Silicon Cape, TechWomen aim to showcase ‘pipeline of women tech leaders’

Silicon Cape, the South African entrepreneurial initiative, will this week host an event organised by TechWomen, an Initiative of the US Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs aimed at empowering, connecting, and supporting the next generation of women leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) from Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East.

The event, which is themed “Supporting the Next Generation of Women Tech Leaders”, aims to showcase how organisations in Silicon Cape are developing a pipeline of women tech leaders of the future.

As well as the showcase, speakers at the event include the TechWomen Program Director, Arezoo Miot, GM Special Projects, Technology Innovation Agency, Dr Magaret Mkhosi, Deputy Minister, Dept. of Telecommunication and Postal Services, Prof Mkhize and the Vice President of Engineering, Twitter, Nandini Ramani.

The even forms part of a larger visit by a delegation of TechWomen representatives, including mentors from Silicon Valley and emerging leaders from Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Palestinian Territories, Tunisia, Yemen, and Zimbabwe.

Accord to Techwomen, the delegation trips are vital to the growth and sustainability of the network. The delegation focuses on expanding networks of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), creating and strengthening partnerships between the region and the United States, encouraging girls to pursue STEM careers, and nurturing relationships between Mentors and Emerging Leaders. Delegations visit non‐ governmental organizations, private and public enterprises, universities, incubators, and innovation hubs.

The main objectives of TechWomen are:

• To lead workshops to share knowledge and skills
• To encourage young women to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers
• To conduct outreach for the 2015 TechWomen Emerging Leader cohort
• To participate in networking opportunities with professional counterparts in South Africa

The event takes place on 29 January at Inner City Cartel Ideas in Cape Town. Tickets are available online.