Women in Tech: There’s a need to challenge stereotypes and advocate for more inclusive work environments

Female tech executives have advocated for greater inclusion of women to create a more diverse and innovative work environment.

This was one of the takeaways from the Amazon Web Services (AWS) executive Women in Tech panel, which took place on the sidelines of the 2024 AWS Summit, in Johannesburg last week.

During the panel, the women shared their personal experiences and offered insights on how to advance diversity and inclusion in the industry. 

The session explored strategies to remove barriers for African women and girls, enabling their participation in the digital economy and fostering a supportive environment for technology-driven entrepreneurship.

Panellists included Devi Moodley, Head of Cloud Enablement at Nedbank, Itumeleng Monale Chief Operating Officer at the JSE, Melanie McGrogy – EMEA Director of Technology, Hepsy Mkhungo, the Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of One Linkage and Joyti Ball, the incoming General Manager AWS Sub Saharan Africa.

The tech industry has long been plagued by stereotypes that paint technology roles as primarily suited for men, creating barriers for women seeking to enter and thrive in this field. 

The panel agreed that by implementing policies that support equal opportunities, mentorship programs, and inclusive hiring practices, the tech industry can dismantle the stereotypes that hinder progress and create a workplace where all individuals, regardless of gender, feel empowered to contribute and excel.

The panel also discussed the importance of encouraging girls to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) subjects at a young age. This is important because according to McKinsey & Company, despite graduating from STEM fields, women constitute only 23% of tech positions, with even lower representation in high-demand areas like DevOps and cloud computing. Africa has one of the largest digital gender gaps

The gender gaps are particularly high in some of the fastest-growing and highest-paid jobs of the future, like computer science and engineering.

According to Moodley, encouraging women and girls to take on STEM at an early age is the only way we can get women into hardcore tech like AI.

In countries like Kenya, the Irish government recently said it will work closely with the Kenyan government to promote STEM education, particularly for young girls and women.

The panel also discussed the importance of mentorship, sponsorship, and building a strong network. It was moderated by freelance tech and business journalist Tiana Cline.

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