Taylor Kwong on female empowerment in tech and business: “leave no (wo)man behind”
Having a career that allows you to spend your days doing what you love while making a meaningful impact on real human beings, communities and your beloved country is an absolute privilege. As CSI Manager at Vuma, where ‘because we can, we must’ is the guiding ethos behind everything we do, this is what I get to do every day, and it brings me boundless joy and fulfilment knowing that my work is purpose-led and makes a difference.
The overarching goal that my team and I constantly have in our sights is that no one gets left behind on this journey towards a better, connected future for all South Africans. And, as we celebrate Women’s Month in South Africa, I am reminded of the importance of my experiences and existence as a woman, and the important part I must play in ensuring girls and women are empowered and uplifted through the projects I oversee.
Female representation in the tech industry is on the rise, but we still have a long way to go not just in bringing more female perspectives and voices into the space, but in ensuring that they are empowered with the skills and experiences to sustain fulfilling careers within the industry.
With recent studies showing that women represent just 28% of all people pursuing STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers, it’s clear that there’s still a great deal of work to be done to boost female participation and representation in tech and business spaces. However, initiatives like GirlCode, which has set out to empower 10 million girls and women with tech skills by 2030, are actively working toward remedying this challenge and it gives me great pride to be able to help expand their reach.
In addition, if we consider that nearly four million South African children are being raised by their grandmothers, we can appreciate how the most senior women in our communities also need our support to not only get by but to help give children the right start in life. Gogos with Vuma in partnership with goGOGOgo is another great initiative that was recently launched to teach grandmothers in underserved communities much needed ICT skills – from learning to order their own Uber rides to teaching their grandchildren vital digital skills that will prepare them for a successful schooling career.
As a woman living in South Africa, I’ve navigated my own sets of challenges and experiences, and this fuels my desire to see change in the country and communities I love so much. So, I appeal to my fellow female compatriots: advocate for other women and be their support and steppingstone wherever possible. Celebrate one another and ululate just as loudly for the small wins as you do for the big ones. Have each other’s backs. And most of all, remember that there is space for you, so keep working hard to achieve the extraordinary futures you deserve.
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