8 African Women Pioneering Inclusion in Tech - International Women's Day 2024

As we celebrate International Women's Day on March 8, it's imperative to spotlight the incredible contributions of women in tech.

This year's theme, 'Inspire Inclusion,' resonates deeply with the strides made by these eight remarkable women within Africa Tech Festival's network. These trailblazers exemplify the essence of inclusion through their unwavering commitment to empowering women, fostering diversity, and driving innovation in the tech industry.

So, without further ado, here are the eight women Africa Tech Festival is highlighting and honouring this International Women's Day!

Dr Chao Mbogho, KamiLimu

Dr. Chao is a Founder, Mentor, Innovator, Educator and one of the few Kenyan women with a PhD in Computer Science.

Her prowess in all these areas has made her one of the most inspiring role models of our generation. She has received over 25 awards, fellowships, and grants for her work to date.

Dr. Chao has also successfully achieved a BSc. Mathematics and Computer Science from Kenya Methodist University, a MSc. Computer Science from The University of Oxford and a PhD. Computer Science from The University of Cape Town.

Ida Nganga, Women in STEM Leaders Network

Ida is a pioneering tech leader known for her global impact and influential roles on prestigious advisory boards. Recognized as a champion of women in STEM, she leads initiatives empowering women to advance in their careers. As President of the Women in STEM Leaders Network and Co-Founder of Women in AI Africa, Ida mentors and advocates for gender diversity in technology. Her accolades include honors from the UN, European Union, and Connecting Africa News for her innovative contributions to the tech industry. A sought-after speaker renowned for her oratory skills, Ida's dedication to fostering digital transformation and inclusivity resonates worldwide.

Tracey Swart, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator

Tracey Swart is the Digital Portfolio Executive at Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, based in Cape Town, South Africa. A seasoned Business Development Executive who honed her skill in the financial services sector, with expertise in Commercial, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Risk and BDM. Her career spans 20 years at Standard Bank, where she played a number of roles including Global Account Executive, with responsibility for international strategic relationships in corporate and investment banking.? In addition, she was also Commercial Business Development Executive for the Blake Group, a domestic business process outsourcer. She holds qualifications from the University of Cape Town, including an Executive Leadership Program in Management and Leadership. Throughout her career, Tracey has demonstrated a passion for fostering innovative relationships that are results driven. Tracey is a passionate advocate for the digital economy and the opportunities it holds for Africa. She currently works for Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, is a not-for-profit social enterprise that works with partners to find solutions for the challenge of youth unemployment.

Shireen Powell, Project Isizwe

In 2020, Shireen Powell joined Project Isizwe, quickly becoming CEO due to her passion for people and social justice. Her innovative leadership transformed the organization, doubling its impact to serve over 35,000 users monthly with 80TB of data. Shireen's vision focuses on providing uncapped internet to underserved communities, saving users over R200 million annually. She spearheads Project Isizwe's education strategy, connecting 16,000+ South African schools to free, uncapped WiFi. Shireen believes in equitable internet access for all, driving community empowerment and participation in the 4th Industrial Revolution.

Jocelyn Nyaguse, Startupbootcamp AfriTech

Jocelyn Nyaguse is the Head of Marketing and Storytelling at Startupbootcamp AfriTech, a leading multi-corporate pan-African Tech Accelerator. She has a wealth of experience having previously held prestigious roles in the startup ecosystem. Her work involves helping startups prepare for pitches and communicate their stories in a more effective way while also amplifying the work that SBC AfriTech does.

Motunrayo Opayinka, Womenovate

Motunrayo Opayinka is a visionary tech executive, widely recognized for her pioneering efforts in the tech industry. With a distinguished career spanning several decades, she has made a significant impact both internationally and within Africa's tech landscape. However, her true passion lies in transforming the African tech ecosystem by addressing one of its most pressing challenges: the gender gap and underrepresentation of women in STEAM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, and Mathematics). As the founder of Womenovate, an edtech platform offering women in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Mathematics) access to resources to build successful careers and businesses in STEAM.

Lavina Ramkissoon, African Union

An AI leader standing for the unification of the African tech space. She is a conscious tech proponent with expertise in psychology, technology and economics and their integration into AI, blockchain and ethics. A tech catalyst who has served as chairperson, director and founder across multiple industries, sectors, and technologies - aiming to unlock the potential of the African arena. Humanizing technology and actively serving as a growth enabler for tech talent across the globe.

Baratang Miya, Girlhype

Baratang Miya's mission is to inspire change by championing inclusion and gender equity. Baratang Miya is a thought leader in the future of Artificial Intelligence and is recognized by UN Women as a UN Internet Governance Forum expert on Internet Governance and Gender Equality in Technology and Entrepreneurship.

She is an award-winning fellow for Tech Women, the US State Department initiative that seeks to empower women in tech through mentorship and training and serves as an ambassador during delegation trips. She has 19 years of experience as a tech founder and a software developer with robust problem-solving skills and proven experience in building tech startups, incubators, and co-working spaces, creating and designing software in test-driven environments.

Join us at Africa Tech Festival 2024: Igniting the Future of Inclusive Innovation

The stories of these eight remarkable women serve as a beacon of hope, encouraging us to strive for greater diversity, equity, and innovation across the tech ecosystem.

We invite you to join us at Africa Tech Festival 2024, taking place on 11 - 14 November in Cape Town, where you can connect with over 10,000 industry leaders, visionaries, and change-makers.

Pre-register now to be part of a transformative event that celebrates diversity, fosters collaboration, and propels Africa's tech landscape into new horizons.