Achieving equality requires systemic change — from social norms to artificial intelligence
The 2nd Women in STEM Cyprus Summit, titled Voices of Change, was successfully held in Nicosia, on 26 November 2025, under the auspices of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides. With over 300 participants, the event, co-organized by Women in Tech® Cyprus and TechIsland, brought together leading figures from academia, business, and politics to highlight the critical challenges and opportunities surrounding gender equality in STEM.
The gender gap persists – not due to ability, but because of systems
Speakers and participants agreed that the gender gap in STEM and AI leadership is not a matter of capability. Instead, it stems from deeply rooted social norms and stereotypes that reinforce insecurity and bias — from early education through senior leadership. Although women innovate and contribute significantly to science and technology, only 25% of seats on research boards are held by women, signalling that talent exists, but the system continues to restrict who advances.
Burnout and stalled progression are pushing women out of STEM
According to a study by IMR/University of Nicosia, 41% of women in STEM have considered leaving or have already stepped away from their careers. The reasons are not linked to skill level; they include burnout, limited career progression, gender bias, rigid working conditions, and the challenge of balancing work with caregiving responsibilities.
From wellness to flexibility
Supporting women in STEM cannot be reduced to generic wellness programmes. Experts emphasised the need for workplaces that are truly flexible, inclusive, and responsive to the evolving needs of women. Only such environments can ensure meaningful equality and long-term retention.
Artificial intelligence inherits our biases
One of the Summit’s most discussed themes was bias in AI systems. Speakers stressed that AI becomes biased because it is trained on biased data and algorithms, often built by teams lacking diversity. Addressing this problem requires transparency, bias audits, diverse development teams, and organisations that hold themselves accountable for fair and inclusive AI.
Gender equality starts with education and culture
The Summit concluded with a clear message: real equality is impossible without changing the entire system. This includes educating boys, reshaping cultural expectations, challenging ingrained biases, and redesigning the structures that force women to constantly prove their worth.
Tanya Romanyukha, Director of Women in Tech® Cyprus and General Manager of TechIsland® commented: “More than 300 participants and 25 outstanding speakers came together with honesty and clarity, in an event that is steadily evolving into an institutional platform grounded in data, open dialogue and collective commitment. I want to sincerely thank our speakers, everyone who attended, our volunteers, and of course our sponsors and partners who actively support our mission. Progress happens when enough people decide that it should happen — and act as if it is inevitable.”
She continued: “What stands out for me this year is a simple but significant survey finding: 81% of the women who chose STEM studies or careers did so out of personal interest. Girls follow their curiosity when we give them the space to do so; our role is to open up possibilities, not limit them. At the same time, the data shows that women have not stopped striving — the barrier lies in decisions made under pressure, in ‘safe choices,’ and in the lack of flexibility in workplaces. And this is not only a matter of fairness. It carries a substantial economic cost: the global economy could grow by around 20% if women participated in the workforce at the same rate as men.”
The Women in STEM Cyprus Summit was made possible with the support of:
Gold Sponsor: MUFG Investor Services
Silver Sponsors: Adsterra, University of Nicosia
Bronze Sponsors: Alphamega, i-Con, Parimatch, INXY Payments
Community Partners: Girls in STEAM Academy, Unity Growth, Cyprus Computer Society
Workshop Partner: Eurobank
Coffee Partner: Nespresso
Community Partners: Girls in STEAM Academy, Unity Growth, Cyprus Computer Society
Presents Partner: Sentara
About Women in Tech® Cyprus:
Women in Tech® Cyprus, an official chapter of the Women in Tech® Global organization, is committed to closing the gender gap and encouraging women to embrace technology. This initiative is facilitated by TechIsland and Adsterra. Over the past 18 months, the two organizations have built a thriving community of more than 500 members, including both women and men, who actively support and empower female tech professionals.
Website: https://wit-h.com/topics/38808/feed
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/womenintechcyprus
Telegram: https://t.me/WIT_Cyprus
Instagram: https://instagram.com/witcyprus
About TechIsland:
TechIsland is the largest tech association in Cyprus with over 350 members. It was founded in 2021 with the mission to transform Cyprus into a tech island. As a non-profit organization TechIsland strives towards optimizing the operating environment of the tech industry in Cyprus, providing guidance and education to its members and offering unique networking opportunities. Stay up to date with TechIsland by visiting https://thetechisland.org/, Linkedin, Facebook, Instagram.
Information for editors:
Artemis Pnevmatikou
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