Equality and human rights are not trends or fashion items—they are core values that are, or should be, reflected in our daily actions and decisions. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, words alone are not enough—deeds are what counts. True commitment to progress must translate into action, also in the matters of diversity, equity and inclusion. We are dedicated to ensuring that our values are reflected in the steps we have taken and continue to take every day as a company and as a community.
Progress isn’t guaranteed
While we celebrate the progress made in gender equality over the years, recent global events have shown that progress is not always linear. Equality is never a given; it is something we must actively work for, every single day.
At Solita, our commitment to equality and diversity remains: fairness, inclusivity, and equity are not up for negotiation. We want people to feel they can join this work community as they are and believe that a more equal company culture and community also equals better business and innovations.
Meet the women of Solita: A diverse and dynamic community
Celebrating women, minorities, and allies in tech, we started the year 2024 on a high note when the Women in Tech Network named Solita the world’s third-best workplace for women in the Women in Tech Global Awards 2023.
Of our new joiners in 2024, 32% were women. Our company is enriched by the presence of 548 talented women, currently comprising 27% of our total workforce. While the trend is moving in the right direction, we still have work to do, both at Solita and as societies—still only about 30% of people studying information and communication technology (ICT) are women even in Finland, known as one of the more equal societies of the world.
Even though you never ask a lady their age, the ages of Solita women range from 24 to 63, with an average tenure of 3.5 years at Solita. In their professional roles, our female colleagues excel, for example, as Software Developers, Data Engineers, Product/Service Managers, Digital Designers, and Data and AI Consultants. Solita women come from diverse academic backgrounds, with the most common fields including:
- Information Technology
- Computer Science
- Business Administration/Management
- Economics
- International Business
We are proud that 34% of all leadership roles within the company were held by women in 2024. These leaders serve as, for example, Delivery Leads, Project Leads, Business Leads, People & Culture Leads, MarCom Leads and Function Heads.
Solita Women FWD: Fostering community and growth
Our commitment to gender equality is exemplified by the Solita Women FWD community, boasting over 400 members, both women and men. The Solita Women FWD is our community to boost women’s networking, well-being, and professional development opportunities at Solita.
Actions for progress
Beyond numbers, our dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is shown through concrete actions:
- Inclusive recruitment: We continuously refine our hiring processes to attract and retain diverse talent, ensuring unbiased and equitable opportunities for all candidates.
- Leadership development: Our leaders undergo training to foster inclusive environments, promoting a culture where every voice is heard and valued.
- Community engagement: Through initiatives like Solita Women FWD, we cultivate spaces for dialogue, learning, and mutual support, reinforcing our commitment to an inclusive workplace.
- Listening to diverse voices, not just the majority: In 2024, we conducted our first Inclusion survey in collaboration with an external partner to gather insights into the experiences of different diversity demographics within Solita. Results are being used to refine our 2025 DEI targets.
- Developing our feedback culture: As part of our work on equality, we want to strengthen our feedback culture, with a special focus on actionable feedback—insights that can be effectively applied for growth and personal development. This was also identified as an area for improvement in our Inclusion Survey. In addition to our own findings, past research shows that women may be more likely to receive less actionable feedback than men.
- Strengthening the foundation for pay equality: We implemented a job architecture framework to provide a transparent and consistent approach to salary determination, including clear communication about how salaries are set, the consistent application of salary guidelines, and regular reviews that consider individual performance and contributions. Our goal is to ensure all decisions regarding our employees — whether in recruitment, salary determination, staffing, or promotions — are based on expertise and abilities, not personal characteristics such as gender.
Looking ahead: Our ongoing commitment
While we celebrate our progress, we remain acutely aware of the journey ahead. We will continue implementing initiatives that drive meaningful change. By fostering an environment where everyone feels valued for who they are, we not only make work life more fun but also fuel innovation and excellence in our work.
We are not stopping, and we know we are not alone. Together, let’s ensure that progress never goes out of fashion.
