WOTECH

Results

WoTech was created to address a clear and urgent challenge: women remain significantly underrepresented in the IT sector, while many continue to work in lower-paid industries with fewer opportunities for growth. In Estonia and Latvia, where the gender pay gap is among the highest in Europe, this imbalance is especially visible. At the same time, the technology sector offers some of the strongest career and salary opportunities in the labour market.

WoTech set out to change this by giving women a practical, accessible pathway into IT. The programme offered free and flexible training in programming and digital skills, combined with mentorship, inspirational sessions, and strong peer support. Importantly, it was designed for women with no previous IT background, making the first step into tech more realistic and achievable.

The results show that this approach works. A total of 220 women joined the programme — 110 from Estonia and 110 from Latvia. Of these, 157 successfully completed the technical training, exceeding the original target (150). Even more importantly, 161 participants reached a positive placement outcome: 87 moved into IT-related jobs or internships, and 74 continued their journey through further studies in technology and digital fields.

These numbers reflect real career changes and real personal growth. Participants moved into roles in programming, data analytics, IT support, testing, cybersecurity, project management, and hybrid business-technology positions. Some joined companies such as ERPLY, Elisa, WISE, Twilio, airBaltic, Accenture, Swisscom, DPD Switzerland, Tietoevry, TestDevLab, and Latvenergo. Others took the next step through further learning, enrolling in courses and programmes ranging from Harvard’s CS50, Google IT Automation, and IBM Data Science to university studies, cybersecurity courses, and advanced Java and Python bootcamps.

Behind these outcomes are inspiring individual stories. One participant in Estonia moved into a role as a Business Applications Specialist at Elisa, showing that even when the path is not perfectly linear, the programme can open meaningful new career opportunities. Another participant started a remote internship with a UK-based startup, applying Python, Pandas, PostgreSQL, and machine learning tools to real business problems in data science. In Latvia, one learner advanced into a Senior Business Analyst role at airBaltic, contributing to the implementation of Power BI solutions. Another participant began working with IT procurement and data analysis at Latvenergo, while continuing to build a future path in cybersecurity.

There were also participants who used WoTech as a launchpad for self-driven growth. Some continued with online studies in cybersecurity, AI, web development, data engineering, and project management. Others discovered how to apply their new skills in their current workplaces by improving processes, creating automation tools, or taking on more technology-focused responsibilities. In this way, the project’s impact extended beyond direct job placements: it also helped women gain confidence, direction, and the practical knowledge needed to keep progressing.

WoTech’s impact was not limited to technical skills alone. Participant feedback showed increased confidence in engaging with IT, a better understanding of different technology roles, and stronger awareness of the many ways to enter the digital economy. Many women also built new peer networks that continued after the programme ended. In Estonia, for example, graduates launched the volunteer-led TechDrinks series, which brings women interested in tech together through company visits and informal networking events.

Cross-border cooperation played a key role in making this possible. By joining forces, Smartwork Association in Estonia and Riga TechGirls in Latvia were able to combine experience, networks, and resources to create a stronger programme than either could have delivered alone. This collaboration made it possible to offer shared training, inspirational events, and broader networking opportunities across both countries, while also making the initiative more cost-effective and scalable. The Estonian partner also established a long-term cooperation with TalTech (Tallinn University of Technology), through which around 20 top graduates from reskilling programmes each year can continue to TalTech’s Bachelor-level IT studies directly, without entrance examinations. Read more about TalTech`s “Inclusive IT initiatives” here.

WoTech has shown that with the right support, women with no prior tech experience can successfully begin a new path in the digital field. The project did more than teach coding — it helped participants see themselves in tech, build confidence, take practical next steps, and create new futures for themselves. In doing so, WoTech contributed to a more inclusive, diverse, and resilient tech ecosystem in Estonia, Latvia, and beyond.