Why Kenya needs more women tech leaders

More Kenyan women are gradually rising to the higher echelons of science and technology with a good number of institutions and corporations now employing women to head critical technology departments which were traditionally held by men. The women are taking up tech spaces and delivering just as well as their male counterparts, challenges notwithstanding.

4IR journalist Faustine Ngila spoke to Catherine Muraga, the Head of Engineering Department at the Stanbic Bank Kenya.  She shares her experience, the hurdles facing women in tech and opportunities therein.

1.Who is Catherine Muraga?

Catherine is a Computer Science graduate from Africa Nazarene University. 

I have more than 15 years’ experience spanning different economic sectors (Technology, Manufacturing, Aviation and Financial services) and I have held various roles in the Technology departments.

2. I see. It has been such a wonderful journey. What impact do women have in the Kenyan technology ecosystem?

The landscape has changed a lot over the years and women have come out more visible in the tech space. 

We have seen women lead teams that develop, implement, and take to market products that change lives. 

Looking at my current and previous role, I have led teams that developed and took to market products that continue to impact both customers and the institutions that I have worked in.

Looking at it from the corporate space, I know a few ladies who lead teams on the various technology units that they run, similarly bringing opportunity, introducing a new way to look at issues and creating a dynamic approach into the IT space.

3. Tell me about the tech projects or products you have been directly involved in.

These are many, to name a few- digital banking capabilities and API integrations for the bank retail and corporate customers.

As part of driving digital transformation, modernization of the bank's technology stack. For instance, migration of workloads from on premise to cloud.

4. What challenges do you go through as a woman in tech?

Self-doubt. It affects both men and women but women a bit more. This comes into play where regardless of the qualification and experience, one question that lingers in the back of one’s mind is, ‘Am I good enough?’ 

Secondly, we need more sponsors who will champion or speak about the ladies in technology in rooms or forums where hiring decisions are made.

For women running or who own businesses in technology, access to funding remains a challenge.

5. Are you a family woman? If yes, do you feel that aspect in a way holds you back from achieving what you could if you were a man?

I believe both men and women get to choose their irreducible minimums and apportion the amount of time that is sufficient per key bucket of life.

With such an approach, one then gets to choose the type of role that is most suitable from a commute perspective, working hours, office location and the culture of the organisation.

That said, the Covid 19 pandemic has enhanced the appreciation of hybrid or remote work and opening up borders; we are truly global citizens. The uptake of technology specialists taking up remote jobs in Europe or other markets is testament to this.

7. Do you think there is a bias in funding women-led startups?

The dynamics are changing. Recently, Hilda Moraa of Pezesha was featured in the Business Daily where she secured funding for her Fintech. This is just to show that it is possible. 

Funding for SMEs in general, both women and men owned continues to be a problem that many entities in the financial services seek to solve.

I agree it is not as much as we would like to see, but even at the university level, some of the project’s students are working on can solve real problems. The question then should be, how the academia world connects these bright students, especially ladies who have fantastic solutions, and put them in an audience where they can access financial institutions that can provide funding or incubation or get in-touch with investors. 

I believe they should be encouraged more and told that employment is not always the solution.

8. What is your advice to women starting up with interest in the tech space, especially those in school?

The same way we pay a lot to gain hard skills, they should also focus the energy to gain soft skills, they are soft but very necessary.

For instance, Communications skills is a common unit always overlooked in campus, but leaving campus, you realize you have a fantastic idea, but you cannot articulate it when put in front of potential investors.

 Another key skill is basic finance for non-finance individuals.

Monetizing an idea or concept is critical because anyone investing in your idea, be it career or solution you intend to bring, they must know how they get their return on their investment.

 Financial skills trickle down to how one apportions the value they bring and translating to the salary you demand.

9. Okay. What do you think is the future of women in tech?

The future is promising; we have seen more women taking up leadership roles in technology departments, organisations and more male supervisors being champions for Women in Leadership.

The growth might be slow and it is happening.