Female Participation in the Tech Sector Remains Low

The role of Indonesian women in the technology sector has come under scrutiny due to low participation rates. According to Yessie Yosutya, CIO of XLSmart, women represent less than 20% of the tech workforce in Indonesia, and only 8% hold board-level positions. This figure is notably lower than neighbouring countries such as Thailand (42%) and Singapore (41%), as highlighted during the Indonesia CIO 200 Summit 2026 in Jakarta.

Addressing this disparity requires collective effort, particularly in providing growth opportunities for women. Retno Kusumawati, Managing Director at Accenture, noted that cultural factors, such as being raised to be overly hesitant, can hinder progress. This sentiment was echoed by Chichi Utami, Corporate Technology Lead at PT Paragon Technology and Innovation, who shared her experience of initially declining a promotion to an IT Manager role due to the male-dominated environment, before being encouraged by her superior’s commitment to her development.

Gina Virginia, Chief Technology & Operations at Bank CTBC Indonesia, added that women must be proactive in pursuing leadership roles. She emphasised that while organisational change involves risk, leaders must manage these risks to achieve their objectives. The Indonesia CIO 200 Summit, organised by the Global CIO Forum Indonesia Chapter, brought together over 200 technology and digital leaders to share insights and foster collaboration within the Indonesian tech industry.