On International Women Rock Day, we celebrate women whose innovation and dedication have shaped the world. Yet, in the IT industry, many influential figures often remain in the shadows. Today, we highlight three remarkable women: Katherine Johnson, Radia Perlman, and Barbara Liskov.

We begin with Katherine Johnson, whose precise mathematical calculations at NASA were crucial to the success of the space missions of the 1960s. The Apollo 11 moon landing would not have been possible without her contributions. Her story gained wider recognition through the film Hidden Figures, and she now stands as a symbol of the importance of breaking down barriers in science and technology.

Moving on from space exploration, we next look at network architecture. Radia Perlman laid the groundwork for modern communication technologies with her development of the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP). Her innovations make networks efficient and grant them stability – a feat without which the internet as we know it would probably not exist. Despite her pivotal role, her name is rarely recognised outside of IT circles.

Another often-overlooked figure is Barbara Liskov, whose groundbreaking ideas have significantly shaped software development. Her "Liskov Substitution Principle" set a standard in object-oriented programming that remains influential to this day. As only the second woman to receive the Turing Award, she has inspired generations of developers – yet her name remains unfamiliar to many outside the IT world.

What unites these three women is not only their extraordinary expertise but also the fact that their achievements often stayed in the background. They demonstrate the importance increasing the visibility of diversity and different perspectives – a priority we share at IT Sonix. Our Xperts know that diversity fosters innovation and strengthens every team.

International Women Rock Day reminds us of the significance of such role models – not only for the IT industry but for society as a whole. Together, we can work towards ensuring that women like Katherine Johnson, Radia Perlman, and Barbara Liskov receive the recognition they deserve, and build a future where everyone has the opportunity to achieve greatness.