Mobile Telecommunications Ltd hosted the second edition of the MTC Women in Tech Conference at Palm Hotel in Windhoek. The conference which ran for two days (19-20 July 2024), is a women-led internal employee initiative with the objective to empower and increase women’s prominence in the tech space. Gender parity, especially in sectors such as IT (information technology) play a significant role in increasing fair, competitive and egalitarian practices in the field.
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 analysing 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% (as of 2020.) This means that about half of African women have to bear 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. 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.
Echoing her sentiment on the current state of IT, MTC Chief Technical & Information Officer, Dr Monica Nehemia says “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 the IT and inspires the young girl that wants to do IT. It might sound insignificant, but seeing people who represent what you represent, women who stand for what you stand for… that reminds me that I don’t just work in IT. I show up for so many people who need to see corporate female leaders in real life. Promoting leading female voices in IT via events such as MTC Women in Tec is not only empowering the current women players but is also inspirational to IT aspiring young women who need to see female leaders that not all of us got to have.”