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MTN, Kagiso Media to recognise women in ICT

Simnikiwe Mzekandaba
By Simnikiwe Mzekandaba, IT in government editor
Johannesburg, 05 Jul 2016
MTN SA CEO Mteto Nyati challenges men in ICT to take on mentorship roles and share their knowledge with their female counterparts.
MTN SA CEO Mteto Nyati challenges men in ICT to take on mentorship roles and share their knowledge with their female counterparts.

There can never be too many ways of celebrating women in SA's ICT sector, says Loren Braithwaite-Kabosha, CEO of the South African Communications Forum (SACF).

Braithwaite-Kabosha made the comments at the introduction of the Women in ICT - Partnership for Change Awards in Rosebank, Johannesburg this morning.

MTN SA has joined forces with Kagiso Media's Jacaranda FM and East Coast Radio, as well the SACF, to launch the awards initiative that will acknowledge and celebrate the contribution made by female professionals in the growth of SA's ICT sector.

Braithwaite-Kabosha says: "I think it is such an important and crucial point of change and a paradigm shift that is required to ensure all efforts in recognising women in ICT are welcomed. As SACF, we have embraced these awards that not only celebrate women in the industry but also those that work in communities."

Debby Edelstein, co-founder and CEO of QualityLife, the leadership development and events company behind the annual WiredWomen conference, agrees and has applauded the women recognition initiative.

An award to recognise and raise the profile of women leaders and achievers in ICT is very welcome and overdue, says Edelstein.

She states: "Creating an ecosystem where women play a more meaningful role in shaping and growing the digital economy is a complex and multi-pronged effort ? we need to create opportunities, forge networks, create mentoring platforms, fund women-owned start-ups in tech and provide training, but there's no doubt that raising the profile of women role models in tech to inspire other women is a fundamental and important step in creating a more equitable environment for women in ICT."

Women at the forefront

According to MTN SA, the awards will not only recognise the role women are playing in the development of the ICT sector, but are also geared at attracting female professionals to the ICT sector by showcasing available career opportunities in the industry that is still male-dominated.

The awards are segmented into nine categories, which include leadership recognition, entrepreneur recognition, innovator recognition, graduate award as well as the outstanding woman ICT professional accolade.

The judging process will be done by a team of professionals consisting of seasoned professionals in the ICT sector, business executives, and renowned entrepreneurs and leading public servants, says MTN SA.

While the winners will only be announced on 31 August, the awards nomination process starts today and eligible nominees can be nominated via this link.

ICT potential

Braithwaite-Kabosha says women often see the ICT sector as a boys-only club, so the industry has a responsibility to attract and retain women in this field.

She adds ICT contributes to the gross domestic product of any economy and can be a catalyst for economic inclusion; therefore SA needs to attract women to ICT when they are still young.

MTN SA CEO Mteto Nyati admits there is limited participation of women in terms of entrepreneurship and ICT, and the industry needs to make a difference and improve participation of women within the economy.

According to Nyati, women need to be able to participate in the ICT space. "We've seen initiatives but government, society and business need to step up to be able to create an inclusive industry."

Nyati also notes the industry needs to remove barriers of entry and showcase role models for the youth to engage in the sector. "We need to highlight there are women that are successful in this space and make sure people can read their stories.

"We want to make ICT cool."

Nyati notes the industry needs to be conducive and welcoming to all members of the community regardless of gender. He also calls on male industry leaders to take on mentorship roles and share their knowledge and experience with the women they work with.

Female mentors

Emma Dicks, founder and director of Code for Cape Town (Code4CT), says it is important for the industry to come together to celebrate women's achievements.

Code4CT describes itself as an organisation that equips high-potential female learners with the coding, problem-solving and life skills that will allow them to leverage technology to contribute meaningfully to SA's innovation system.

Dicks says: "I think the value of these types of awards is in the fact that they help establish role models for young women and girls to aspire to. I think we should see more awards that celebrate women, and that awards should also focus on showcasing female role models to girls."

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