SA BUSINESS LEADERS GATHER TO HONOUR FEMALE TECH SMMEs AT THE 2022 WOMEN IN TECH APPRECIATION EXPERIENCE

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS INCLUDE DR GERALDINE FRASER-MOLEKETI AND DR PHUMZILE MLAMBO-NGCUKA 

Despite ongoing efforts and initiatives to encourage more access and involvement of women in the ICT sector, as a group women remain underrepresented. While women make up more than half of South Africa’s population, the country’s workforce only reflected 43,4% of women according to data from the second quarter of last year. The case appears similar in the South African tech space which although is a growing sector, still sees less than 25% of tech jobs held by women, and simply not enough female entrepreneurs being produced within the industry.

 While much of the issue lies at a grassroots level in the lack of sufficient early exposure to technology for young girls in schools and communities, the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic still wanes on the economy adding to the slow progress. The need for more focused efforts, more access and more platforms for women in technology remains of critical importance. As such, the Innovator Trust has sounded the call for South African women tech entrepreneurs to #PowerUp at the 2022 Women In Tech Appreciation Experience.

 Taking place on the 16th November 2022, renowned women leaders from industry, technology, media and the small-business sector are set to heed the call and gather at the event hosted in the city of gold, Johannesburg.

The likes of South African icons, Dr Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, former Global Director for the UN Development Programme and UN CEPA Chair, and Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former Executive Director: UN Women and former Deputy President of South Africa, are among the confirmed speakers at the WIT 2022 event, who will be delivering keynote addresses in honour of the female tech SMMEs who have been nominated for awards across several categories, in recognition of their achievements leading their businesses over the last two years while on the Innovator Trust’s incubation programmes.