The Unsung Heroes of Innovation
Did you know that women make up less than 25% of the global tech workforce (Forbes, 2024), yet their contributions are crucial to shaping the future of technology? This underrepresentation is not just a statistic—it’s a call to action to recognise and uplift the incredible women driving innovation behind the scenes.
As we honour National Women’s Day, to celebrate the 1956 march of courageous women who stood against inequality, we reflect on the ongoing fight for gender equality—not only in society but also in industries like technology where women remain underrepresented. This day reminds us of the power of women’s voices and the importance of creating spaces where they can thrive.
Breaking Barriers and Building the Future
When we speak about innovation in tech, it’s important to remember that women have been building the foundation of this industry since its earliest days. Long before artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and smart devices became part of our everyday vocabulary, pioneers like Ada Lovelace—the world’s first computer programmer—and Rear Admiral Grace Hopper—who helped develop the first compiler—were already shaping the digital frontier. Their legacies remind us that women have always had a rightful place in tech, even when history books didn’t always say so.
Yet today, while progress is undeniable, the path for women in technology is still marked by hurdles. From imposter syndrome—the internalised doubt about one’s abilities—to unconscious bias in hiring and promotion practices, and a persistent gender pay gap, many women continue to navigate an uneven playing field. These challenges are even more pronounced for Black women and women from underrepresented communities, where intersectionality compounds the barriers to entry and advancement.
But there is reason to be hopeful.
Across South Africa and the globe, we’re witnessing a growing movement of women who are not only entering the tech world—but leading it. Recent reports show a steady increase in female tech founders, product leads, engineers, and AI researchers. Initiatives focused on upskilling girls in STEM, bootcamps tailored for women, and inclusive hiring practices are all contributing to this momentum.
It’s a new era—where women are not just participating in tech, but transforming it.
Spotlighting the Power of Women in AI
Diversity in AI isn’t just a value—it’s a strategic advantage. Gender diversity leads to richer ideas, more representative data, and ultimately, better products. When women are part of designing, developing, and deploying technology, the tools we build are more inclusive, less biased, and far more aligned with the diverse world we live in. In fact, research shows that diverse teams are more innovative and profitable, with companies in the top quartile for gender diversity outperforming those in the bottom by as much as 25% (McKinsley & Company, 2019).
At Botlhale AI, we don’t just believe in this—we live it.
Meet the Women Driving Innovation at Botlhale
👩🏽💻 Mokgadi, our Engineering Lead, is the mastermind behind Vela, our call center analytics tool. Her leadership has not only shaped Vela’s core architecture but has also ensured that multilingual and culturally relevant support is baked into every layer of the product.
🎨 Khutso, our talented UI/UX Designer, ensures that every product we build is intuitive, human-centered, and visually aligned with our mission. Her design thinking approach helps translate complex AI features into seamless user journeys, making our tools more accessible to users across industries and languages.
💼 Amogelang, our Partnerships Associate, has been instrumental in driving sales and business development. Her deep understanding of our product offering, paired with her passion for customer success, allows her to build meaningful relationships with clients. Her work is helping expand Botlhale’s impact across new sectors and use cases.
📢 Ziyanda, our Marketing Associate, ensures that the voices behind our technology are heard. With a deep understanding of both our mission and our market, she crafts narratives that spotlight the impact of our solutions and the people who build them.
💬 “At Botlhale, I’ve had the opportunity to build technology that reflects who we are as a nation—diverse, multilingual, and full of potential. That’s not just exciting; it’s powerful.”
— Mokgadi, Engineering Lead
A Call to Action: How We Can Empower Women in Tech
Celebrating Women’s Day is not only about honouring the past—it’s about actively shaping a future where women thrive in every corner of the tech industry. Real change comes from collective action, and everyone—individuals, companies, and institutions—has a role to play.
For Individuals: Be an Active Ally
Progress begins with everyday actions. Whether you’re in engineering, design, sales, or leadership, you can be intentional about creating a more equitable tech space:
- Amplify women’s voices in meetings, brainstorming sessions, and decision-making rooms.
- Mentor and sponsor—not just guide women in tech, but actively open doors for them.
- Call out bias when you see it, even when it’s uncomfortable.
- Celebrate wins publicly, not just privately—acknowledging the impact of women helps dismantle invisibility
Every act of allyship matters.
For Companies: Build Structures That Support Women
Diversity doesn’t happen by chance—it’s the result of intentional culture-building. To truly support women in tech, companies must:
- Adopt inclusive hiring practices that counteract bias and prioritise representation.
- Create mentorship and leadership development programmes that help women grow and thrive.
- Promote work-life balance, including flexible work options and parental support policies.
- Measure and report on gender equity in pay, promotion, and retention.
Inclusion is not a one-time initiative—it’s an ongoing commitment. At Botlhale AI, we are intentional about representation—not just at the table, but in the decisions that shape our products and teams. We believe that tech built for everyone must also be built by everyone.
Empowering women in tech is not a side mission—it’s central to building ethical, representative, and powerful technology. On this Women’s Day, let’s not only celebrate the women who lead and innovate—but commit to doing the work that ensures many more can follow.
