Sophy Moumakoe, Pilanesberg Platinum. All photos: Karolina Komendera

The IT landscape is changing shape and direction, constantly evolving to meet new market challenges and business expectations, and redefining what technology can do. This agile environment has to reflect the growing number of women entering the industry – it needs to remove outdated perceptions and rigid expectations to become more welcoming and inclusive. Today, opportunities for women in technology have never been greater and, with AI and other emergent technologies, there’s space to create new solutions that address critical global issues and bring unique viewpoints and skills to the digital table. It’s essential that the sector overcome its glacial pace of change, with stereotypes and misconceptions affecting how women perceive technology and careers in STEM fields. These attitudes start in early childhood and can limit both women’s career choices and industry attitudes.

Meanwhile, there’s a growing movement of women and male allies working to break down these barriers and empower more women to enter the technology field. This is not just a matter of equal opportunity, but the recognition of the exceptional value that women bring to the workplace.