Women in IT in Nepal
Empowering women in IT is not just a gender issue, it is a national development strategy
March is globally celebrated as Women’s Month, a time to reflect on the progress made toward gender equality and to highlight the crucial role women play in shaping modern societies. In Nepal, the Information Technology (IT) sector is emerging as one of the most promising industries, offering global employment opportunities, innovation and economic growth. However, women remain significantly underrepresented in this sector.
Despite Nepal’s growing digital ecosystem and startup culture, women account for only about 7.88% of the workforce in ICT companies, with even fewer holding leadership positions. This stark gap shows that Nepal still has a long way to go in achieving gender equality in technology. Encouraging women’s participation in IT is not just about fairness, it is about unlocking untapped talent and accelerating national development.
The participation of women in Nepal’s IT sector is important for several economic and social reasons. Technology industries thrive on diversity of thought, creativity and innovation. When women participate equally in technology, organisations gain broader perspectives, which leads to better products, services and problem-solving approaches. Globally, companies with diverse leadership teams tend to perform better financially and strategically. Women’s involvement in technology can also contribute significantly to Nepal’s digital economy, helping the country compete internationally in areas such as software development, artificial intelligence, data analytics and digital entrepreneurship.
Despite the importance of women in technology, several structural barriers still limit their participation in Nepal. Research shows that women represent around 30% of ICT students at Tribhuvan University and only about 13.5% at Kathmandu University, which indicates that the pipeline of women entering the tech workforce is already limited. Cultural expectations, lack of mentorship and limited exposure to STEM fields during school years further discourage women from pursuing careers in technology. Additionally, workplace bias, fewer networking opportunities and limited leadership representation make it harder for women to progress in the IT industry. As a result, only a small proportion of women professionals in ICT companies hold managerial or executive roles.
Encouraging more women to enter the IT sector requires a strong ecosystem of education, training and mentorship. First, schools and universities must actively promote STEM education among girls by providing scholarships, coding programmes and technology workshops. Initiatives such as coding boot camps, hackathons and digital literacy programmes can help young women build technical confidence and skills. Organisations like Women Leaders in Technology (WLiT) in Nepal are already working toward this goal by encouraging girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Expanding such initiatives nationwide would significantly increase the number of women entering the tech workforce.
Another important strategy is creating supportive workplaces where women can grow professionally. Companies must adopt inclusive hiring policies, equal pay practices and leadership development programmes for female employees. Mentorship programmes connecting experienced female professionals with young women in technology can also be transformative. Flexible work policies, remote work opportunities and parental support systems can help women balance professional and personal responsibilities, making long-term careers in technology more sustainable.
Nepal already has inspiring examples of women who are shaping the country’s technology and digital entrepreneurship landscape. One such example is Jayanti Mala Chapagain, who began her career as a web developer and later founded her own IT company, Spiker Solutions, becoming a role model for young women in technology. Similarly, women leaders such as Dipti Gautam (associated with Nepali Women+ in Computing) have been actively advocating for inclusion and empowerment of women in the tech community. These pioneers demonstrate that women in Nepal can lead and innovate in technology when given the right opportunities.
Nepal’s broader business ecosystem also includes influential women leaders who inspire the next generation. For instance, Bhawani Rana, former President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), became the first woman to lead the organisation and has been a strong advocate for female entrepreneurship and leadership. Meanwhile, global Nepali entrepreneur Jamuna Gurung, co-founder of the Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia, has built a global education enterprise and is considered one of the wealthiest and most successful Nepali women entrepreneurs. These leaders prove that women from Nepal can influence industries both nationally and internationally.
Looking beyond Nepal, women are also leading some of the world’s largest technology and innovation-driven companies. Dr Lisa Su, CEO of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), transformed the company into a multibillion-dollar leader in high-performance computing and semiconductor technology. Safra Catz, long-time CEO of Oracle, has been instrumental in expanding one of the world’s largest enterprise software companies. Melanie Perkins, co-founder and CEO of Canva, built a design platform used globally and valued at billions of dollars. Similarly, women like Jane Fraser (Citigroup CEO) and Carol B Tomé (UPS CEO) lead major multinational organisations, demonstrating that female leadership is increasingly shaping the global technology and business landscape.
Global data also reveals a persistent gender gap in corporate leadership. Women currently lead only about 10.4% of Fortune 500 companies, showing that gender equality in leadership is still a work in progress worldwide. However, the rise of influential female leaders across industries is gradually breaking traditional barriers and inspiring millions of young women to pursue careers in technology, entrepreneurship and innovation.
For Nepal to fully benefit from its digital transformation, empowering women in technology must become a national priority. Government policies should encourage women-focused technology education, provide startup funding for female entrepreneurs, and support research and innovation programmes led by women. Collaboration between universities, technology companies and international organisations can create a supportive environment where women can thrive in the IT sector.
Ultimately, empowering women in IT is not just a gender issue, it is a national development strategy. When women participate fully in technology, they bring creativity, leadership and resilience that strengthen the entire industry. As Nepal moves toward a digital future, investing in women’s participation and leadership in IT will help build a more inclusive, innovative and globally competitive economy. Women in technology are not just contributors to progress; they are leaders shaping the future of Nepal’s digital transformation.
