As the world embraces digital transformation, young women in Cambodia are proving that technology is not just a man’s world. With determination and innovation, they are breaking stereotypes, solving community problems, and inspiring the next generation to step into the tech field.
As International Women’s Day approaches, the theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment” highlights the need to unlock equal rights, power, and opportunities for everyone. A key focus is empowering the next generation—especially young women and girls—as drivers of change.
Even though women remain significantly underrepresented in Cambodia’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, making up just 10% of the workforce, young women like Kao Menghorng are breaking barriers and inspiring change. As the country celebrates women’s day, it is a time to reflect on bringing more women into tech, by emphasizing the need for mentorship and education to foster a more inclusive and diverse tech future.
Menghorng notices this crucial change. The 19-year-old is a data science and artificial intelligence student at CamTech University and a coding teacher at Algorithmic School Phnom Penh. Her journey into tech began in the ninth grade when she joined the Technovation Girls program, an initiative that teaches young girls coding skills to solve community problems. Her first app helped students learn chemistry and English, setting the stage for an inspiring career in technology.
Her passion for problem-solving soon earned her recognition on the global stage, participating in the 11th E-Icon World Contest, where she developed an application using Java to address climate change issues. She won an award for her efforts. At just 15, she traveled to the United States for a three-week exchange program, immersing herself in robotics and emerging technologies. This experience fueled her passion to make an impact in the tech world.
Determined to create opportunities for others, Menghorng founded Ladies in Tech, a seven-week online workshop equipping young women with essential tech skills. She later launched Stemunity, a startup offering online courses to help students explore STEM careers and find their passion in university studies.
“Tech is a very powerful tool to solve the problems in my community,” Menghorng said. “I want to be a changemaker who creates a positive impact in society.”
Yet, her path has not been without challenges. Cambodian social norms still perceive technology as a male-dominated field, making it difficult for women to gain equal recognition. She remains undeterred, emphasizing that everyone should have the right to pursue their dreams, regardless of gender.
“I want to be a role model for the next generation of girls,” she said. “If we have both men and women working in tech, we can create better solutions for society.”
Her vision extends beyond her own success—she wants to see tech opportunities expanded to rural areas, where children often lack the resources to explore careers beyond traditional roles.
“In rural areas, children dream big, but their environment often pushes them toward being doctors, teachers, or police officers,” she said. “I want them to dream beyond that—to become leaders in the tech industry.”
María Renée Rada, a Bolivian IT engineer and founding member of Women in Tech – Cambodia, acknowledges the industry’s male dominance but sees promising change as more women pursue technology-related studies and step into leadership roles.
Acknowledging the challenges, she said, many women still hesitate to enter the field due to cultural expectations, and a lack of role models and access to education. There’s still much work to be done to create a more inclusive and supportive tech landscape, she said. “One of the biggest challenges for women in tech is breaking stereotypes.”
However, Rada stressed the importance of diversity in technology, explaining that when women are part of the industry, they create solutions that serve everyone, not just half the population.
“The more we see women succeed in tech, the easier it will be for others to follow,” she said. “Technology is shaping the future, and women must be part of that future.”

Both Menghorng and Rada believe that increasing representation is crucial—not just for gender equality, but for innovation and economic growth. They call for more mentorship programs, corporate diversity efforts, and competitions like hackathons to encourage young women to enter the field.
With International Women’s Day on March 8, the message from these trailblazers is clear: women belong in tech, and their contributions are essential for a better, more inclusive digital future.
Natalja Rodionova, founder of Sister of Code, told CamboJA News via email that the low representation of women in tech is not unique to Cambodia. Many countries face challenges attracting women to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).
Digital skills are now essential for all professionals in the digital economy, as technology is integrated into various industries, including finance, healthcare, e-commerce, and agriculture. Women who avoid tech careers may experience lower job opportunities and salaries, and reduced participation in innovation. Additionally, a lack of female representation in tech development can result in products which overlook their needs, leading to usability issues and gaps in innovation.
“At the same time, when tech solutions development lacks diversity and in this case, engagement of female professionals, it may result in wrong usability or neglect the needs of 50% of the population,” said Rodionova.
The Global Gender Gap Report 2024 by the World Economic Forum noted that 8.4% of female students graduated from Information and Communication Technology (ICT), which is three times lower than the global average 35%.
Having worked in Cambodia for 10 years now with a focus on women empowerment and Digital Skills Education, Rodionova is able to see that interest among female students regarding the tech majors is gradually increasing, albeit at a slow pace.
“Based on our interviews with students and research, we see that girls don’t consider technology as an area of interest as they grow up in an environment that pushes them into more traditional areas, like social or humanitarian science,” she observed.
Female students need help to develop their confidence and abilities and that is what Sisters of Code is doing, which is by creating free training programs “only for girls”, Rodionova said. “You can try and explore, technology can be fun and you can do it.“
The government has developed very clear policies towards gender equality and women inclusivity, also encouraging more female students to study STEM.
Rodionova believes that there needs to be more initiatives or action to implement those policies. To create a good environment for women in tech, they also need the support from families, and men to be open and welcoming to women who want to join tech.
Appreciating diversity, partnership and building a supportive environment that will benefit the society and the development of the country are important, she said.
“Education takes time and persistence. A shift in mindset takes time and courage. We need both. We also need to appreciate those brave Cambodian women who join tech, present their examples and encourage young girls,” she added.
Khuon Vicheka, spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport and Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry spokesperson Heng Sokong, did not respond for comment.