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 | 66 Total
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September 30, 2009 at 3:57pm by E Pollard
This post is great. An awakening for each one of us that we should start to free ourselves from the bondage of tradition. It's a fact that women are now now inclined to profession which was only for men before.It's about time that we embrace the essence of equality in society. Let's face it many women are pretty good in those manly profession.
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October 5, 2009 at 1:24pm by martin guptil
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.
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October 7, 2009 at 12:02pm by pankaj barman
Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say,Technology is also a great equalizer because it is a new industry for everyone.
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October 26, 2009 at 5:14am by Nyomi Chun
More and more women are coming out doing good in their own industry. It is good to know that we have this 20 most influential women for web 2.0. Go girls!!
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October 31, 2009 at 10:59am by Hypnotherapy Winchester
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November 8, 2009 at 4:41pm by elena tranton
I really appreciate taking time to note women of leadership and entrepreneurship.
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