African Women in Tech: Your Guide to Success
Unleash your potential.
Tech has been a career hotspot for some time now. Whether it's cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), or more creative aspects like product design, a career in tech promises some level of stability, flexibility, and a liveable income in today's world.
But for African women, breaking into tech and starting a career can seem elusive. Staying relevant in a stereotypically male-dominated industry can be an even more challenging hurdle. From societal beliefs to appropriate work-life balance, African women may find it harder to put themselves out in an industry that values branding and networking.
So, if you're an African woman starting off or looking to advance your tech career, these tips from Iwalola Sobowale, head of CX research at Moniepoint, should help you on your transformative journey to higher roles and higher pay.
Iwalola Sobowale is a driving force in the tech industry, leveraging her extensive background in CX, UX, and product research to implement strategies that drive the success of data-driven businesses.
Currently serving as the Head of CX Research at Moniepoint, she spearheads strategic research for innovative product development and to enhance user satisfaction and loyalty. As the host of The Spotlight Podcast, she shares industry insights to nurture the tech and business ecosystem.
Breaking into the Tech Industry
The tech industry is vast, with several fields you can choose based on your interests and skills. It can be daunting to pick a field and start a career, but Sobowale says to always remember that nothing is out of reach for you.
"I know African women struggle with seeing ourselves represented in certain circles, professions and spheres. However, the last few years since COVID have shown how unpredictable life truly is. Someone like you somewhere is doing that thing you are afraid to do or that you think you don't deserve," she states.
As such, breaking into the industry requires a healthy dose of confidence and a lot of time spent learning the basics of the field you're interested in. But that is not all you need to break in; you must also stay informed.
"Since I came to understand that we can only dream, think and perform at the limits we are currently aware of, I've made a conscious effort to continuously expose myself to new information. I do this by opening myself up to opportunities, taking chances to try new things, meeting new people, and joining communities. As Nike would say, "Just do it", she adds.
Overcoming Challenges as an African Woman in Tech
From internalised repression to systemic discrimination and institutional gender bias, African women in tech face multiple challenges while trying to advance their careers. There's also the struggle of maintaining a healthy work-life balance, one many women struggle with as they shuffle between their homes and their familial responsibilities. These challenges can hinder career growth for women working in tech establishments. Some experts may say the solution to some of these challenges would be to act more masculine in the workplace, but Sobowale opines otherwise with the following tips.
Communicate assertively
Speaking out in the workplace, especially in tech, can be daunting, but Sobowale strongly believes that assertiveness plus politeness can help advance your career.
"I know we've all seen content advising women to write emails in a "bossy" tone like men typically do. However, I don't think it makes sense for us to emulate our male counterparts' rude or condescending behaviour. Instead of this, I ensure that I communicate assertively but politely in the workplace", she says.
Where the typical advice may be to remain standoffish or unwelcoming at work, Sobowale's experience in the tech industry is one that rewards her friendliness and down-to-earth personality.
"I've found that my colleagues are more willing to be vulnerable with me, which improves our working relationship, as we understand each other better. In this episode of HBR's Women at Work, the podcast hosts discuss how being both assertive and warm at work will get you what you want. It's a great listen, and this podcast in general has helped me navigate difficult scenarios in my career", she adds.
Stay prepared
It's an unfortunate but well-known truth that women have to be better to be considered, and the tech industry is no different. Whether it's a presentation or a pitch you're expected to share before your team or a large audience, Sobowale says to do it afraid, but always be prepared.
"I know we've likely all had those nightmarish images of embarrassing ourselves on stage. However, remember that it'll be a learning experience even if you do badly. But if it goes well, then success! Do it afraid, but do it anyway", she advises.
The practice of showing up, even while afraid, puts you ahead and helps you get more comfortable with being in the spotlight, especially for African women who are socialised to be in the background. It's an uncomfortable process, but one that will help advance your career in tech.
Strike a balance
For several African women, adequate work-life balance is a struggle, especially in such an engaging field as tech. This struggle is one Sobowale knows all too well, as she is a mum of two boys. However, her primary tip for balancing work and life as a tech professional in Africa is to prioritise.
"During periods where you're focused on career growth, there'll definitely be an imbalance between your work and personal life. Notwithstanding, there should also be time to rest, play, rejuvenate and do the things that help us recharge. As an introvert, I do this occasionally by dedicating a day where I cuddle up with a book and become a couch potato for a few hours. This helps me recharge, stay sane and stave off burnout", she explains.
For mothers, striking that balance while still having enough time to care for their children can get even trickier. Again, Sobowale says to prioritise.
