Does KC deserve a high rank for women in tech? 3 female techies reflect

For three consecutive years, Kansas City has maintained its ranking as the second-best metro for women in technology.
In addition to being one of only three cities without a gender pay gap, Kansas City scored high marks for its relatively high ratio of tech jobs filled by women, according to the study conducted by SmartAsset.

SmartAsset analyzed 59 of the largest U.S. cities and ranked them based on four metrics: the gender pay gap in tech, income after housing costs, the percentage of women that make up the tech workhouse and the four-year tech employment growth.

On a national scale, women are still in the minority with regard to the ratio — about 1 to 4 jobs or 26 percent — of computer and mathematical jobs they fill. Although the gender pay gap may not exist in Kansas City, SmartAsset’s analysis found the national average of female-to-male earnings ratio is 84.8 percent — which is a two-percentage point decrease from 2016.

To see the realities female techies encounter in the KC tech sector, Startland News spoke with three women about their experiences to see if it matches up with SmartAsset’s ranking.  

Ann Gaffigan, chief technology officer at National Land Realty

Ann Gaffigan

 What are your thoughts on the ranking?

“I’m really proud to see KC on the list of top cities for women in tech and not surprised in the least. During my career I’ve lived in Nebraska and in Southern California, in addition to Kansas City.  First of all, Kansas City is a very inclusive and progressive city. We have fantastic leadership and support for startups and non-profit endeavors. It’s also a very diverse and family-friendly city. Diversity is normalized, so instead of it being a surprise when a woman is successful in tech or a minority has a blossoming startup, it’s recognized as the way things should be — everyone should have an opportunity to pursue their goals and ideas, not just a single set of people.”

What makes KC’s tech scene stand out for women?

“I think a lot of credit has to be given to the community organizers here. Seeing what Kansas City Women in Tech has done since its infancy is like a dream come true. They hit on everything — the younger girls, the adults who are beginners, and those of us who are already in the industry. The next thing we have to tackle in Kansas City is emphasizing STEM education beginning in elementary school and making sure it happens in every school regardless of location and resources. As for girls specifically, we need to give them women to look up to and to be mentored by. Role models and mentors are harder to find for women in technology. We need to stay visible and available when we can.”

Lyndsey Padget, senior software engineer at Freightview 

Lyndsey Padget

What are your thoughts on the ranking?

“I knew that Kansas City had been near the top of this list in recent years, so I’m happy to see that we’re maintaining our position. The fact that there is a positive gender pay gap is pretty remarkable. It’s simple: women in Kansas City know their worth. I’m not sure that other cities are unwelcoming per se, but Kansas City certainly has enough opportunities for women to partake in.”

What makes KC’s tech scene stand out for women?

“There’s a thriving development community for newbies and veterans alike. Organizations like Kansas City Women in Technology make it easy to connect with other female developers. Once you have strong female colleagues and mentors that you trust, you can begin to compare notes about a company’s culture or pay. It definitely take a village to build software or a company, but I enjoy working with Kansas City Women in Technology because they focus almost exclusively on writing code.  Like law or medicine, this skill is highly sought-after but also requires a lifelong commitment to learning. Programming is a subset of tech that I would like to help grow in Kansas City.”

Rachel Hathaway, web engineer at Apartment Therapy Media 

Rachel Hathaway

What are your thoughts on the ranking? 

“I live in Kansas City, so of course this is exciting, but it’s still a bit discouraging. I have limited experience, but if we’re at the top, what is the situation really like for the rest of the nation? That being said, 99 percent of the people I’ve interacted with in tech positions and at events in Kansas City have been incredibly friendly and inclusive. Maybe this genuine Midwestern niceness bleeds over into our work environments.”  

What makes KC’s tech scene stand out for women?
“There is probably nothing particularly special about KC’s tech scene as a whole, but I can’t make any educated comparisons, because I know nothing of other tech scenes. What we do have are some great programs geared toward women that seem to be gaining good traction. When women see other women taking part in these programs and being active in what is generally seen as a male-dominated field, I think it helps to break away the perceived barriers to entry in the tech field and community in general.”

Check out the full rankings below.