Health technology is a growing field at the intersection of health care and high tech, providing medical devices, digital health tools, and health care IT. While health care is often considered a leader in gender diversity, with women making up more than half its workforce, health technology looks much more like the tech industry when it comes to gender, race, and other forms of diversity. Our recent survey of 403 people working in health tech, for example, found that 90% of respondents were in a company where the majority of senior leaders are men.
Research: Small Wins Can Make a Big Impact on Gender Equality
An internal survey of faculty, staff, and program alumni at Stanford University’s Byers Center for Biodesign revealed some of the same patterns as their industry-wide research on gender bias. While well-intentioned male leaders reported a respectful and inclusive office environment, some female faculty and staff experienced unconscious bias and microaggressions. And while both male and female leaders thought they were making strides in diversifying our fellowship program, alumni found their progress lacking. The team adopted a “small wins” model of change that focuses on setting and achieving narrow, attainable goals to produce a sense of success that is contagious and builds momentum for larger gains and systemic transformation. They’ve identified 10 small wins organizations can undertake immediately to help build a staircase that will lead to larger success.