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By Mathabo Sekhonyana
For many females, particularly in male-dominated fields, there are fewer and fewer women as you make your way up. According to the Women in Tech ZA report released in August 2022, only 23% of the tech jobs in South Africa are held by women. This means that out of the 236, 000 technology jobs, only 56, 000 are not held by men. This staggering statistic speaks not only to the gender disparity but the general view that tech belongs to what has colloquially been termed “tech bros.”
Despite the statistics painting such a grim picture, it is incumbent of those on us holding leadership positions in tech to focus on where we can make impactful change to ensure we transform the landscape of our field. In my previous article, I discussed the importance of mentoring young females and more specifically, the positive impact on both the micro and macro level of that endeavour. Perhaps the most important lesson I have learned as a female in the corporate world is the importance of sponsorship and having a (female) champion to assist you in your career.
Change starts at the ceiling – what that means is setting your career up in such a way that you not only reach the ceiling but break through it. Once you have, it’s about making sure that you have put systems in place that allow other women to do the same.
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The hardest lesson I have learned in my career has been one of learning advocacy, of asking for what you deserve, and having written, clear evidence to highlight your performance. For many women in the workplace, there is discomfort when having conversations around adequate payment and benefits or negotiating salary increases. Always, always negotiate. Get into the habit of advocating for yourself and do the same for women in your team. Those seemingly small acts can begin to even change an organisational culture around wage disparities. If you have the benefit of being in a leadership role, speak on initiatives companies can take to create a more inclusive culture. While diversity training and the like are important, they are often not taken seriously. Organisations need to focus on areas that will have an impact, such as gender balanced recruiting practices.
For female leaders in tech, consider how you can upskill both yourself and other women in the field in the activities we see as burgeoning trends and differentiators in the tech space. Coding, AI, data analytics, and consumer research are a few – each of which has short and often free courses.
Do your research and surround yourself with female trailblazers that inspire you and push you further. This not only helps change the narrative or provides a community of women who have similar experiences and advice but will inspire you to keep chipping away at change. My mantra when mentoring within my team is “You are not one of one” – in the positive, this means there are other brilliant minds you can lean on. In the negative, it requires the maturity of introspection to ensure that you remain teachable and do not think of yourself as having reached your peak. For women in the workplace, this is a critical philosophy that will lead both to individual excellence and a sense of community within your space.
Finally, and perhaps the most difficult, is to own your space. This may seem trite, however, for many women in male-dominated spaces there is an undercurrent that there is a particular way to be to sway the opinion of men in the field in your direction. In my experience being able to own your space authentically starts with excellence. Be unscrupulous in your endeavour to be the best at what you do – the respect of your peers (male and female alike) will stem from there and put you in a position to send the elevator down for other women.
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About Mathabo Sekhonyana
Mathabo Sekhonyana is a seasoned creative, digital specialist, public speaker, and storyteller. She is member of the Professional Associate of The Institute of Marketing Management South Africa (IMM) and has worked across some of SA’s major brands to include Unilever, Liberty, King Price, Institute SA, and Development Bank of Southern Africa. Mathabo is currently the Head of Marketing & Communications for Adoozy Power, and a Board member of the female empowerment organisation, the B.E.A.R Foundation.
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