From personal experience, the gender disparity can feel daunting but it gets easier once you start building your network in the industry and getting more experience. In my days as an intern, some of my first mentors were women software engineers with exceptional technical abilities who were indispensable to their teams. Lots of colleges have clubs for women in tech where you can meet and be mentored by other women, and many tech companies have placed a heavy focus on hiring and retaining strong talent from underrepresented groups including women.

As for women to look up to, I don't have an exhaustive list but here are a few that come to mind:

- Sandi Metz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bZh5LMaSmE

- Melanie Perkins, co-founder of Canva

- Ella Ehrlich: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P974enLU6XE

Also, YC keeps a list of all of their women-founded companies (there are a lot more than you might expect): https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/women-founders