Women have always been important role-players within tech in South Africa and, now more than ever, there are numerous women who are influencing tech in positive ways while having an impact on the lives of others.
While gender diversity in the tech sector remains challenging, some women stand out as excellent role models who are making their mark on a male-dominated industry.
From start up executives to tech savvy philanthropists, these women show what a passion for tech and strong leadership qualities can produce in the South African context.
Here are 12 South African women who are influencing tech.
Sources: DestinyConnect, Elle, BusinessTech, SMESouthAfrica, ITNewsAfrica.
Cowper is the co-founder of BeSpecular, a South African startup that is solving a global problem by connecting sighted volunteers to visually impaired, blind and deaf-blind people across the globe. Her company is using mobile tech to make a difference in the world.
Fischat is the managing director of the Silicon Cape Initiative, a nonprofit company that is building and supporting the tech ecosystem in South Africa’s Western Cape. This gives a platform for tech startups to thrive and grow, enabling them to create jobs, innovate and add to the economy.
Githuku-Shongwe is founder and chief executive officer of Afroes Transformational Games, which is a company that builds mobile game-based learning platforms in South Africa and Kenya. She has been instrumental in tapping into the potential for M-learning in Africa.
Kani is the head of public policy for Uber South Africa, allowing her to truly influence tech at a corporate level. She focuses on stakeholder management and strategic advice on policy matters for the ride-hailing startup.
Pandor is the founder one of the fastest-growing startups in South Africa, SweepSouth. The home and office cleaning services tech firm became the first ever African firm to be accepted in the U.S.-based startup accelerator, the 500 Startups Program in Silicon Valley
The multi-award winning Sambo is a an entrepreneur and motivational speaker, as well as the founder and managing director of SRS Aviation, the first aviation company in South Africa owned by black female. She is definitely one of the women influencing tech in SA.
Rabana is a computer scientist, entrepreneur, and popular keynote speaker. She is the founder of Rekindle Learning, a learning technology company, and previously co-founded Yeigo Communications, South Africa’s first free VoIP mobile services provider. She is a wonderful role model to young women who are interested in the tech sector.
Ntshingila is the head of Facebook in Africa. She leads the team that engages with agencies and brands in Africa to help them make the most of Facebook’s products. She was with the company from its origins in Africa as a one-room operation in Melrose Arch, and remains the leader to take them forward in their growing adventure with a massive new office and an expanded team.
Motswaledi has always wanted to make a positive impact, and she has done so in South Africa. She is the co-founder and chief executive officer of 3D Power. A great passion for tech and development in Africa has also seen her co-found The Hourglass and Hello Baby 3D Prints.
Moleketi is the founder of ReWare, where she is currently taking on the chief marketing officer role after extensive experience within other high profile roles within the company, including as chief operating officer at ReWare.
Mallinson is the founder and chief executive of Obami, a social learning platform that is used by hundreds of schools across Africa, the U.S. and Europe to promote education through use of online tools. Obami was recognised as one of the top 10 most innovative technologies in the world in 2011 by Netexplo, Unesco and partners.
The self-taught Miya is the founder and chief executive of GirlHype – Women Who Code, a non-profit that provides programming and app development training for girls and young women. Her efforts help to produce the next generation of South African female coders.