Ask anyone to list off the most famous nerds or successful geeks they can think of and you’ll hear a laundry list of dudes:

Bill Gates
Steve Jobs
Mark Zuckerberg
Biz Stone
Craig Newmark

These guys are the creative minds behind some of the most successful technology ventures of our time, and we love/hate them for how much money and time they’ve stolen from us, but you’ve still got to wonder: where are all my ladies at?

Sure, like every industry, men have dominated the highest paying and most prestigious positions in tech for many years. But also like every industry, that’s rapidly changing. And coworking is helping.

Some stats to go with your coffee:

•  The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that by 2020, about 65 million Americans will be freelancers, temps, independent contractors and solopreneurs, making up about 40% of the workforce.
• As of 2012, there were almost 2,100 coworking spaces around the world.
• 38% of all coworking space members are women (as of 2012)

Diversity is essential for continued growth and creativity in business. It doesn’t matter which type of business, but especially any business related to technology. We sometimes joke about “bro-working” but the truth is that more women entrepreneurs are finding homes in coworking spaces than ever before.

Empowered by the supportive community of their coworking spaces, these women are changing social and economic norms right before our very eyes. No longer strapped to their basements or dining room tables, these women are turning hobbies into companies, and hidden talents into new income streams. (Case in point: both start-ups that have launched out of Cohere are owned by women).

These women are also setting a long-overdue example for younger females, demonstrating that it’s no longer necessary to choose career or family, but that with coworking as a tool, it’s possible to balance both with grace and ferocity. More women in tech means a stronger, more creative tech industry, and that’s pretty awesome!

For more inspiration, please enjoy the following infographic which depicts some of the fiercest women in tech and the shape of things to come:

Infographic courtesy of New Relic

Top image via GCUC