Know Their Names – Top 50 SA Women in Tech

Updated on 8 August 2017

Subscription Form (#66)

Know Their Names - Top 50 SA Women in Tech

 

This Women’s Month SME South Africa will celebrate South African women entrepreneurs, pioneers and innovators. Join us as we highlight their successes, sacrifices and struggles. Follow the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at #SMEWomenInnovate.

South Africa’s first cohort of the Fifty Inspiring women in tech have been announced.

The Fifty Inspiring South Africa initiative showcases women in technology, with the goal of increasing visibility of the achievements of women in the innovation and technology sector, and as a result, to inspire young girls and attract more women in the technology-related fields.

The winners range from founders of technology companies; women in C-Level positions in technology companies; academics, influencers, NGO heads, journalists and venture capitalists.

Among the women chosen are: SweepSouth’s Aisha Pandor, Lindiwe Matlali, founder and CEO of Africa Teen Geeks, Rapelang Rabana founder and CEO of Rekindle Learning, Ellen Fischat, managing director of Silicon Cape, Nunu Ntshingila, head of Facebook Africa and Yolisa Kani, Uber SA’s public policy head, among others.

Inspiring Fifty is a Dutch based non-profit organisation that showcases inspiring female role models in the technology industry in the Netherlands, France, Europe and the Nordics. It’s built on the core philosophy that “If she can see it, she can be it”.

The 50 chosen role models are:

  1. Aisha Pandor –  Co-founder SweepSouth
  2. Anita Loots –  Head of African Planning SKA
  3. Anitha Ramsuran – Manager of Innovation Skills Development, Technology Innovation Agency
  4. Anne Githuku-Shongwe –  Founder and CEO of AFROES Transformational Games
  5. Anusuya Chinsamy  Professor and Head of Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town
  6. Audrey Verhaeghe – Chairperson of Innovation Summit
  7. Barbara Mallinson – Founder and CEO of Obami
  8. Boitumelo Menyatswe – Founder of Minderz
  9. Darlene Menzies –  Founder and CEO of SMEasy and Finfind
  10. Dr Mmaki Jantjies – Head of the Information Systems Department, University of the Western Cape
  11. Dr. Adriana Marais – Head of Innovation SAP Africa
  12. Ellen Fischat – Managing Director of Silicon Cape
  13. Ellie Hagopian – CEO Nomosphere
  14. Emma Dicks – Founder and Director of Code for Cape Town
  15. Esther Titilayo Akinlabi – Associate Professor of Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering at University of Johannesburg
  16. Fikiswa Majola –  Deputy Director of Space Science and Technology, Department of Science and Technology
  17. Hema Vallabh – Founder of WomHub
  18. Julie Cleverdon – Director of Cape Town Science Centre
  19. Kim Normand Dobrin – Computer literacy teacher at The Tomorrow Trust
  20. Lethabo Motswaledi – CEO and Co-founder of 3D Power
  21. Lindiwe Matlali – Founder and CEO of Africa Teen Geeks
  22. Lynn Wilson – Systems Manager at HR Information Management TFG
  23. Magda Wierzycka – CEO of Sygnia
  24. Maximillian Kaizen – Co-founder of Treeshake
  25. Mickey Mashale – Managing Executive and Head of Region at Vodacom
  26. Mokhudu Macabda – Teacher at Ngwanamago Primary
  27. Nafisa Akabor – Freelance Technology Journalist at Forbes Woman Africa, Destiny, Wired to the Web
  28. Ndoni Mcunu – Co-Founder of Black Women in Science
  29. Ngwako Lethabo Ramohlale – CEO of Nunnovation
  30. Nneile Nkholise – Founder of Likoebe Innovation Consultants
  31. Nokuthula Ndlovu – Founder and Strategic Engagement Partner of Limit Breakers Global Foundation and Barclays Africa Group
  32. Nomso Faith Kana – Managing Director at Sun ’n Shield 84 Technologies; Blaze Away SA, Taungana Africa
  33. Nothando Moleketi –  Co-founder and COO of ReWare
  34. Nunu Ntshingila – Head of Facebook Africa
  35. Phadiela Cooper – Principal, COSAT High School
  36. Pontsho Maruping – Councilor at South African Council for Space Affairs
  37. Portia Maurice – Director of Nehanda Group
  38. Pria Chetty – Regional Director at EndCode
  39. Rapelang Rabana – Founder and CEO of Rekindle Learning
  40. Regina Luki Kgatle – Founder and Co-founder of 67 Games, WeSmooth
  41. Saidah Nash Carter – Head of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation Thomson Reuters
  42. Samantha Wright – Blogger, Youtuber, Content Creator at TechGirl
  43. Sibongile Sambo – Founder and CEO of SRS Aviation Ltd.
  44. Sibongiseni Tunzelana Thotsejane – CIO of Flavalite
  45. Stephanie Cowper – CEO and Co-Founder of BeSpecular Pty Ltd.
  46. Suzana Moreira – Founder of Mowoza
  47. Vere Shaba – Owner and Director of Shaba & Ramplin Green Building Solutions
  48. Videsha Proothveerajh – Country Manager at Southern Africa Intel
  49. Xoliswa Kakana – CEO of ICT-Works Pty Ltd
  50. Yolisa Kani – Public Policy Head at Uber SA
  • This article has been updated to reflect that Mokhudu Macabda is a teacher at Ngwanamago Primary. 

Get Weekly 5-Minutes Business Advice

Subscribe to receive actionable business tips and resources.

Subscription Form (#66)

Feeling Stuck?

icon