The Women in AV (WAVE) and The Kari Martinez have published the results from the 2020 Women + Girls in AV Survey, the industry’s first data gathering research focused on creating a baseline of the female representation working in the AV Industry. In total, 506 professional women participated worldwide in this historic study providing vital insights into four major statistical categories of human demographics, industry statistics, passions and preferences, and women’s advancement. The survey produced several major conclusions about females in the AV Industry, including:
- 80 percent are White/Caucasian and 92 percent live in either US or Europe.
- 67 percent “fell into it” as their career path into the AV Industry.
- 58 percent hold non-technical positions.
Women identified Leadership, Career Advancement, and Technical Training as the top three areas of professional growth they want to see more future opportunities in.
“This is a thrilling, game-changing moment for all women working in the AV industry and another huge win for advancing gender equality in technology industries,” Jennifer Willard, Founder of Women in AV, said. “For the first time, we truly have meaningful data about who our female colleagues are around the world, what we do, and where to develop effective career training initiatives to improve our professional skills and inspire more women and young girls to be excited about joining us as Women in AV.”
The data confirmed some presumptions about unique barriers women face plaguing other STEM and technology fields. However, there are many encouraging signs about female leadership, being welcomed by male peers and women working in AV having a global, growing presence.
- 28 percent count male colleagues as their current mentors and teachers.
- 51 percent have started their career in AV within the last 10 years.
Women in AV + Kari Martinez include five key recommendations to improve female representation and professional satisfaction in their full report. Developing a WAVE Cultural Ambassador Program to expand minority and international participation, creating formal mentoring for male allies and launching WAVE Society, a virtual women’s professional resource center, are all areas that could improve women’s careers and recognize their valuable role in creating a diverse, equal and innovative future for the entire AV Industry.
To read the full report, click here.
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