Disappearing Women in Data

A Great International Conference

Last week, I attended the IAPP - International Association of Privacy Professionals EU Data Protection Congress in Brussels. As with many IAPP conferences I have attended, I was able to gain new knowledge through both formal training sessions and informal networking and observational insights. But one key observation stood out, and I have been hesitating to post my thoughts. I am not so naïve as to believe there will be no negative consequences for this post. But for things to change, these issues must be called out. I cannot lead change without making myself vulnerable to the repercussions of holding accountable those who continue to proliferate inequality. 

So, here it is. 

Things Looked Different Now

Since 2016, I have noticed a key trend in privacy advising and operations: it was often an either a gender-balanced team or, sometimes, dominated by women. I often joked that this was because leadership needed people who would work hard and active huge impact without budget, resources, or recognition. Women, being used to this position, were a natural fit. 

I also had high hopes that as this area grew in scope and importance a leadership pipeline would be filled with amazing and well-qualified women who would rise to positions of impact, power, and influence. After all, we were all starting at the same time in this greenfield of European data protection at the same time and at a time when the playing field was arguably the most level it has ever been for gender equality. For those of us who had heard “wait your turn” for opportunity and advancement because of the “pipeline problem” of qualified women, this should have been a huge level playing field. 

Which is why I found myself slightly despondent and very disappointed after this year’s IAPP EU Data Protection Congress. Nearly 6 years after GDPR came into effect and considering growing regulation and importance of this area of law, I noticed a shift in the people on stage. The executive leadership positions, decision makers, and power players were now overwhelmingly men. Not the feel-good and entertaining keynote speakers, but the ones on panels and presentation providing training and speaking from positions of authority – the influencers, executives, and controllers of budgets and job opportunities – were men. In total, the discussion panels I attended were 13 men and 3 women in aggregate.  The field that started as almost 60% women, where I have for years participating in learning and leadership programs with near equal representation, was now only 23% of those representing in positions of authority and leadership. 

We're Exhausted

Every day, I meet amazing women who are dropping out of the technology workforce - not just leaving employers, but wholly and completely leaving the field - because they are exhausted. The constant need to prove capabilities that have been clearly demonstrated and fight for every bit of recognition, opportunity, and advancement is mentally and emotionally exhausting. Being passed over for promotion and opportunity, while watching men with less skill and experience being immediately accepted as experts simply because they declare themselves so, simply grinds us down until we realize the sheer impossibility of our ambitions and simply opt out. It is endemic. And not improving. It is disheartening in a deep and soulful way. 

In a hope to share with others that they are not alone, I finally decided to be honest with this post: IAPP #DPC23 was rough for me. The field I love, am passionate about, and am damn good at is breaking my heart.