New research from Tenth Revolution Group has uncovered a stark gender disparity in the technology leadership of major US companies, revealing that women held only 14% of Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) roles in 2024.
Despite growing awareness and initiatives to tackle gender inequality, the figure remains unchanged from 2021, underscoring the sluggish pace of progress in bridging the gender gap in tech.
The comprehensive dataset compiled by Tenth Revolution Group focused on NASDAQ-100 companies, tracking tech leadership trends from 2021 to 2024. The findings expose a disheartening lack of momentum towards gender parity, with female representation in tech leadership briefly reaching 17% in 2022, only to slide back to 14% by 2024. Meanwhile, men continue to dominate, accounting for a staggering 85% of leadership roles.
| NASDAQ-100 Tech Leadership Gender Breakdown | |||||
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2021-2024 | |
| Men | 86% | 83% | 86% | 86% | 85% |
| Women | 14% | 17% | 14% | 14% | 15% |
| NASDAQ-100 Tech Leadership Average Tenure (Years) | |||||
| 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2021-2024 | |
| Men | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 4.3 |
| Women | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.5 |
Women’s Shorter Tenure in Tech Leadership: A Red Flag
In addition to the low percentage of women in tech leadership, the study also highlighted a significant difference in the length of time women hold these positions. Women in CIO or CTO roles have an average tenure of just 1.5 years, compared to 4.3 years for their male counterparts. This discrepancy raises concerns about both retention and the underlying issues preventing women from staying in leadership roles for the long term.
James Lloyd-Townshend, Chairman and CEO of Tenth Revolution Group, expressed alarm at the findings, stating, “Despite the progress made in recognising gender inequality, the reality at the leadership level remains shockingly out of balance. Women making up only 14% of tech leaders in 2024 is simply unacceptable.”
Barriers to Progress and Burnout
Zoë Morris, President of Tenth Revolution Group, addressed another critical issue uncovered in the study—the high rates of burnout among women in tech. Research from 2023 showed that 46% of women in the tech industry experienced burnout, which could explain why so few women remain in leadership roles long-term.
“We must create environments where women not only enter the tech industry but are supported to thrive and advance into leadership positions,” Morris said. “The shorter tenure of women in these roles may indicate burnout or other barriers that need urgent attention.”
Morris further stressed the need for clearer progression pathways and more equitable hiring and promotional practices to address the deep-rooted gender imbalance in tech leadership. Without significant changes to support women’s growth and longevity in the sector, the risk of losing potential female leaders remains high.
Gender Inequality Persists Across the Biggest US Companies
The dataset from Tenth Revolution Group examined CIO and CTO leadership positions across NASDAQ-100 companies, including tech giants that shape the global industry. It highlighted not only the ongoing male dominance but also the absence of non-binary representation at the board level. The research methodology relied on public data from company websites and LinkedIn profiles to determine gender and tenure.
While some progress has been made in increasing gender diversity in lower levels of the tech workforce, this latest study suggests that meaningful change at the highest levels of leadership remains elusive. The findings call into question whether current efforts are sufficient to move the needle on gender equality in tech.
As the tech industry continues to shape the future, Tenth Revolution Group‘s report serves as a wake-up call for businesses to take more aggressive action in fostering a more diverse and inclusive leadership landscape. With women still vastly underrepresented in tech’s top roles and facing shorter tenures due to burnout and other challenges, the path to gender equality in the sector appears far from over.
