TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) -- Randi Zuckerberg was part of the team that help launch Facebook, and now she's coming to Capital City to talk business and social media as part of the Power Forward Speakers Series.
Zuckerberg might be making waves in technology world, but if you look at the industry as a whole: "Women still have a long way to go in technology," Zuckerberg told WTXL ABC 27 tech reporter Morgan Moore.
When it comes to jobs in tech, men out number women seven to three. Most of Silicon Valley's top tech companies only have one woman on their board of directors. But Zuckerberg says there are ways these numbers can change.
"I think it starts really young. It starts with getting little girls excited about technology because I really want young girls to have role models that made it seem like tech was a cool thing for girls," said Zuckerberg.
There’s a national trend toward STEM in the classroom and getting girls involved, but experts say it may be years before that gap is closed. In the meantime, some companies are doing what they can, by changing their policies to open themselves up to more women applicants.
"The tech field has a little bit of a black eye in terms of women. Sometimes we're not welcome, or the industry's a little misogynistic. But we're just trying to change that because that's not necessarily true and it doesn't have to be that way," said Christine Urban from Domi Station in Tallahassee.
Facebook is among the dozen or so that have extended maternity leave options, making it easier for women to have kids and a career.
"I feel really proud to be part of a company that has that kind of a legacy pioneering and making it easier for women to come into tech," said Zuckerberg.
Zuckerberg says she's glad to be part of the push that’s battling the idea that tech is a only a man's world... something she expects will only continue to get smaller.
The Power Forward Series is brought to you by the First Commerce Credit Union along with the FSU College of Business.
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