The 4th Edition of the Women in Tech (WiT) Africa Awards, Mauritius chapter is all set to welcome the Women in Tech Week Festival this month under the theme: ‘Unlock the Technology for tomorrow’. It will be held on October 25 at Le Workspace by The Docks, Caudan and the award categories will be announced. WiT Africa aims to showcase and honour exceptional women, initiatives, and organizations, speaking more about this, we catch up with Sameera Chattun Koyratty, Managing Director Safe Sha Training Centre Ltd who tells us more.
How do you perceive the position of women in the tech industry, particularly in Mauritius?
There has been a rapid increase in enrollment of women in computer science and engineering in Mauritius but women remain widely underrepresented in IT roles in general.
Only about 22% of the women are in leadership positions but it’s still an uphill battle in the tech industry. According to some researches made – people perceive this industry as a male-dominated workplace and this is due to many factors. We have the issue of gender bias, lack of role models, work – family balance, insufficient knowledge, parents and above all wage gap.
Overall, while there are some positive signs of progress, there is still a long way to go to achieve gender equality in the tech industry in Mauritius.
Tell us about the Women in Tech Africa Awards and their significance in recognising women’s achievements in tech.
The Women in Tech Africa, Mauritius Chapter will have the 4th edition of the WiTAfrica Awards.
“It’s time to bridge the gender gap in the technology industry by celebrating the remarkable women across the country who innovate, inspire, and transform the sector as we know it.”
The different categories are:
1. Aspiring Teen Tech Award: This category honors teenagers, up-and-coming talent in the tech field who demonstrate exceptional potential and passion for technology. Can be one girl OR a group of 2 or 3 students maximum
2. Women in Tech Startup Award: Celebrating a female-founded or co-founded start-up that has demonstrated exceptional innovation, growth potential, and a positive impact in the tech industry.
3. Women in Tech Advocate of the Year Award: This award goes to the woman who is dedicated to increasing gender balance and equality in tech through a range of initiatives that champion fairness and inclusivity for a sustainable tech future for women and girls.
4. Most Impactful Initiative In Tech Award: Acknowledging an initiative or project that has had a remarkable impact in advancing diversity, equality, and inclusion in the tech sector.
5. Leadership Women in Tech Award: Honoring an exemplary female leader who has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills, driving transformative change and making a significant impact on a national scale.
These award categories aim to showcase and honor exceptional women, initiatives, and organizations that are shaping the future of technology and inspiring the next generation of innovators.
How did your extensive experience in the training field contribute to the creation and development of the Women in Tech Africa Awards?
Firstly, like mentioned before – empowering women in tech will provide more knowledge and skills they need to succeed in their careers. Acting as a role model for other Women in tech – by sharing my experiences can inspire other women in tech.
In what ways do the Women in Tech Africa Awards support and empower young women pursuing tech careers?
In several ways: The Women in Tech Africa Awards celebrate and recognize the remarkable women from Mauritius who innovate, inspire, and transform the technology industry. This can inspire young women to pursue tech career and provide them with role models to look up. Those awards aim to bridge the gender gap in the technology industry by promoting diversity, equity and inclusion for women in tech. Last but not the least to create a community – where they can connect and network with other women in the industry, share experiences and learn from one another.
What’s your vision for the future of the Women in Tech Africa Awards and its impact on women’s representation in tech?
My vision is to make an impact not only in Mauritius but within African countries. This can have a significant impact on women’s representation in the tech industry. Also by doing so, to close the gender gap thus encouraging more young women to embrace this industry.
Can you provide application details for the Women in Tech Africa Awards, including who can apply and the deadline for submissions?
The Awards are open to organisations that have a substantial base in Mauritius, or where the product or service is marketed within Mauritius. For individual entries, people should work for a substantial portion of their time in Mauritius having also a valid working permit approved by the Government of Mauritius.
