Women belong at the pinnacle of the IT industry
The dearth of women in senior positions within the IT industry has long been an issue, although some companies within the sector have prioritised gender parity better than others.
01 August 2024
The dearth of women in senior positions within the IT industry has long been an issue, although some companies within the sector have prioritised gender parity better than others. IT distributor Pinnacle, for example, has not only recognised the value women bring to the table, but has actively worked to hire and promote them into positions where such value can be maximised.
A case in point is Donna Mostert, Huawei Business Unit Executive at Pinnacle ICT. This role, she says, means being both a mentor and leader for the team, engaging with resellers strategically, and working with Huawei to define a go-to-market strategy.
“Too many women in IT have historically suffered self doubt around whether they can be as successful as men in the IT industry. The reality, however, is that as long as you believe in yourself, the sky’s the limit,” she says. To this end, Pinnacle believes in empowering women and offers many training courses at its own expense, in order for these individuals to grow.
“My advice to young women is to believe in yourself; seek out women who can be mentors, and who will believe in you, even when you doubt your own ability, as they are the ones who will push you to succeed.”
Emily Ntsinini is Pinnacle’s Huawei Commercial Business Development Manager, whose role entails identifying and solving clients’ technological pain points, and building and nurturing long-term customer relationships. “My unique attributes include my ability to be resilient and to be able to persevere in the face of challenges that come with working in a male-dominated industry. I feel my critical thinking and problem solving, and the ability to analyse situations clearly, think critically and develop innovative solutions, are all attributes that are highly valued in the technology space,” she adds.
Increasing visibility
The increasing presence of women in this industry has significantly impacted men’s perception of women’s capabilities in this space. Thanks to increasing visibility and representation, women are able to prove their competence by excelling in technical positions and demonstrating their capabilities. In this way, they can shift the perceptions that many of their male colleagues may have.
“I think my position can serve as encouragement to young girls planning for their future, because seeing other young women in positions of authority in IT makes it easier for them to envision themselves in similar positions in the future.
“Therefore, I say to these young women: embrace your curiosity and don’t be afraid to learn. The IT industry thrives on variety and innovative approaches, so your voice and presence can only be a valued asset in shaping the future of technology.”
Her colleague, Rose Chuene, is a Huawei Networking Product Manager, responsible for creating, launching, and growing successful products. In this role, she acts as the bridge between vendors, stakeholders, customers, and the development team, while market needs, customer pain points, and business goals are all taken into account during the product development.
Having joined the industry after obtaining her Bachelor of Business Administration degree, she worked her way up from intern. In her experience, the diverse perspectives, strong collaboration skills, heightened empathy, user centric focus, and resilience fostered by women in product management roles can enhance team dynamics, facilitate innovation, and lead to more inclusive, accessible products. This, in turn, ultimately drives greater business success and societal impact in the ever-evolving tech industry.
“When women excel in a male-dominated field, they challenge gender stereotypes, impact the narrative surrounding women’s leadership in technology, while also influencing their male colleagues’ perceptions. Additionally, their success serves as an inspiration for young girls, demonstrating that technology careers are also possible for them,” notes Chuene.
Expand your skills
“So believe in yourself and your abilities. Embrace your love for technology and don’t be deterred by any preconceived notions or self-doubt. Seek out mentorship, build a supportive network, and remember that your unique perspective is a valuable asset that can drive innovation. Above all, stay curious, continue learning, and never hesitate to advocate for yourself.”
Mapaseka Khanyapa is a Huawei Operations Assistant for Pinnacle, managing the department’s financial administration, tracking orders from suppliers, and updating customers on their order status, as well as negotiating policies and contracts with vendors.
With experience working as an Apple distributor, and later as a Dell reseller, she says that the beauty of the IT industry is that you will always be pushed as an individual to adapt and learn as technology evolves.
“I feel the key to success lies in expanding your skills to help break through the glass ceiling in this male-dominated profession. Finding a mentor can also bring inspiration, not to mention developing solid ties within the workplace to boost teamwork,” she says.
Many gender-related hurdles have been reduced over time, she adds, yet gender preconceptions continue to impede women’s professional advancement. Gender stereotypes continue to have a negative impact on women’s possibilities for job advancement.
“Nonetheless, women are finding themselves welcome in companies seeking highly trained logistics professionals, who can meet the demands of global economies. Therefore, if you follow your passion, study as much as you can, and do an exceptional job, people will have no choice but to appreciate you. This, then, will provide you with the opportunities required to truly show yourself and, ultimately, to raise the bar higher,” concludes Khanyapa.
Please contact us at: cloud@pinnacle.co.za