Paris, France – Women in Tech Global, an international organization with over 200,000 members working on closing the gender gap, in collaboration with UN Women, has initiated a worldwide campaign to highlight the prevalent existence of obstacles, often known as the “glass ceiling,” that girls and women encounter in various fields, including STEM.
The campaign film, which premiered at the Women in Tech Global Summit 2024 in Paris, transports the viewers to the world of a little girl called Lily, where the ceiling is very low but present in every aspect of her life. This metaphor portrays how societal constraints limit women’s ambitions, in contrast to men who are often encouraged to aim for the sky.
The film, created by French creative agency WAY TV and directed by Canadian female director Maïlis, makes the unseen barriers faced by women and girls visible and undeniable.
“This campaign is a call for societal change, advocating for collective efforts to dismantle the obstacles that restrict women and girls’ potential. This collaborative endeavor with UN Women and WAY TV translates our vision into a narrative that not only resonates but also catalyzes collective action”, said Ayumi Moore Aoki, Founder and CEO of Women in Tech Global.
A commitment to empower women
Though progress has been made in recent years, at the current rate, women will only hold 30 percent of leadership positions by 2050. Women also often face gender bias in school and may experience slower career progress than their male colleagues. Shockingly, only 5.8 percent of CEOs of global Fortune 500 companies are women.
“As we confront the pervasive glass ceiling that restricts the ambitions of girls and women worldwide, our partnership with Women in Tech Global underscores our commitment to empowering women and girls in ICT. Through joint initiatives like ‘Beyond Ceilings’, we strive to break barriers and ensure that every girl knows her potential is limitless”, said Belén Sanz Luque, UN Women Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia.
During the conference, the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECA) and Women in Tech Global signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in 2023 to enhance their collaboration and work together towards empowering women and girls in the ICT sector across Europe and Central Asia.
The “Beyond Ceilings” campaign urges people to confront and challenge the glass ceiling, and reminds the audience of the vast possibilities that await women once they overcome these barriers. This initiative will receive support from TV commercials and out-of-home placements in major cities worldwide.
“Together, we can break these barriers and ensure that every girl knows that the sky has no limits”, adds Ayumi Moore Aoki.