Women entrepreneurs galvanized to disrupt male-dominated tech industry
VANCOUVER — Technology entrepreneur Tammy Meyers does a mental count every time she attends a business conference promoting the augmented reality company she co-founded. Almost always, she’s one of the only women in the room.
Meyers is chief operating officer of QuestUpon, a British Columbia tech firm that’s been garnering accolades for virtual tourism experiences similar to the new Pokemon Go craze. She’s been watching the province’s tech industry advance rapidly, but hasn’t seen women prosper at the same rate.
“There’s probably more of a hill to climb for women to prove themselves, when it’s a male-dominated space,” she said.
Meyers blames the imbalance on factors from subtle sexism to lack of women in prominent roles, a view shared by several other female entrepreneurs. They also share a vision for spurring progress equal to the tech boom that’s transforming the provincial economy and say their involvement is key to being globally competitive.