Useful contacts for Young Ladies with an eye on IT as a career

SA 'needs to close gender divide in technology'

Today I was invited to the Girls In IT event in Durban #GirlsInIT

(Picture by Colin Browne - www.colinbrowne.co.za )

There is still a yawning 'gender divide' in the number of women using technology and pursuing IT careers in South Africa.

The organisation 'Girls Invent Tomorrow' aims to change this.
The U.N. has declared 11 October as 'International Day of the Girl Child.'

At this event today more than 100 young high school learners arrived eager for knowledge.

Thuli Sibeko founder of 'Girls Invent Tomorrow' said it was vital to empower girl learners.  ICT is one of the best areas to get into for South African girls.

For one of the key sponsors of the event Intel, gender equality is an issue close to its heart.
It has launched Girl Rising a social action campaign to educate and empower women and it also launched
She Will Connect aimed at reducing the gender and technology gap around the world.

Thabani Kupe - Intel South Africa
(Picture by Colin Browne - www.colinbrowne.co.za )

'We believe that closing the Internet gender gap has tremendous potential to empower women and enrich their lives as well as all the lives they touch.'  - Thabani Kupe of Intel South Africa.

'A lack of role models is one of the greatest barriers to women leaders.'  - World Economic Forum Corporate Gender Gap Report 2012.

Thuli Sibeko - Girls Invent Tomorrow
(Picture by Colin Browne - www.colinbrowne.co.za )

'Technology needs girls to help invent the future' said Ms Sibeko.

We were treated to a very interesting panel discussion from some inspiring ladies that are doing some amazing things in the technology sector.

Panel Discussion - Picture by Colin Browne (www.colinbrowne.co.za)

The panel included
Candice Potgieter from KZN Science Centre - @CRPotgieter
Mokgaetsi Madise - App Developer and Microsoft Student Partner - @fruitymo
Palesa Sibeko - In Mobile and Community Sector - @palesa08
Rene Petersen-Parker - Director of RLabs - @reneparker
Suzanne Smith - Media Rep for 'She's The Geek' Blog
The panel was facilitated by Natassia Badenhorst - Communications Specialist - @ndevilliers

Rene Petersen-Parker shared these tips about blogging:

• All you need is something to say
• Don't steal other people's content

'Apps and Hackathons are all about solving problems' - Mokgaetsi Madise

Eager Minds - Picture by Colin Browne - (www.colinbrowne.co.za)


So for all you young ladies interested in IT above are some interesting contacts for you to pursue.
Reach out to them, you will find their twitter handle next to their name.

For young ladies interested in a career in the IT Sector start a conversation with
HP - @HP_S_Africa and also with Intel - @Intel_Africa

Chat to Thuli Sibeko as well - @Thulilo

To see more insightful tweets about the event track the hashtag #GirlsInICT on Twitter.

Useful links
Website:  www.girlsinventtomorrow.com
Email: info@girlsinventtomorrow.com


Article by +Fred Felton

Business Tips from Experts at ICSME

Last week I was invited to WASME ICSME 2013.
This was the International Conference on Small and Medium Enterprise (ICSME)

They had some wonderful speakers.

                                         One of the Speakers Ashish Thakkar

Ashish Thakkar the CEO of Mara Group and a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader gave us the following business advice:

• Everything our company does has to be Pan-African
• It must be game-changing
• Just be yourself
• Have your own core values

I asked him how does he close sales?  'Offer something unique.  Be persistent.  You have to under promise and over sell.  Keep at it.  You must not give up.'  

I asked him to give us some networking tips? 'Have no shame but be respectful.  Go up to people. Remember your 30 second elevator speech.  Have no ego.  Keep at it!' 

Even he has had financing turned down.  He likes to write monthly reports on what his company has achieved. 

The Mayor of Ethekwini reminded us that the Business Fair enables business to showcase their products and expand their customer base.

Mr Sisa Ntshana from Absa asked 'Do we have a conducive environment for smme's?' 

His advice:  'The more informed you are the better decisions you can make.'  

He also told us that 'Africa is the second fastest growing bloc behind Asia.'  

Mr Akash Singh reminded us to 'Stay motivated.'  

Mr Rohit Shukla from the USA gave us the following business insight:

'What do you have?

'What can you build?'

'Global networks are vital.' 

'South Africans spend more on clothing and jewelry than they do on education.'

'If you don't know who your customers are how can you reach them?' 

'What are your competitive strengths?'

'Who is doing what and how?' 

All in all this was a fascinating conference which gave deeper insight into the minds 

of business people.

More useful info about the conference here: http://www.wasmeicsme2013.org

Article and Photo by  +Fred Felton 

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