Who Code to host a salary negotiation workshop at our Austin, TX headquarters. During International Women’s Day, they partnered with our Marketing team to launch campaigns celebrating our female employees and clients. Through WOH, we also were introduced to GirlStart—an organization that supports girls in STEM—and raised money for them through an employee-led auction.

Headspring’s core commitment to transparency sets the necessary foundation for gender diversity/equality. All company financials and salary information are available to any employee, any time. The gender pay gap in our industry is higher than average, with women earning 87% of men’s salaries. We wanted to prove that we are committed to fair and equal pay and give every employee the power to validate that for themselves.

Support for women in our organization has helped us attract and retain top female talent. We’ve achieved a gender-diverse workforce across disciplines. Over 50% of our leadership positions are held by women—well above the global benchmark of 29% for women in top-level management roles.

Yvette Knox