Huawei has launched the 2024 Women in Tech Digital Skills Training Programme in South Africa, aiming to bridge the gender gap in the digital landscape and empower women with essential tech skills for today’s competitive job market.
The event was attended by several prominent personalities, including Vanashree Govender, Huawei South Africa’s Senior Media and Communications Manager; Kemogotsitse Bosielo, Public Relations Manager at Huawei South Africa; Elizabeth Marabwa, Chief Director of Programmes and Projects at the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources; Jon Foster-Pedley, Dean of Henley Business School Africa; Masetshaba Rampolokeng, who runs SRM Africa; and women from various fields of life.
Vanashree Govender, Huawei South Africa’s Senior Media and Communications Manager, highlighted the initiative as a celebration of Women’s Month, offering women an opportunity to enhance their participation in the digital economy. Speaking to an audience of business, government leaders, and media professionals, Govender introduced Huawei’s first in-person Women in Tech Digital Skills Training Programme for 2024.
Sources suggests that the programme, now in its third year, is designed for 30 women entrepreneurs and government leaders, offering specialized training in cloud computing, 5G, and artificial intelligence (AI). This year, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) has been a key partner, and Huawei looks forward to extending collaboration to the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources. Kemogotsitse Bosielo, Public Relations Manager at Huawei South Africa, emphasized the importance of this ongoing partnership.
Elizabeth Marabwa, Chief Director of Programmes and Projects at the Department of Minerals and Petroleum Resources, urged participants to make the most of the training opportunities, which are intended to equip women in her department with the necessary tech and leadership skills to thrive in the digital age. She thanked Huawei for creating this transformative initiative, which aligns with her department’s strategies to empower women in the mining and energy sectors.
The two-day training also features Henley Business School Africa as a new partner, offering fresh insights into leadership development. Jon Foster-Pedley, Dean of Henley Business School Africa, highlighted the challenges women face in the tech industry, where they represent just 35% of the workforce in large companies. He praised Huawei’s programme for enabling women to become activists for change in South Africa, advocating for greater female representation in tech.
At the event, it was revealed that research indicates that women entrepreneurs who are trained in cloud computing can better analyze data, understand market trends, and draw data-led insights to serve their customers more effectively. This tech skills training also encourages women to embrace innovation, giving them a competitive edge in their industries.
Reports suggest that participants like Masetshaba Rampolokeng, who runs SRM Africa, a company offering data analysis and digital solutions, expressed their anticipation for the training and joined the programme to acquire skills that would help them better position themselves in competitive business environments.
Marabwa concluded with a motivational message: “Before you are a leader, success is about growing yourself. When you are a leader, success becomes about growing others.”
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