Visibility, mentorship, representation: Empowering women in tech

Dar es Salaam. The most recent edition of the Rising Woman campaign, dedicated to highlighting the contributions of women across various sectors, focused on the technology industry.

Hosted via X Space, the conversation titled ‘A Chat with Women in Tanzania’s Tech Space’ featured prominent women in the tech sector who shared their insights on the challenges and opportunities in the field.

DataGirls Tanzania founder and executive director, Ms Diana Robinson, highlighted a significant gap in the tech industry: the lack of access and awareness among young women.

“Many girls in Tanzania want to be part of the tech industry, but they don’t know the road map, they don’t know where to start the journey,” she explained.

Ms Robinson also pointed out the struggles that women in the sector face, particularly concerning mentorship and career guidance.

She emphasized the under-representation of women in tech and the lack of a support system for those who enter the field.

To address these challenges, Ms Robinson established DataGirls Tanzania to offer practical skills and support for young women aspiring to succeed in the tech industry.

PlateAI founder, Ms Janeth Kareen Kitsovi, stressed the valuable perspectives women bring to artificial intelligence (AI), particularly in sectors like healthcare.

She noted that women are known for their caregiving instincts, which are crucial in AI-driven solutions.

“When I was creating PlateAI, I had the thought of me, like, taking care of a person or how I should prepare this food. These aspects are rarely found in men. So, these perspectives are more needed in the AI field, especially in healthcare,” she said.

Ms Kitsovi also emphasized the importance of visibility to encourage more women to enter AI.

"It encourages other females to understand that there are other women in the same field doing these things," she noted, adding that visibility boosts confidence and encourages others to pursue careers in technology.

She also shared the challenges she faced when pitching her ideas to investors, revealing that they often doubted her credibility and assumed her team selected her just to appease investors by having a woman on board.

KAPU founder, Ms Faith Msangi, spoke about the challenges of balancing academics and building a startup while still a student.

“Juggling or trying to balance academics and building a start-up felt like navigating through very rough waters. One day you’re in the community, and the next offers are coming, but you still have tests,” she said.

She also addressed how KAPU tackles the financial inclusion challenges faced by women in Tanzania, particularly regarding access to banking and financial literacy.

Digital Opportunity Trust (DOT) marketing manager Ndimbumi Msongole, highlighted the importance of showcasing success stories of young women thriving in digital spaces to inspire others.

She stressed the power of storytelling in building credibility for women in male-dominated industries.

"When women share their own stories of innovation, they are establishing their credibility in male-dominated spaces," explained Ms Msongole.

iLink Limited CEO, Ms Dorice Malle, encouraged women to embark on their digital journeys and emphasised the importance of mentorship in navigating the tech industry.

“To hold their hands and show them where they could be,” Malle said, referring to the role of mentors in guiding women toward success.

Unleashed Africa Social Enterprises founder and CEO, Ms Khalila Mbowe, discussed the lack of women’s representation in high-level tech discussions.

She pointed out that women are often confined to panels focusing on women's issues, while the major, impactful discussions are dominated by men, hinting at challenges women face due to a lack of female gatekeepers in the industry.

“Most of those gatekeepers lack integrity, and so women have to go across several different layers more than our counterparts,” she explained.

Ms Mbowe urged women to share authentic stories to inspire others, advising against generic advice like ‘work hard’ without explaining what that truly means.

The Rising Woman initiative continues to provide a platform for women across various sectors, with a strong emphasis on increasing visibility, mentorship, and representation, particularly in the tech industry.