Country of origin

South Africa

Which company do you work for?

N/A

What is your specific area of specialisation?

Internet of Things

How long have you been in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) fields?

For 10 years, I took Information Technology and Physical Science in high school.

As a woman in a male dominated industry, what has been the biggest challenge you have faced in your career, and how did you overcome it?

My biggest challenge was always having to prove myself, as a female in STEM, you sometimes find that you have to work twice as hard to prove that you are just as knowledgeable as your male peers. I’ve overcame that by making sure that I am constantly learning, researching and upskilling myself.

What inspired you to join this industry?

I have always been a techie, enjoyed figuring out how different gadgets work and the more I got into it and understood the working of it, and the more I realized how many of the socio-economic issues we have can be solved through technology.

What changes, if any, have you seen in your field with regards to women in your field?

In recent years we have seen more women making their way to the forefront in technology whether be it as developers, tech specialists and as CEOs/CTOs.

How can we attract more women to consider a career in the STEM fields?

Organizations such as GirlCodeZa are doing great things to get more girls in the field.
GirlCoder Club a nationwide network of volunteer-led, coding clubs designed for primary and high school girls who want to have a strong foundation in basic programming skills.

If you were to advise other young women starting their careers in the tech or within the STEM fields, what is the one thing you would say to them?

Keep learning and use your voice. You belong here and are qualified, therefore do not doubt your abilities.

When not working, what do you do for fun?

You are more likely to find me binging on Netflix on my off days or out with my cousins.