Sponsored: Celebrating female leadership and innovation in technology
Telkom plays a pivotal role as the lead sponsor of the prestigious Wired4Women Awards.
01 March 2025
Following the success of last year’s partnership with ITWeb Brainstorm and the Wired- 4Women Technology Forum, Telkom is once again proud to renew its commitment as the lead sponsor for the 2025 Wired4Women Awards programme.
Introduced in 2024, the Wired4Women Awards celebrate exceptional women in South Africa’s tech sector, recognising a wide range of roles, from CIOs and tech company leaders to entrepreneurs, innovators, rising stars, and students embarking on their careers.
The Wired4Women Tech Forum offers mentorship and training while building a strong community for women in the industry. The introduction of the awards complements the forum’s mission to encourage more young women to pursue careers in technology.
According to Gugu Mthembu, Chief Marketing Officer at Telkom, these awards align with Telkom’s ongoing commitment to advancing diversity and inclusion in the tech industry.
“As Telkom, we’re honoured to sponsor the Wired4Women Awards for a second year, reinforcing our dedication to diversity and inclusion in the tech sector. These awards reflect our mission to celebrate the remarkable contributions of women in technology while inspiring future generations of female leaders. By honouring innovation and leadership in ICT, we aim to create an environment where talent knows no bounds and opportunities are open to all, reflecting our belief that ‘possible begins here,’” says Mthembu.
“Our continued involvement underscores Telkom’s commitment to shaping a future where women not only participate in technology, but thrive. We believe initiatives like the Wired4Women Awards are vital in addressing gender disparities, ensuring the industry benefits from diverse perspectives. Together, we can pave the way for a tech ecosystem that drives progress and empowers women to realise their full potential.”
Honouring leaders and innovators
There are 13 Wired4Women awards categories recognising leadership, entrepreneurship, business acumen, community involvement and emerging talent.
In addition to being the primary sponsor of the 2025 Wired4Women Awards, Telkom will sponsor two key award categories:
• CIO of the Year – Recognising an outstanding CIO who has led her organisation’s digital strategy and enabled business success through groundbreaking tech innovation.
• Top Tech Innovator – Celebrating an original thinker who has used technology to address a significant industry or social challenge.
“Telkom values leadership and innovation. By supporting these categories, we aim to honour the exemplary leadership and strategic vision of female CIOs and shine a light on the innovators often working behind the scenes,” Mthembu says. “This also aligns with our Future Makers Programme, which supports tech startups, SMEs, and ICT social entrepreneurs using digital technology to solve social challenges and build sustainable businesses.”
Mthembu notes that the Wired4Women Awards stand out in the tech sector by focusing on diversity and inclusivity, not only recognising established executives but also promoting mentorship, innovation, collaboration, and the use of technology to uplift society.
“Our sponsorship reflects our commitment to fostering a more inclusive and equitable industry, creating opportunities for talented individuals to realise their potential.”
A unique feature of the Wired4Women Awards is the democratic nominations process, open to the ICT and academic communities, as well as the general public, and a rigorous adjudication process. Judging of the awards will be conducted by an independent, carefully selected jury comprising Wired- 4Women Forum board members, ITWeb senior editors, past award winners, academics, and industry leaders.
After the announcement of the finalists in February, the judging panel will interview all candidates before selecting the winners, who will be revealed on 3 April 2025 at the Wired4Women Awards Banquet at The Forum, Hyde Park, Johannesburg.
“As we begin selecting the finalists for the second annual Wired4Women Awards, our goal is to uphold the integrity and independence of these accolades, while raising awareness of the remarkable women in the sector. Telkom’s support is vital to this mission,” says Caryn Berman, Business Development Director: ITWeb Brainstorm and board member of Wired- 4Women.
“Our role is to ensure that through our investment, this platform has the right level of prestige expected of an awards initiative of this nature,” notes Mthembu.
“As a brand and primary sponsor, we are excited to engage with this new cohort of inspiring female professionals and emerging stars. By celebrating female excellence, these awards will actively contribute to a more inclusive and equitable industry, offering organisations the chance to identify key talent. Their significance will continue to grow, driving progress, empowerment, and diversity,” concludes Mthembu.