The IT Pro Podcast: Bridging the gender data gap
Biases in data sets are a major hurdle to developing effective products and services. How can we fix the problem?

When it comes to gender gaps, most people are familiar with the problem of recruiting women into technology, science, engineering and manufacturing roles, to say nothing of pay disparity and lack of representation at senior management levels.
A less well known problem, however, is the gender data gap. Biased data sets fed into artificial intelligence and machine learning systems can disadvantage women in areas ranging from recruitment to healthcare and even financial services. It’s also a problem at the other end of the funnel, with organisations losing out on potential talent, customers and risking red faces if the imbalance in the data sets used to make these decisions is made public.
This week, we’re joined by Constanza Di Gennaro, COO of BioBeats to discuss what the gender data gap is, its impact and what we can do to close it.
We also discuss Google’s new deal to provide cloud services to the UK government, Zoom’s growing revenue streams and continued security concerns, and plans to protect UK startups from takeovers by foreign companies.
Footnotes
News
- UK government to protect tech firms from foreign takeovers
- Google Cloud signs deal with the UK government
- Zoom capitalises on high demand with 169% revenue surge
- Zoom will offer stronger encryption for paid accounts
In-depth
- Female software devs 'earn more than men until promotion', report finds
- Can data beat the gender pay gap?
- The IT Pro Podcast: Can AI ever be ethical?
- How to spot – if not fix – algorithmic bias
- AI framework to prevent sexist and racist algorithms
- IBM to snuff out AI bias with updated Watson OpenScale
- Can you trust AI?
- Automating the end of discrimination
- UK police warn of bias in AI tools
Subscribe
- Subscribe to The IT Pro Podcast on Apple Podcasts
- Subscribe to The IT Pro Podcast on Google Podcasts
- Subscribe to The IT Pro Podcast on Spotify
- Subscribe to the IT Pro newsletter
Get the ITPro daily newsletter
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
ITPro is a global business technology website providing the latest news, analysis, and business insight for IT decision-makers. Whether it's cyber security, cloud computing, IT infrastructure, or business strategy, we aim to equip leaders with the data they need to make informed IT investments.
For regular updates delivered to your inbox and social feeds, be sure to sign up to our daily newsletter and follow on us LinkedIn and Twitter.
-
How refurbished IT is reshaping enterprise strategy
From reductions in carbon emissions to stronger returns on capital expenditure, renewable hardware is helping businesses in many ways
-
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition review
Reviews The new S2 Core Ultra processors fix the only thing wrong with the X1 – its battery life
-
It’s the end of the road for Women Who Code, following loss of “critical” funding
News The organization supporting women in the tech industry is being dissolved 13 years after it was founded
-
Five common barriers holding back women in tech
Women in tech still face significant challenges in the workplace
-
Report: Brexit and COVID to blame for lack of diversity in tech
News One in two surveyed respondents cited the two events as key factors in the failure to improve diversity in leadership roles
-
Australia allocates $6.7 million to advance women in STEM initiatives
News Women make up only 28% of the country's STEM workers
-
IT Pro Panel: What’s stopping diversity in tech?
IT Pro Panel The need for more diversity is well established - but we still have a way to go
-
AWS partners with NPower to boost jobs for women of color in tech
News Command Shift will find tech jobs for underserved group
-
AWS and The Dream Collective aim to bring more women into tech
News The SheDares learning program offers women expert advice on how to pursue a career in technology
-
Why aren’t women heading more tech startups?
In-depth Women are in incredibly short supply as founders of top tech firms. What’s going on, and can the situation change for the better?