[sorbus]

Ada Lovelace was the first computer programmer. Of the first six programmers for the ENAIC, all were women.

Of course, that isn't quite as well known as it could be, and recent role models are more important than historical ones, but still.

Another problem is that, by and large, the only tech people who the average person can name are those who have hit it big, generally by starting and running a famous company (Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg are not well known because of their programming, but because of their companies).