Celebrating Ada Lovelace Day: Why Her Legacy Inspires Us at AdaMarie

Today we celebrate Ada Lovelace Day, a time to honor one of history’s greatest trailblazers for women in STEM. Born in 1815, Ada Lovelace is widely considered the world’s first computer programmer. Working alongside Charles Babbage, she wrote what is now recognized as the first algorithm intended for a machine. Lovelace didn’t just see machines as number-crunchers; she envisioned their potential to execute complex tasks beyond mathematics—an incredible insight that laid the foundation for modern computing.

At AdaMarie, we strive to embody her trailblazing legacy by creating opportunities for women in STEM, a space where the potential for innovation is limitless. Alongside Marie Curie, Ada Lovelace represents the brilliance and resilience of women breaking barriers in fields that were traditionally male-dominated. Our name signifies the belief that supporting women in STEM creates a future as transformative as Ada’s vision.

However, that belief is being tested more than ever. The world of tech and STEM is currently experiencing a backlash against diversity and inclusion efforts. Last year, we saw men crash the Grace Hopper Celebration, a tech conference specifically designed to empower women in the field. This event was just one incident in a broader trend of undermining progress. Equally troubling, several key organizations dedicated to supporting women in tech—such as Women Who Code, Girls in Tech and ChickTech—have either shut down or are struggling due to societal and financial pressures. The founder of Ada Lovelace Day, Suw Charman-Anderson, summed it up when she said, “Organizations can’t run on inspiration alone.”

This moment demands that we double down on our efforts to create spaces for women in STEM. Tech giants still reflect an industry far from equitable. For instance, only 34% of Google’s workforce and 35% of Apple’s are women, and those numbers drop even lower in leadership roles.  To those who think women are currently experiencing a professional advantage in STEM - and this sentiment is definitely out there - the numbers tell a different story.

At AdaMarie, we believe that supporting each other, building authentic connections, and fostering environments where women can thrive is the only way to combat this regression. The ties that bind us—our network, resilience, and shared vision—are the knots that hold together the future of STEM.

As we celebrate Ada Lovelace today, let’s commit to preserving and expanding the communities that lift up women in STEM. Ada envisioned a world where machines could achieve the unimaginable. It’s on us to ensure women are empowered to do the same.