We inadvertently ignited a firestorm late last year when we posted a story on fastcompany.com called "The Most Influential Women in Web 2.0." The post became the subject of heated debate on the user-recommendation site Digg, as well as on our own site. While some comments focused on the accomplishments of the women chosen, or suggested others we might have named, many were graphic, sexist, and nasty. Two dozen of the posters were eventually thrown off of Digg by the site's administrators.
It wasn't exactly the conversation about women in technology we'd hoped for. But it wasn't just a flamefest, either. Among the arguments put forward was that a women-only list was in itself sexist. We certainly wish the need for such a list had long passed, but women in tech remain at a distinct disadvantage by any metric: average salary, top-management representation, board memberships. Silicon Valley, in particular, remains largely a boys' club. In May 2007, Women in Technology International published a survey of 2,000 working women, about half of whom reported gender-based workplace inequality or said their opinions were less respected or sought out than those of male counterparts. There are now dozens of "women in tech" organizations and Web sites. All sexist?
The fact is, women who have succeeded in technology deserve recognition; they are an inspiration for everyone, male or female, demonstrating what can be achieved through creativity and hard work. And so we present this expanded list: "The Most Influential Women in Tech." We candidly acknowledge it is subjective and incomplete. Among other shortcuts, we focused on only a few sectors (we left off medical researchers and pure academics, for instance). We also favored established firms over early-phase startups.
Even within those constraints, we no doubt have left off deserving women. So, as always, we invite you to visit FastCompany.com and add your reactions -- or Digg the story and post your comments there. Or Tweet us. Or visit our page on Facebook. We're optimists, so we hope the conversation will be more fruitful this time around. These successful businesspeople have certainly earned that measure of respect.
 The Executives |
 The Entrepreneurs |
 The Gamers |
 The Evangelists |
 The Activists |
|
 The Brainiacs |
Related Stories: | Topics:Innovation, Technology, Leadership, women leaders, entrepreneurs, business, bloggers, Women in Tech, comments, digg, silicon valley, creativity and innovation, activists, Digg Inc., Women in Technology International, Silicon Valley, Facebook Inc. |
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Recent Comments | 67 Total
January 16, 2009 at 7:01pm by Kaliya Hamlin
Addressing underlying issues that created the firestorm around your December article is one of the reasons that we founded Shes' Geeky in 2007 a women's technology unconference. It is a women's only space to discuss issues that we face working in predominantly male technical fields it also to support networking between and peer to peer learning amongst women in amazingly diverse technical fields. The 3rd one is happening January 30-31 in Mountain View & we are planning for a Boston and a DC events in the spring. http://www.shesgeeky.org
January 19, 2009 at 4:00pm by jeff smith
I'm surprised that one of the most influential and powerful business and technologically innovative women of the past ten years was not included in your follow-up Influential Women in Technology: Jenna Jameson.
January 22, 2009 at 9:51pm by Allyson Kapin
What a fantastic list of women who have really transformed these fields. I would like to add you Lynne D. Johnson to this list. You are a total guru and an inspiration to us all.
January 23, 2009 at 12:54am by Lynne d Johnson
@Kalya Hamlin - Thanks for educating us about your event. Also looking forward to your guest blog post about identity issues and women, as you are one of our Most Influential Women In Tech.
@Jeff Smith - I'm sure you're just being cheeky, right?
@Allyson Kapin - Thank you. But of course the list is not about we the writers, but about folks like you, who should have made the list as well. The Women Who Tech telesummit that you're now going into your second year with, and your social media blogging all warrant merit as one of The Most Influential Women in Tech.
January 27, 2009 at 8:24am by simone brummelhuis
We are very happy that you highlight women in tech/internet, as there are many women who are true rolemodels for a new generation, who sometimes get less press than they deserve. In our magazine, thenextwomen.com, we have been trying to do this since the summer of 2008. Next thing will be more women getting funded. Good to see Yvette Allberdingk Thijm on the list, she was my route into New York in the nineties; a great Dutch role model.
March 14, 2009 at 2:20pm by Emile Loza
Please better identify and provide a link to the Women in Technology survey you reference on Page 72 of the article. I cannot find the survey report anywhere!
March 14, 2009 at 2:28pm by Emile Loza
It is unfortunate that Fast Company undermines and trivializes the recognition it bestows upon these deserving women by admitting that its list is the product of “shortcuts” and is “subjective and incomplete.”
Get serious, Fast Company! Then maybe you can contribute to the gender discrimination that serious, competent, and gifted women continue to face!
May 30, 2009 at 6:23am by Mark Saalwaechter
"The fact is, women who have succeeded in technology deserve recognition; they are an inspiration for everyone, male or female, demonstrating what can be achieved through creativity and hard work."
This sentence trivializes women. Recognizing ANY woman who has succeeded in technology??? Trivializes. Completely trivializes.
