Lessons from Female Leaders: What We Can Learn from Women in Tech
- Melissa Muñoz Bernáldez
- Mar 7
- 3 min read
Despite making up half the population, women still face significant barriers in the tech business world. Female-led businesses receive less than 3% of venture capital funding, yet studies show that companies led by women generate higher revenue and deliver better returns on investment. So what makes women-led tech businesses so impactful? Let’s explore key lessons we can learn from female leaders who are breaking barriers and reshaping the technology industry.
1. Resilience in the Face of Challenges
Many female tech leaders enter the industry knowing they’ll have to work harder for the same recognition as their male counterparts. Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder of Bumble, faced intense criticism when she set out to create a women-first dating app. Today, Bumble is a billion-dollar company that has changed the online dating industry by prioritizing female empowerment. Similarly, Anne Wojcicki, founder of 23andMe, disrupted the healthcare industry with direct-to-consumer genetic testing, despite skepticism from traditional medical establishments.
Lesson: Resilience and confidence in a unique vision can turn challenges into opportunities. Tech professionals should focus on differentiation and staying true to their mission, even in the face of industry pushback.
2. Customer-Centric Innovation
Women-led tech businesses often excel in understanding consumer needs and creating solutions that prioritize user experience. Melanie Perkins, co-founder of Canva, transformed the design industry by making professional-grade design accessible to everyone, not just experts. Her deep understanding of user frustration with existing tools led to a product that now serves millions worldwide.
Lesson: The best tech innovations come from solving real problems. Business leaders should listen closely to their users and design software and platforms that address pain points efficiently.
3. The Power of Community & Collaboration
Female tech leaders frequently emphasize building strong networks and fostering collaboration. Reshma Saujani, founder of Girls Who Code, created a movement that not only teaches young girls to code but also fosters a supportive community of women in tech. Katrina Lake, founder of Stitch Fix, leveraged data science and personalization to build a loyal customer base that thrives on engagement and trust.
Lesson: Success in tech isn’t just about having great software—it’s also about creating a strong, engaged user community. Leaders should leverage collaboration and customer relationships to drive long-term growth.
4. Purpose-Driven Leadership in Tech
Women-led tech businesses often integrate social impact into their business models. Fei-Fei Li, co-founder of AI4ALL, is working to ensure artificial intelligence is developed ethically and inclusively. Her leadership in AI has sparked discussions about reducing bias in machine learning models and increasing diversity in AI research.
Lesson: Tech businesses that align with strong values and social responsibility resonate more with today’s consumers. Leaders should integrate purpose into their product development and company mission.
5. Breaking Funding Barriers & Thinking Outside the Box
Funding remains a significant challenge for female tech leaders, but many have found success through alternative methods. Arlan Hamilton, founder of Backstage Capital, built her investment firm from the ground up while homeless, with a mission to fund underrepresented founders. She turned rejection into motivation, proving that there are many ways to secure funding beyond traditional VC routes.
Lesson: Business leaders should explore diverse funding options, including bootstrapping, crowdfunding, grants, and impact investing. Building strong investor relationships and demonstrating tangible impact can open new financial opportunities.
Creating a More Inclusive Tech Business Environment
Women-led tech businesses are proving that resilience, innovation, and purpose-driven leadership are key to success. To support more female professionals in tech, the industry must:
Provide more access to funding and mentorship.
Encourage diversity in leadership teams and investment firms.
Recognize and celebrate the success of women-led tech businesses.
By learning from female leaders and creating a more inclusive business landscape, we can build a future where innovation knows no gender.
Written by Melissa Bernaldez, Marketing Manager at Bravo LT.