Thirusha Chetty, Chief Technology Officer at Synaq

As we celebrate National Women’s Month, it’s promising to hear women like Thirusha Chetty, CTO at technology company SYNAQ, say they are seeing positive movement towards gender diversity in South Africa’s ICT industry, but there’s still a significant gap to close.

“Despite the progress, women still hold a minority – around 23% – of ICT jobs in South Africa,” says Chetty. “The demanding nature of some ICT roles, coupled with societal expectations of childcare, can make it difficult for women to stay in the workforce.

Sustained efforts are needed from companies, educational institutions, and policymakers to bridge the gender gap. Initiatives that create a more inclusive work environment, address unconscious bias, and offer flexible work arrangements will be crucial in attracting and retaining female talent in the long run.”

A South African female technology leader, some of Chetty’s career highlights include establishing and redefining the IT competency at DHL and, more recently in her role at SYNAQ, she is leading a comprehensive transformation initiative, driving the company towards a product-centric, digital future.

She also holds a master level MBA, Digital Business Management from Techtitute, an Advanced CIO: Digital innovation and leadership from Wits University and, in July 2024, received her certification as a chartered CIO (SA) through ICITP.

As a leader, Chetty says she thrives in leading diverse global teams. “My situational leadership style ensures I understand each team member’s strengths and needs, allowing me to provide targeted support, resources, and upskilling opportunities, maximising individual and team potential.

“Investing in women has advantages for multiple reasons, starting with better organisation performance. Diverse teams lead to effective decision-making and innovation, boosting the bottom line.

“Investment needs measuring through setting clear goals and tracking progress. Organisations and company leadership should champion a supportive culture that values inclusion, ensuring that women feel heard, respected and empowered.

“Remove work-life balance barriers by creating a childcare space for employees, or subsidising the costs of childcare and medical aid, for example, or offering flexible and hybrid work arrangements to also allow employees to balance work-family responsibilities.”

“We break down projects into phases with frequent feedback to adapt and iterate as needed. Strategic technology and risk management is ultimately the outcome of the most suitable technology and not just the latest trend. Proactive risk identification and mitigation strategies ensure project success. This approach balances user needs with technological solutions. “My current priorities are adapting to evolving threats and leveraging AI to detect, respond to, and automate security tasks. Data breaches, ransomware attacks, and system vulnerabilities are risks that keep me awake at night.

“My strategy is constantly adapting to help our clients address the current economic, socio-demographic and cybersecurity challenges by focusing on cost-efficiency, revenue growth, and data-driven decisions; addressing diversity and inclusion, upskilling, and tech accessibility; and prioritising risk assessments, security awareness training, and zero trust implementation.

“My advice to other women in or considering careers in ICT is straightforward: believe in yourself as your unique talents are valuable; find mentors; build networks; embrace learning; explore your niche; ask questions and advocate for yourself. Remember, you belong and your voice and contributions matter,” she concludes.

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