Maria David
GENDER parity, especially in sectors such as IT (information technology), plays a significant role in increasing fair, competitive, and egalitarian practices in the field.
Hence, the second edition of the MTC Women in Tech Conference, which concluded last weekend, was hailed as a success.
The event took place from 19-20 July 2024 in Windhoek and was a women-led internal employee initiative with the objective of empowering and increasing women’s prominence in the tech space.
The conference touched on various pressing issues such as horizontal career growth, mental health, embracing social media visibility, emerging technologies, mobile technologies, and financial literacy.
Whether it’s analyzing gender dynamics in digital access, leadership roles in technology, or IT visibility, men statistically tend to be more significantly represented in data.
In Africa, the gender gap in internet access stands at about 50 percent as of 2020, meaning that about half of African women have disadvantaged access to information, products, and technology enabled through the internet.
Thus, events such as Women in Tech champion equality by bringing women’s occupational issues to light and making them a worthy issue of discussion and uniform importance.
Speaking on the topic, “Avoiding Mental SPAM,” Albertine Shipena highlighted the importance of women not only being mentors to one another but also being willing to open doors for other women while putting their reputation on the line.
She also said that women acting as sponsors for one another and vouching for fellow IT and tech colleagues is the next big step towards equity in the workplace.
In addition to Shipena’s sentiments, Nashilongo Gervasius and Prof. Anicia Peters, who also spoke at the conference, highlighted the significance of a monumental tech-based conference for women in Namibia.
Often, female tech innovators are requested internationally, but their voices are not as broadcasted locally.
Meanwhile, MTC Chief Technical and Information Officer, Dr. Monica Nehemia, said it is encouraging to see more women taking up and ploughing their trade in the ICT sector.
“When I see women showing great interest in software development, understanding hardware, coding, and being confident in bringing ideas to the table, it gives a sense of belonging in IT and inspires the young girl who wants to do IT,” she said.
She added that it might sound insignificant, but seeing women who represent themselves and standing for what they believe in reminds her that she doesn’t just work in IT.
Nehemia indicated that she shows up for so many people who need to see corporate female leaders in real life.
She said promoting leading female voices in IT via events such as MTC Women in Tech is not only empowering the current women players but is also inspirational to aspiring young women who need to see female leaders that not all of us got to have.
