Research shows that diverse teams perform better and are more innovative, often suggesting promising results for business.
Despite so, the lingering issue of gender disparity between male and female representation in the technology industry continues to be a hot topic for many activists, government authorities, and public-alike.
In line with this year’s International Women’s Day 2021 (IWD 2021) theme #ChooseToChallenge, three superwomen from the fast-growing smartphone brand Infinix looks to share their personal story in challenging biases and misconceptions within the tech space through a #SHEPOWER video released by the company.
Founded in 2013, Infinix is a frontrunner in combining stylish designs and cutting-edge smartphone technology in their products.
As a brand who aims to connect with the youths via their product innovation, the brand is also not one to shy away from burning social challenges – in this case, empowering women to take a stance in some of the most challenging environment.
This time it is encouraging some of those women to share their stories.
The #SHEPOWER means lot of more meaningful to Infinix than many other brands as the company seeks not only to foster the technological and innovative development of some of the less-privileged regions.
It seeks to advocate for social changes by promoting gender equality, as much as we don’t want to admit, some parts of the world aren’t very friendly to women who want to develop a career of their own.
While Kenya scores 81 (out of 100) on the Women, Business and the Law 2020 index and ranks 109 out of the 153 countries in the Global Gender Gap Report 2020 with 0.671, significant inequalities between males and females in education attainment, health outcomes, representation in parliament, and participation in the labor market remain1.
For this year’s IWD, as Infinix highlights the back stories of its three superwomen, Infinix Kenya through the #SHEPOWER will also be celebrating the women in the Techspace in Kenya who have broken the gender barrier in what is a male dominated industry.
These women have come up with Tech related ideas that are transforming the society, role models that are encouraging a new generation of women in tech.
With the continued drive to innovation, they have contributed in Tech Talks (e.g TED) and have received recognition for their outstanding tech innovations e.t.c.
Juliana Rotich is a technologist, strategic advisor, entrepreneur, futurist, keynote speaker and a Venture Partner in Africa Technology Ventures (ATV).
Judith Ogiwar is an African entrepreneur who uses technology as a tool to empower youth and young women. She is a co-founder of Akirachix; a revolution for African women and technology.
Ory Okolloh is an activist, lawyer, and blogger. She has worked as the Policy Manager for Africa with Google and has been featured in several magazines among them being Time 100 and Forbes.
Martha Chumo is the founder of The Dev School. The The Dev School equips youths in Africa with computer programming skills and aids them build technology-based solutions to everyday challenges.
These women are some of the great spear headers leading women in the tech industry in Kenya.
Today, there are greater acceptance for women in the workforce globally.
Infinix has never stopped to take challenges on, with a workforce of 42 percent women, it will continue to drive gender equality and diversity.
It is not the ratio that counts but the culture of fostering diversity. In fact, the Covid-19 pandemic has also sped up the marathon for women’s rights in multiple aspects.
That being said, companies – in this case, those in technology sector – will still need to relook and improvise some of their efforts in promoting gender equality in the workspace to ensure a sustainable change.