June 25, 2009 at 1:22am by adam must
In a world where no distinction is made between good traffic and bad traffic, and where emotion often rules, some will always raise their voice to dominate the conversation; others will pander shamelessly to their readers’ prejudices; others will start online brawls for the fun of it.
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July 2, 2009 at 6:16am by marti shedi
Mark you are so right, actually gifted people should be recognize and expose to the world so that people know the worth of that person.
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July 13, 2009 at 5:53am by Dubai Property
Good Article authors. But You have missed the name of Ann Handley of http://www.marketingprofs.com. Also Michelle MacPhearson of http://www.michellemacphearson.com
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July 22, 2009 at 3:48am by Samuel Anderson
"If the "boys club" atmosphere was keeping out women, it was probably keeping out a lot of other important personalities, ideas, and philosophies. It was an indication that something was wrong and unhealthy and needed to be fixed in the field."
I found it through listening to a recording of a speech Michelle Levesque (software engineer at Google) gave at Pycon 2007. You can download the speech from www.advocacy.python.org/podcasts/pycon/Censorship.ogg
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July 29, 2009 at 6:18am by Samuel Anderson
Yes, we are. If equal rights was adhered to, we would not need articles and advertising like this to encourage women in IT. I suspect it's partly due to the sector being strongly male-dominated with all the male bias and fear for leadership, and partly due to women seriously thinking that IT is an "unfemale" occupation.( Dubai Property and Dubai apartments )
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August 4, 2009 at 3:19am by fast office
Nice to hear that emotion often rules, some will always raise their voice to dominate the conversation; others will pander shamelessly to their readers’ prejudices; others will start online brawls for the fun of it.pregnancy calendar | cancer types
August 4, 2009 at 6:14am by John Dolson
It is unfortunate that Fast Company undermines and trivializes the recognition it bestows upon these deserving emotion women by admitting that its list is the product of “shortcuts” and is “subjective and incomplete.”
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August 14, 2009 at 9:44am by Sergio Mokko
The women of our time working and achieving success on an equal footing with men. Even on the Internet, women are trying to keep pace. By Sergio
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August 15, 2009 at 3:56pm by Lily Bra
The fact is, women who have succeeded in technology deserve recognition; they are an inspiration for everyone, male or female, demonstrating what can be achieved through creativity and hard work.
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August 19, 2009 at 11:52pm by Robert Riley
actually success has nothing to do with gender it's more of a confidence and risk taker approach. love the article.. something to show my wife when she gets back... :)
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August 20, 2009 at 8:39am by Ben Gibson
Michelle MacPhearson should definitely be on the list somewhere, she is great. probably under entrepreneurs...
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August 24, 2009 at 9:36pm by Roberty Hayosm
Great list would also love to see one on most influential female users of technology as well.
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August 26, 2009 at 1:33pm by james shaffer
I really appreciate taking time to note women of leadership and entrepreneurship. Technology is also a great equalizer because it is a new industry for everyone.
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August 30, 2009 at 4:35am by Lukisan Minimalis
Great article, I really appreciate taking time to note women of leadership and entrepreneurship. Technology is also a great equalizer because it is a new industry for everyone.
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August 30, 2009 at 5:30am by apotik obat
Lets woman to show their ability and some of their abilities can only be done by women, not man. However god creates women and men, and I am sure there some differences between men and women. The personality, the ability of thinking for some chases. Say for example, man is better in reading map than women, that the fact in general, no doubt there are some women can do better, however I am talking in general.
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September 4, 2009 at 9:28pm by Chris Tumie
Very informative article. You could also include Sheila Tomie of: Hearing Aids For Sale.
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September 13, 2009 at 7:59pm by Tristan Lei
Have you ever considered adding more videos to your blog posts to keep the readers more entertained? I mean I just read through the entire article of yours and it was quite good but since I'm more of a visual learner,I found that to be more helpful well let me know how it turns out! I love what you guys are always up too. Such clever work and reporting! Keep up the great works guys I've added you guys to my blogroll. This is a great article thanks for sharing this informative information.. I will visit your blog regularly for some latest post.
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September 15, 2009 at 9:39pm by Marcos Portugal
Great post!
Women are also conquering their space in technology areas.
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September 16, 2009 at 2:26pm by Scott Merrill
Honestly, I don't think people should have been so upset about it. You guys took what you thought were the top influential woman of the industry. After visiting recent trade shows, I've noticed that I have more and more business cards from woman. The web industry is exploding and woman are probably the biggest demographic!
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September 16, 2009 at 2:28pm by Scott Merrill
Honestly, I don't think people should have been so upset about it. You guys took what you thought were the top influential woman of the industry. After visiting recent trade shows, I've noticed that I have more and more business cards from woman. The web industry is exploding and woman are probably the biggest demographic!
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I suspect it's partly due to the sector being strongly male-dominated with all the male bias and fear for leadership,
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