Technovation with Peter High (CIO, CTO, CDO, CXO Interviews) Lisa Davis on Why the Workplace Is Broken, and How Leaders Can Redesign It
Apr 2, 2026
Lisa Davis, board director and former CIO who wrote The Only Woman in the Room, looks at why today’s workplace structures fail modern leaders. She discusses systemic barriers to advancement, how power shapes careers, why women leave STEM, the need for inclusive AI leadership, and practical ways leaders can redesign work for the future.
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Workplace Built For 1950s Family Model
- The modern workplace was designed in the 1950s for a single-earner family and hasn't adapted to current dual-career realities.
- Lisa Davis highlights lack of paid family leave and costly caregiving as systemic barriers that force many women out of careers permanently.
Men Need To Become Active Allies
- Men must become active allies by learning how women navigate the workplace and using influence to advocate for change.
- Lisa suggests men read the book to understand these dynamics and to support partners, daughters, or colleagues.
STEM Pipeline Loses Girls Early
- Female representation in computer engineering fell from ~35% in the 1980s to about 22% today, driven by early attrition and lack of role models.
- Lisa notes girls drop out in middle school and young women avoid male-dominated rooms, reducing the pipeline into tech.
