ITWeb Brainstorm celebrates SA's women in tech

Brainstorm, ITWeb's monthly magazine for business technology decision-makers, is dedicating its August issue to the women in SA's tech industry.

In addition to its usual in-depth analyses of the topical enterprise IT issues, Brainstorm's August edition recognises women who have achieved amazing inroads into the male-dominated workforce, says Brainstorm editor Jane Steinacker. "We are not detracting from the diverse and strong editorial content to which our readers have become accustomed. It's about highlighting the role of women in the development of the ICT sector in South Africa."

The cover story profiles Babalwa Dube, a young entrepreneur driving an ICT community initiative in Nkandla - doing what she can to empower young women shackled by poverty and prejudice - to try to help them create a new future for themselves.

"The introduction of the four community centres has highlighted a pervasive cultural resistance to the advancement of women, as well as the ongoing oppression of women in the community," says Steinacker.

She says the August edition also features an interview with Geci Karuri-Sebina, executive manager at South African Cities Network, a body that works to co-ordinate all the municipalities in their efforts towards the future development of our cities. "Karuri-Sebina gives her take on how we could use technology more cleverly to make our cities more efficient and better places to live."

Finally, the issue will feature a roundtable discussion sponsored by Telkom Business. "We will gain insight into the challenges faced by women, through a discussion with several successful female CIOs, including Tshifhiwa Ramuthaga from the Financial Services Board, and Kim van Staden from Wesbank."

Steinacker says although there has been progress in terms of bringing equality into the boardroom, it has been at a snail's pace. "The glass ceiling still seems to hamper the success of women in ICT and businesses are missing the opportunity of diversified management talent, as well as the specific skills that women bring to the table."