"We still have a problem, and it's a real problem," she told conference attendees late last year. "Women are not making it to the top of any profession anywhere in the world."

There are, of course, countless other women who contribute to IT and make the industry better every day, despite the challenges they still face. But in the spirit of International Women's Day, I believe the five listed above provide an excellent source of inspiration for female geeks the world over.

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