( CNN ) -- Dear Girls of the World , . The technology industry needs you . Around the world , people are watching movies on laptops , buying goods online and connecting with friends and family through mobile devices . All of these experiences are powered by technology , created by people just like you . Girls of the world , the tech industry is waiting for you . The skills you learn in your math and sciences classes today are the foundation for building technology that will touch nearly every aspect of our lives in the future -- your future . If you invest in learning technical skills , soon you wo n't just be consuming technology , you 'll be defining it , creating it and sharing it with people all over the world . The tech industry is growing faster than nearly all other industries today . In fact , computer programming jobs are growing at two times the U.S. national average . And it 's still very early days . Google , for example , is only in its teenage years . The opportunities for a career in technology will only continue to grow as an additional 5 billion people around the world come online . Yet despite being a ripe career field , the tech industry is losing women . In the United States , according to one report : `` young women earned 37 % of computer science degrees in 1985 ; today , the number has plummeted to 18 % . Some 22 % of software engineers at tech companies are women . '' It 's a deficiency we see mirrored around the world . If this trend continues , fewer women will have the skills necessary to participate in the tech sector . As a result , fewer women will hold leadership positions in tech , and we 'll miss out on the opportunity for women to shape the world around us . This is n't a problem just for women , but for everyone . Innovation thrives on diversity , and we simply ca n't afford for the future of technology not to represent women or people with different backgrounds and experiences . That 's why it 's so important for tech leaders to reach out to girls with encouragement . We need to share our enthusiasm and show them all the amazing opportunities available today . Getting girls excited about technology is n't just a job for educators , it 's a responsibility for all of us . We also need to create more opportunities for girls to learn technical skills . We have a great start with programs such as the Khan Academy and Code.org that give people access to computer programming education . There are also fantastic local programs that connect girls with communities of other like-minded girls to learn together . For example , Google supports a program called Girlstart that provides science , technology , engineering and mathematics education to girls through afterschool programs and camps . But there are also many girls out there struggling to find access to even the most basic education . The Google RISE Awards helps to bridge this gap by funding science and technology education for primary and secondary school students around the world . And initiatives such as Girl Rising put a spotlight on just how powerful access to education can be for young women . For girls who do n't benefit from support early on , it 's also important to remember that it 's never too late to get started . I was finishing up my senior year of college , studying history and literature , when I decided to get into tech . I wondered if it was too late to change paths , but I decided to do it anyway . Years later , I joined a new startup -- Google -- and I 've never looked back . For all the girls out there who think it 's too late to get into tech , know that it 's never too late to pursue a good opportunity , even if it means taking a different path . So , people of the world , let 's help girls rise up in the field of technology and support them with the programs they need . If you 're in technology , talk to your daughters , nieces and friends about just how cool it is to work in tech . And we can all help them find internships , encourage them in their studies and foster their creative spirits . The future of technology affects us all . Let 's all work together to build it . -- Susan Wojcicki . More : CNN 's `` Girl Rising '' Read more open letters . Open letter from Christiane Amanpour : It 's time to power the world . Open letter from Queen Rania of Jordan : More than tiaras and cupcakes . How to help | Take action with 10x10 .
Google executive Susan Wojcicki writes an open letter to girls of the world . She says that while she is a strong believer in gender equality, there are still many barriers for women and girls.