MTN Women in ICT awards to help close gender gap, recognise top achievers

Telco giant MTN is looking to help close the gender gap and recognise top achievers with the third edition of its MTN Women in ICT Awards. Nominations close on 12 August.

The awards, which are spread out across nine categories, will also aim to celebrate and acknowledge tech innovators and women entrepreneurs running ICT businesses.

In a statement yesterday (25 July), MTN South Africa executive for corporate affairs Jacqui O’Sullivan said the telco believes that gender diversity is crucial to growth in the ICT sector and that the company is committed to help drive the change.

The MTN Women in ICT awards aim to celebrate and acknowledge tech innovators and entrepreneurs in the ICT sector

“Young women, and those already in the profession, need strong mentors to inspire them, and importantly also to add their unique perspectives to the development of products. Without this perspective, future design and innovation will simply not be able to talk to the broader market out there, of which women are a key component,” said O’Sullivan.

O’Sullivan added that greater impact can be made if there’s co-operation towards unlocking the potential of women working in the sector.

“Initiatives like the MTN Women in ICT – Partnership for Change Awards is one way that we can contribute to this,” she said.

Judges for the awards will include captains of industry, renowned entrepreneurs and leading figures in the ICT sector.

The nine categories in this year’s awards are:

Innovation Recognition Award: Recognises women that have introduced new methods, ideas, or products that are contributing in one way or the other to the delivery of a bold, new, digital world.

SME (formerly the Entrepreneur) Recognition Award: Celebrates wholly-owned women-run enterprises that are making inroads in the ICT sector and will be extended to internal employees who also run businesses on the side, using ICT to enable their businesses.

Leadership Recognition Award: Aimed at senior female executives in the ICT sector whose proven depth of experience in leading change, influencing business outcomes and leading teams has impacted positively on the organisations they lead.

Graduate Award (Tertiary): This accolade recognises a top ICT graduate from a tertiary institution who finished top of their class. The award is open to females who graduated in the immediate year preceding the awards ceremony.

Community Builder Recognition Award: This award if for women who have made a considerable difference in their community through ICT or use of an ICT tool to make a difference in the community.

CEO’s Award: The CEO’s award recognises employees that have made a difference within their organisation with the use of ICT and Technology.

Lifetime Achiever Recognition Award (Women Pioneer): Recognises a journalist who has contributed immensely to creating a better understanding of the ICT industry through their reporting.

Excellence in ICT Journalism Award: This category seeks to recognise a journalist who has contributed immensely to creating a better understanding of the ICT industry through her reporting.

Public’s Choice Award: This gives the public an opportunity to vote for the female candidate they wish to recognise using our platform.