Fostering Female Leadership in the Tech Industry
Did you miss the second edition of the Entrepreneurship Exchange Series on Fostering Female Leadership in the Tech Industry?
What was the session about?
The objective of the session:
- Discuss the current landscape, barriers, and enablers of young girls and women’s participation in tech-based entrepreneurship.
- Provide a platform for young female entrepreneurs to share their tech innovations, lessons learned, and how they can be replicated or scaled up in other contexts.
- Explore the role of public-private cooperation in supporting women and girls to access and run tech enterprises.
The objective of the series:
- Strengthen the enabling environment for youth entrepreneurship as a means to strengthen democracy globally. Insights from each session in this series will be captured and analysed, and a summary brief will be developed. This will inform a video spotlight report and a policy paper with recommendations on how the private sector and governments can better support youth entrepreneurship.
Key Takeaway from the session:
- Young women use social media platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook to promote their businesses, mobile money for cashless transactions, and creative economy tools (e.g. music and arts) for marketing and distribution.
- Young women still experience limitations in access to Wi-Fi, high costs of technology, and capital to set up their businesses.
- Young women experience regulatory barriers and a knowledge gap regarding relevant legislation.
- Traditional gender roles often confine women to domestic responsibilities, leading to fewer educational opportunities and confidence to pursue tech-based enterprise careers. The stereotype that technology is a male domain creates insecurity among young women, reducing their participation.
- In the case of Zambia, there’s a need to subdivide the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to support female-led tech startups. Protection from corruption and nepotism in these funding opportunities is essential.
- Young women continue to face underrepresentation in leadership roles, which limits their ability to contribute and thrive in the tech sector as there are few female role models in leadership within tech companies limiting visibility and inspiration for young girls. Young women and girl’s mentorship, linkages to networking programs, and public-private partnerships are vital to advancing women in tech. Initiatives such as the UN Global Digital Compact, targeted Gender Equality programs and corporate diversity programs are impactful in promoting gender diversity.
- Young women in tech entrepreneurship face digital harm risks such as online harassment, which impacts their mental health and confidence.
- There is unequal access to technological tools and opportunities for marginalised and rural-based women, which widens the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship.
We need more female leaders and entrepreneurs at the table where crucial decisions about the governance of the digital economy are made. The danger of not being at the table is that you may end up on the menu.
Frei Sangil, Data Scientist
Moderator of the session:
Caleb Masusu
Caleb J. Masusu is the Global Voice & Democracy Manager at Restless Development, leading projects that empower young people for sustainable, democratic futures. With extensive experience in advocacy, policy influencing, and managing global projects, Caleb spearheads digital health rights campaigns and coordinates global youth networks like Democracy Moves. His expertise in digital rights makes him a key voice in discussions on youth’s digital pathways for sustainable development. Caleb holds a Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies and a Master of Public Health & Policy.
Speaker of the session:
Youth Speaker: Kadian Davis-Owusu
Kadian holds a background in Computer Science, with a PhD and postdoctoral studies in Design for Social Interaction and Design for Health. She has taught interaction design at the University of the West Indies, the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC) in Jamaica, and the Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands. Kadian is also the Founder and Lead UX Designer for TeachSomebody and hosts the ExpertsConnect video podcast, bridging learning gaps and fostering expert collaboration. Additionally, she lectures on ICT-related courses at Fontys University of Applied Sciences.
Private Sector Speaker: Frei Sangil
Frei Sangil is a data scientist specializing in cryptography and cyber forensics. She co-founded the research and development company Layertech Software Labs, Inc. in 2017 and remains as its President. Frei is a staunch advocate for inclusive digital transformation. She has led several research and design and inclusive tech deployment projects with local and international partners, many of which received recognition locally and globally.
Breakout Room Moderators:
Daniel Orogo – YC Regional Coordinator
Daniel Orogo is the Africa Regional Coordinator for Democracy Moves, a leading political inclusion and governance advocate. In Kenya, he leads Civic Voices, a civic tech organisation promoting digital public participation. He also serves as Youth Coordinator for the 2022 “Africa, My Home, My Future” campaign under the All Africa Conference of Churches, inspiring unity among African youth. Since founding the Langata Youth Network in 2012 in Kibera, Daniel has championed community development and democratic governance across Africa.
Namakoto Imasiku
Namakoto Imasiku is a development worker, international speaker, businesswoman, tutor, and life and leadership coach. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Development Studies and a Certification in Diplomatic Practice, Protocol, and Public Relations. As an alumna of the Young Women Lead and Leaders Arise programs by the US Embassy, Namakoto is a dynamic voice and young leader dedicated to transforming the minds of young people through personal development and leadership coaching. Her passion for sharing knowledge drives her to inspire and empower the next generation, fostering growth and leadership skills among young people worldwide.
Musonda Mulenga
Musonda is an international development specialist with over 7 years in program management focused on Volunteering for Development (VfD) and Sport for Development (SfD) in Southern Africa. As a Senior Programme Coordinator for Restless Development, Musonda provides technical support for Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) and advocates for SRHR policy reforms. Skilled in youth engagement, governance, and gender equality, Musonda leverages partnerships and innovative approaches to drive positive change in the development sector.