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Equal opportunity in IT?

10.07.2006
While Hong Kongers like Anson Chan, Christine Loh and Emily Lau have become world-famous for their leadership skills, IT in Hong Kong remains a male-dominated industry. While women are increasingly joining the ranks of the digerati, climbing the IT corporate leader may not be as easy for them. Local IT industry figure Agnes Mak, CIO of Sunday, shares insight on career development and IT management with senior reporter Sheila Lam.

Computerworld Hong Kong: Are women taking up IT executive roles in Hong Kong?

Agnes Mak: There are too few women executives in the industry. I'd like to see women taking up about 20 percent of all the IT executive positions, but we are not even close to that. I think the current proportion of male to female executives is about nine to one.

But the situation seems different in mainland China. There are more women taking up executive positions relative to Hong Kong. I don't know why, but surprisingly, many female executives are taking up critical roles within [mainland] organizations.

CWHK: Why are there fewer female executives in Hong Kong?

AM: I don't think women in the industry are at any disadvantage compared to their male colleagues. Female executives are more detail-oriented with better communication skills and can better handle stress than men.