CIO OPINION
Commitment to diversity fosters better business practices in organisations that adopt this approach .
Meerah Rajavel , CIO , Palo Alto Networks
Diversity in Technology : Driving companies in Latin America
Meerah Rajavel , CIO , Palo Alto Networks , says LATAM companies are embracing diversity as a strategic business move , recognizing its capacity to drive innovation , enhance decision-making and cultivate a more productive work atmosphere .
In recent years , diversity in technology teams has emerged as a significant factor in driving companies in the sector toward leadership in their respective industries .
This concern not only reflects growing attention to inclusion but is also grounded in solid data highlighting the tangible benefits that a more diverse team brings to organisational financial performance and innovation .
According to data from the Association of Information Technology and Communication ( ICT ) and Digital Technologies Companies ( Brasscom ), the presence of people with disabilities , women and black people in the technology market in Latin America is still significantly underrepresented .
In Brazil , for example , although 24 % of the population has some form of physical or motor difficulty , these PwD professionals occupy only 0.8 % of sector vacancies .
Additionally , women , who constitute 51 % of the Brazilian population , represent only 20 % of technology professionals in the country .
This disparity is even more evident when observing the representation of black and multiracial individuals , who make up only 34.9 % of the total workforce in www . intelligentcio . com INTELLIGENTCIO LATAM INTELLIGENTCIO LATAM 39