With only 23% of tech jobs held by women in South Africa, it is clear that women are under–represented in the field. That is why, especially during Women’s Month, we are supporting our leading local tech ladies.
Here are five practical ways to empower women in tech and advance their careers.
1. Normalise women in tech
According to Keletso Mpisane, head of digitally based motor insurer MiWay Blink, we need to stop talking about “women in tech” as a separate category.
“People who are interested in tech should all be welcome in the industry and treated exactly the same way. We need to normalise women in tech, and that starts with how we talk about it,” she explains.
Keletso also believes that we should encourage women to explore career possibilities in the tech field from an early age.
Also read: 3 female South African scientists at the top of their game
2. Celebrate each other’s success stories
“Having recently attended the Games for Change Festival in New York that hosted some of the leading professionals and experts within the impact games and immersive tech space, I was incredibly encouraged and inspired to see the number of women in this industry doing incredible work and facilitating real change in the world,” shares Dr Amy Duncan, client service manager at Sea Monster Entertainment.
“While there is, without a doubt, still a way to go in South Africa to improve the gender representation within the tech industry at large, especially at senior levels, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that women will continue to grow in prominence within the space. To support women, I would say that we have to first support and celebrate the success stories that are out there – and they are out there! I think it’s hugely important for women in particular to support other women, even if that means just giving up some time to share their stories or offer some advice. With time, I foresee that women will be the catalysts for huge advances in the tech space, and I am excited to be a part of that progression and to see it happen,” she adds.
3. Create a space to stimulate growth
Women face unique challenges in their professional journeys, and the technology sector is no different.
“Guidance through structured mentorship programmes, a culture of knowledge exchange and experience sharing will go a long way in supporting women growing their careers in the sector,” says Mohini Ufeli, managing editor at the financial technology firm Paystack.
“By leveraging the power of shared wisdom and guidance through structured mentorship programs, firms create a safe space for women to voice their doubts, indulge their curiosity, and grow,” adds Ufeli.
4. Collectively address under-representation
“The greatest challenge to advancing gender equality in the workplace, particularly in the technology industry, is addressing women’s under-representation in emerging roles, such as cloud computing, engineering, and Data and AI,” says Ursula Fear, senior talent programme manager at Salesforce.
She maintains that addressing this challenge starts long before a woman enters the workforce. “We need to work together – as education institutes, as businesses, as caregivers – to help cultivate an interest in ICT among young girls by exposing them to all the possibilities ICT holds.”
According to Ursula, we shouldn’t talk about women in tech as a specific focus area. “We need to keep nurturing potential, interrogating how to make tech more appealing to women, and actively debunking any remaining stigmas, myths, and stereotypes around tech being a male field,” she concludes.
5. Women need to be heard
“Is it not a question of the cultural integrity of an organisation if women employees don’t feel included, feel to be deserving of opportunities and growth, and feel to be listened to?” asks Kuppulakshmi Krishnamoorthy, global head of Zoho for Startups.
“Teams realising that women need to be heard is a necessary first step. There should be enough opportunities created for peer-to-peer groups to be formed, that can lead to the forging of life-long friendships or allies at the workplace,” she adds.
Also read: SA women making a mark in entrepreneurship
Photography: Pexels
