Probably the first female innovator who influenced me was Ada Lovelace, as I heard from childhood that she was the world’s first programmer. But in my childhood (which was in the early 80s), there was no division between female programmers and male programmers, because in the organizations where my parents and aunt worked, everyone was a programmer, and no one divided them by gender. These were various engineering organizations in the USSR. So, I never thought about the fact that Ada was a woman or what efforts it must have taken her to achieve something in her career during the time she lived — this was the early 19th century, a time when it was extremely difficult for women to access education and scientific communities.

When I reached the age of reflection and read about Ada Lovelace’s life, I was deeply impressed. I began to understand that with a strong will, you can change the world around you! It was very difficult for me to study, but being at my parents’ work and playing with the first computers (again, this was the early 80s) was incredibly interesting. As I grew up, I found out that I have ADHD, which explained many of the learning difficulties I faced. However, I continued to overcome these challenges, constantly reminding myself that Ada Lovelace had far more obstacles. For instance, she lived in an era when women were not allowed to attend universities, yet she managed to collaborate with Charles Babbage on the Analytical Engine and wrote the first algorithm intended for this machine. It wasn’t until my forties that I finally entered the IT and programming fields, and a few years later, I started teaching other people who, like me, struggle with learning. And throughout my life, since childhood, the image of Ada Lovelace has stood before me—a woman who so brilliantly defied the system that a programming language, Ada, was named after her.

I believe that the role of women in technology will only strengthen over the next decade. We are already seeing a growing trend of attracting women to IT, science,

and engineering professions. We can also expect women to play key roles in rapidly developing fields such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity, and biotechnology. These areas are now at the forefront of the technological revolution, and women’s leadership is already noticeable here. It is important to note that trends such as hybrid work models, mentorship, and the development of inclusive communities will contribute to increasing the number of women in IT and solidifying their positions in the industry.

Don’t believe those who say that programming and other technical fields aren’t for women or that women’s brains aren’t wired for it. If it’s something you’re passionate about, try it, do it, move forward — there are so many successful examples all around! And most importantly, when you achieve something in your profession, share it with other women, support them, become their role model and ambassador for technology, because sometimes all someone needs is a little inspiration to take that first step!