The Dawn of Women’s Tech: The 1960s

March is a great time to reflect on how women shape our lives by contributing to science, business, and technology. We heard many stories of how sincerity overcomes unexpected obstacles, ambition turns into success, and persistence leads to social acceptance. Women’s History Month is coming to an end, so we decided to wrap it up with one more story. 

Godmother of Software Engineering

In the 1960s, Margaret Hamilton walked the corridors of Project Apollo every day. She’d come into the lab carrying her infant daughter and prepare for another day of programming, which she’d always do after rocking Lauren to sleep. 

Her colleagues were outraged that a mother in her mid-20s goes to work, but that didn’t bother Margaret, a University of Michigan graduate and math prodigy. She was a self-taught programmer and Director of the Software Engineering Division of the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory, developing navigation software for NASA’s Apollo program. Margaret’s mission was to send the first astronauts to the Moon, which meant writing the most complicated code in human history. The result was a towering stack of paper, immortalized in an iconic 1969 photo. 

Sending three people to the Moon was a significant achievement. But what’s more important is Margaret’s legacy. She convinced her stubborn male colleagues that programming is just as important as mechanical engineering and that spacecraft is only as good as its software. Nobody knew how to describe Margaret’s work, so she coined the term ‘software engineering.’ 

Tech Empowers Women

Margaret established software engineering as a scientific discipline that laid the groundwork for modern IT, paving the way for personal computers and the World Wide Web. She’s often called the world’s first programmer. 

Even more than 50 years later, Margaret’s achievements still inspire women to choose tech because the industry is growing, and it’s the best place for self-fulfillment. It offers an outstanding work-life balance, possibilities for remote work, and a people-centered culture that encourages employees to stay longer. Most importantly, it’s an industry where effort pays off. The dynamic nature of technology means that you’ll always see tangible results, and your contributions will always be visible. 

“The gender gap is still apparent (only 18,5% of EU women work in ICT), but it’s no longer popular to say that women can’t work in tech. We see an increase in female specialists and leaders. Talking about these women will make stereotypes seem less legitimate,” says Žydrūnė Vitaitė, co-founder of Women Go Tech.

Women Go Tech is an initiative that promotes female involvement in tech-based businesses. Its main goal is to show the benefits of working in the industry, offer guidance, and help women find jobs. Women Go Tech’s mentorship program provides a chance to meet IT professionals, company leaders, and HR specialists.

WGT Helps Find Jobs

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was the Women Go Tech community. But their efforts are already paying off.

“In the past five years, around 800 women finished Lithuanian STS studies. During that time, over 400 Women Go Tech attendees found jobs. I think we offer practical solutions in helping women find employment. And we’re taking small steps in narrowing the gender gap.” says Žydrūnė Vitaitė.

Women Go Tech revealed the groundbreaking potential of women in tech in Lithuania, showing that they’re brave, competent, and bring psychological balance to the workforce. We view Women Go Tech as a project of national importance because it acts as a talent pool for the whole industry, and its alumni will represent Lithuania both domestically and internationally. 

Every woman carries the spirit of Margaret Hamilton – persistent, independent, creative, and smiling in the face of adversity. Greatness starts with following your dreams, and you’re already on the right path. Next destination – tech.

This year, Hostinger is one of Women Go Tech’s official partners. We’re excited to start the QA workshop and help women build their success stories! Workshop participants will receive free hosting!