In many organizations, the excuse for not having women in senior management teams or women in the pipeline of people they interview for available positions is that cannot find qualified women for these positions. In addition, a large number of technology events usually have very few women speakers and the explanation is the same, they cannot find women in the area to invite to speak. Women in Tech Africa is solving this problem.
Women in Tech Africa is the continent's largest group of capable women in the technology industry, and as such is ideally positioned to showcase capable women in the industry who might not necessarily have the visibility they deserve. Their solution is a simple one - making the invisible visible. They have created a database of a cross-section of their group's members, providing links to their LinkedIn profiles and tags of their specialties to help women in tech be found.
The Database is searchable by skill set, country and other details. So today Women in Tech Africa happily invites recruiters, chief executive officers, and event organizers in Africa to come and find their next hire, next speaker or even their next board member at www.womenintechafrica.com
The Front facing cross section member’s page can be found at http://www.womenintechafrica.com/amazing-women-in-tech/
There are over 250 women highlighted on the page, based on their preference to be highlighted, and work is underway to steadily grow the database to over 5000 women across the African continent.
Women in Tech Africa is the largest group of its kind on the continent with a membership of women in over 30 countries across Africa.
Why do we need diversity in technology?
Increased innovation
A diverse workforce gives organizations a broader range of ideas and insights to draw on, in decision making and policy development. Diversity makes good business sense.
Improved service to clients
A workplace that reflects the population will understand its clients better, which will lead to improved service. A diverse workplace will have good communication with its clients based on a deep understanding of the needs across the province.
Competitive management practices
Organizations that value and capitalize on employee diversity have productive and fulfilling workplaces which help them attract and retain employees. This leads to savings in recruitment and training costs, as well as maintaining corporate knowledge and expertise.
More Money
Companies that embrace diversity gain higher market share and a competitive edge in accessing new markets – a ‘diversity dividend’ first quantified in a recent study by the Center for Talent Innovation (CTI). Business leaders increasingly recognize this.
About Women in Tech Africa
Women in Tech Africa is focused on two main goals - encouraging women and girls into Science, Technology, careers and preventing women dropping out of technology roles and careers through education, providing opportunities and by sharing experiences and supporting the corporations that hire them.
Women in Tech Africa has a membership of women in 30 countries across Africa, with physical chapters in Ghana, United Kingdom and Kenya, and is looking to launch in Nigeria and South Africa by the end of 2015.
Women in Tech Africa was founded by Ethel Cofie from Ghana, joined by cofounders Charlene Migwe from Kenya and Josiah Eyison from Ghana.
Learn more about Women in Tech Africa on YouTube https://youtu.be/N1CAC6btNyc or on their website www.womenintechafrica.com
To find out more or support the initiative, email the team partnerships@womenintechafrica.com