"I try to prioritise at least one hour a day to spend with my kids after work. During this time, I chat with them about their school day and whatever else they'd like to discuss. It's a non-negotiable for me. The way I look at it, if we work hard at our goals for a period, we'll be able to enjoy a better work-life balance (guilt-free!) during a later phase", she adds.
Building a Strong Network
In the tech industry, networking is everything. You see it in the number of tech conferences and meetups that hold every year and the number of tech communities on social media.
For African women especially, networking is a massive part of navigating a career in the tech space and even advancing to the next level. It could help you break into an entry-level role or a more advanced position in a company simply by meeting and connecting with other tech professionals.
Sobowale shares a few tips to build a strong network, including joining a community and reaching out to your peers in the industry.
Join tech communities
The beautiful thing about a career in tech is that you are never alone. It's in the communities and the way code is set up, with concepts like open source and stack overflow that allow you to interact with other people's work. As an African woman in tech, joining communities of like-minded professionals is essential, whether it's a cybersecurity group chat or a country-based data engineer platform.
"Joining communities exposes you to opportunities and the pulse of whatever industry or career path you're on. I'm a member of People in Product, Women in Tech Nigeria, and a few other great communities where I've met fantastic people," Sobowale explains.
There are also women-only tech communities and meetups, which Sobowale says to leverage heavily.
"Again, being a part of [women-focused] communities has exposed me to opportunities, people and rooms that would not have been accessible for me or that I would otherwise not have known about. You can check out communities like Women in Tech Nigeria, Elpha, Wetech, and She Code Africa", she adds.
Consider getting a mentor
For African women, getting a mentor in your field is an excellent step as they can help you grow and connect with other professionals ahead in their careers. But it may not be a necessary one.
"I know the answer to [getting a mentor] tends to be a resounding yes, but I'll say that it depends on many things, particularly on whether you are someone who is able to sustain relationships where there's some level of power imbalance", Sobowale explains.
If you'd still like to get a mentor and have identified one to reach out to, it's imperative to offer value to them as well.
"I do this by engaging with their social media posts, giving them small gifts (e.g. on their birthdays or during the holiday season), attending events where they may be speaking and cheering them on, or just outrightly asking them if there's anything I can help them with", Sobowale lists.
Adding value to your mentors (or prospective mentors) helps you genuinely connect with them and makes the relationship more fulfilling. Aside from mentor-mentee relationships, you can also try peer mentorships with friends and colleagues, which Sobowale highly endorses.
"An example of a community that has given me access to peer mentors is HerSynergy Tribe, a private community that unites mid-senior level women in tech across EMEA & North America, fostering mutual support. There's nothing like sharing experiences, tips and advice with people on a similar journey", Sobowale adds.
Connect with your line managers
Many tech companies are structured to include people you report your progress to directly. These people are called line managers. Line managers can be an incredibly helpful resource, as they can vouch for you and your work, helping you to advance to the next stages of your career.
"The way most organisations are set up, it'll be unlikely to progress within your organisation if your line manager does not actively push for your growth", Sobowale explains. "Ideally, you should develop a good relationship with them by being open about your vulnerabilities. You should also have shown that you can work hard to not only meet but surpass their expectations of you in your role".
Sponsors are another great way to boost your career, as they can mention your name in rooms you do not presently have access to.
"Essentially, [sponsors] are sold on your value and will always speak up to include you when great opportunities arise. These are usually your senior colleagues at work whom you've built a great working relationship with", Sobowale states.
Get your branding right
Branding is a big topic in work culture right now, and for good reason. It can open you up to more opportunities and establish you as an expert in your field. However, it is essential to understand the whys of branding and how it will affect the type of network you want to create.
"With the rise of Linkedin content, I know there's the urge to post more on Linkedin or create influencer-like posts on Instagram, but I'll urge my fellow ladies to think through how they want to be perceived before taking the leap", Sobowale advises.
Branding is also especially important for start-up founders, who have to represent themselves and the rising business. To this, Sobowale says the personal brand can power the business brand.
"If you're an early-stage founder, you're likely worrying about how to build your business brand and raise money. In this webinar hosted by my podcast, The Spotlight Podcast, we break down how to build your business brand through your personal brand, and it's more straightforward than you think", she adds.
Continuous Learning and Development
A considerable part of tech is the know-how, the technical skills you need to do the work. Without those, branding and networking can only take you so far. As such, it is incredibly vital for African women in tech to keep levelling up by learning as much as they can, whether through internships, refresher courses, boot camps, or conferences.
"Like I said, you just don't know what you don't know, and your scope is limited by the information you've been exposed to. I personally ensure that I dedicate time to completing a programme or course every year. Plus, your degrees and certifications can be leveraged to negotiate higher salaries with prospective employers", Sobowale adds.
