Statistics show that there is still a tremendous gender gap when it comes to leadership positions in the localization and gaming industries. Events and conferences that focus on women’s participation in these sectors aim to change this by uplifting female perspectives, encouraging entry into the fields, and facilitating networking opportunities and diversity initiatives.

According to Nimdzi Insights — a language industry research firm — only 16 language service providers (LSPs) out of the 100 listed in the 2025 Nimdzi 100 report are woman-owned or woman-led. “Keeping in mind that women are overrepresented in our industry, accounting for nearly 70 percent of the workforce, the 16 percent in top-100 leadership positions reminds us that a lot of room remains for more equal representation,” Nimdzi researchers pointed out in their flagship report. 

Sadly, the outlook isn’t much better on the gaming side. Women in Games (WG) — a nonprofit organization advocating for increased participation of women and girls in video games — shared the results of the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2024 Survey, which shows a clear picture of where the industry sits today. According to WG, “Things simply aren’t getting any better.” Only 23 percent of the 3,000 people surveyed were women. The report shows that 87 percent of game developers with over 21 years of experience (meaning they are most likely decision-makers) are men — 92 percent of whom are white men. 

These statistics concern those of us who deeply care about creating a diverse and inclusive industry that welcomes everyone — but they should not discourage us; on the contrary, these numbers should fuel our motivation to keep fighting and supporting initiatives like the ones promoted by Women in Localization (WL) and WG.

Marina Ilari — CEO of Terra, WL Los Angeles Chapter Manager, and WG Ambassador — commented, “Representation matters at all levels, especially among decision-makers who shape the culture, content, and opportunities in gaming. At Terra and through my work with WL and WG, we’re committed to driving that change by amplifying underrepresented voices, creating mentorship opportunities, and advocating for inclusive hiring practices. We need to keep supporting women and marginalized groups in getting in the door, staying in the industry, and rising to leadership. Only then will we start to see meaningful progress.”

It is up to us to build the future that we want to see for the next generation of girls who are dreaming about becoming part of this industry. If you have the opportunity to support or uplift a woman working or attempting to work in games, just do it! Every little action matters.