Inclusion of women, people of color, veterans, members of the LGBTQ community, and people in the workplace isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s good for business. According to the World Economic Forum, “individuals who work in open, diverse, and inclusive environments are usually able to perform better, because each individual is able to bring their authentic self to the workplace.”

The DC tech sector is thriving. “Our region has a vibrant innovation ecosystem that is one of the most important in the United States. Advanced technologies that drive the country’s economy are nurtured here and further developed and deployed by our highly talented workforce and entrepreneurs,” wrote entrepreneur Jonathan Aberman in The Washington Post on February 19, 2018.

This November, two media organizations that cover this ecosystem in depth recognized three women from Booz Allen for their roles as leaders, connectors, and contributors.

Over half (52 percent) of highly qualified women working for STEM companies leave their jobs, according to research by the Center for Talent Innovation (CTI). Yet one fifth of women currently employed in STEM are in senior-level positions, respected for their expertise, and satisfied with their jobs.

As organizations migrate more and more sensitive data to the cloud and work in general becomes increasingly tech-focused, the cybersecurity field has developed a talent supply problem. According to the 2017 Global Information Security Workforce Study, “We are on pace to reach a cybersecurity workforce gap of 1.8 million by 2022, a 20 percent increase over the forecast made in the 2015.”