Today, when we talk about the tech industry the narrative is owned by men. Despite facing systemic barriers and discrimination, women have made significant contributions to the tech industry and have played a crucial role in driving innovation and progress. However, their contributions, especially that of women of color have been long overlooked. In recognition of Women’s History month, we want to celebrate the stories of 10 remarkable women who have helped shape the world we live in today.
Melba Roy Mouton
Melba Roy Mouton made significant contributions to the fields of aerospace engineering and computer science. She was the first Black woman to work as a mathematician at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), which later became NASA.
Mouton was instrumental in developing mathematical models and computer programs that were used to analyze the performance of aircraft and spacecraft, including the Mercury and Apollo missions. She was also an advocate for increasing diversity and representation in the field of aerospace engineering, and worked to mentor and support young people from underrepresented groups who were interested in pursuing careers in STEM.
Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson was a pioneering black woman in tech. She started college when she was just 15. She worked as a teacher before she applied for a job at the Langley Research Center (which would later become part of NASA).
In 1953, Johnson began working as a “human computer” and calculated the flight path for the first NASA mission to space. Her calculations were essential to the success of many early missions, like Project Mercury and Apollo 11. She also helped confirm the accuracy of machine computers! In 2015, she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama.- Dr. Marian Croak
Dr. Marian Croak is a pioneering engineer and inventor, best known for her groundbreaking work in developing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, which revolutionized the way people communicate over the internet. Her work has been instrumental in the development of modern communication systems, including internet-based phone services and messaging apps.
Dr. Croak has made numerous other significant contributions to technology and engineering, including the development of digital signal processing technologies for voice communication, the creation of new multimedia messaging technologies, and the invention of a system for improving the quality of audio and video transmissions over networks. 
Kimberly Bryant
Kimberly Bryant is the founder of Black Girls Code, a nonprofit organization that aims to teach computer programming to young girls from underrepresented communities. Through her work, Bryant has helped to inspire and empower thousands of young girls to pursue careers in technology and become leaders in their fields.
Bryant has been named a ‘White House Champion of Change’ for Tech Inclusion and has received the Jefferson Award for Public Service. In addition to her work with Black Girls Code, Bryant is also a sought-after speaker and advocate for diversity and inclusion in technology.
Freada Kapor Klein
Freada Kapor Klein is a prominent investor, philanthropist, and advocate for social justice in the tech space. In 1984, Klein received a Ph.D. in social policy and research from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management of Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts with a Social Science Research Council fellowship for the study of sexual harassment in federal government employment.
Kapor Klein is a partner at Kapor Capital and Kapor Center for Social Impact where she advocates for diversity in the tech workforce. In 2001, Klein created the ‘Level Playing Field’ project aimed at empowering under-represented communities in STEM.- Ellen Pao
Ellen Pao is a prominent tech executive and investor who has become a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. Pao earned her degrees from Princeton University and Harvard Law School before embarking on a career in tech. Pao worked as a corporate attorney before joining venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (KPCB) in 2005. In 2012, she filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against KPCB, alleging that the firm had retaliated against her for speaking out about sexism and discrimination within the company.
Following the lawsuit, Pao became CEO of social media platform Reddit, where she worked to improve the company’s policies around harassment and hate speech. She later founded Project Include, an organization that aims to promote diversity and inclusion in the tech industry. Today, Pao is a prominent investor and advocate for social justice. 
Reshma Saujani
Reshma Saujani an Indian-American lawyer and entrepreneur who is best known for founding Girls Who Code, a nonprofit organization that seeks to close the gender gap in technology by providing girls with the skills and support they need to pursue careers in tech.
Under Saujani’s leadership, Girls Who Code has reached 500 million people through its work and 300,000 girls through its in-person programming. Since its launch in 2012, it has become a leading voice in the movement for diversity and inclusion in the technology industry. Saujani has been recognized for her work with numerous awards and accolades, including being named one of Fortune’s World’s Greatest Leaders and one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People.
Ayanna Howard
Ayanna Howard is a prominent roboticist and educator who has made significant contributions to the field of robotics and artificial intelligence. Howard earned degrees in electrical engineering and computer science from Brown University and the University of Southern California.
Howard has worked as a research scientist and engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where she is currently a professor and chair of the School of Interactive Computing. Her research focuses on developing robots and other intelligent systems that can assist people with disabilities, as well as exploring the ethical and social implications of artificial intelligence.
Laura Weidman Powers
Laura Weidman Powers is a technology entrepreneur and social justice advocate who has made significant contributions to the field of tech diversity and inclusion. She is the co-founder and CEO of Code2040, a nonprofit that works to increase representation of Black and Latinx people in the tech industry.
Under Powers’ leadership, Code2040 has partnered with major tech companies to provide mentorship, networking opportunities, and professional development programs to underrepresented minority groups. Her work has been recognized by platforms like The New York Times, Forbes, Fortune, NBC, Bloomberg, Fast Company and NPR.
Ursula Burns
Ursula Burns is a trailblazing businesswoman and engineer who has made significant contributions to the tech industry. Burns spent her entire career at Xerox Corporation, starting as a mechanical engineering intern in 1980 and eventually rising through the ranks to become the company’s CEO in 2009. She was the first Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company, and held the position until Xerox’s split in 2016.
Under Burns’ leadership, Xerox underwent a significant transformation, shifting its focus from traditional printing and copying to digital services and solutions. She was also a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion in the tech industry, and has been recognized for her efforts to promote greater representation of women and people of color in leadership positions. Burns has received numerous awards and honors for her achievements, including being named one of Forbes’ World’s 100 Most Powerful Women and one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People.
To support women of color in tech, it’s important to address the structural and systemic barriers that contribute to their underrepresentation.
This includes increasing access to education and professional opportunities, promoting diversity and inclusion in hiring and leadership practices, and creating supportive and inclusive workplace cultures.
By: Harshita Snehi, Graduate Student and Assistant in PIT@UMass