My confidence to build a career in tech is fueled by the incredible women I've worked with and encountered indirectly through their work. Their leadership, consistency, grit, dogged determination and genuine passion for service inspire people to break barriers in a largely male-dominated field.
From pioneers in social enterprise to tech community leaders, these women showcase their striking brilliance and resounding influence in their chosen fields. This article is part of Hashnode's series #WomenWhoTech created to celebrate trailblazers in tech as part of International Women's Day.
Ada Nduka Oyom
I first met Ada on Twitter when I was curating my timeline to include resources and influential personalities I admire in tech who would be instrumental in my journey into tech. Through her non-profit organization, She Code Africa (SCA), I was exposed to one of the largest tech communities in Africa designed for girls and women.
She Code Africa's impact cuts across 17 African countries with over 10,000 women members. SCA addressed the need for mentorship among young girls and women looking to launch their careers in tech. The organization achieves its mission by providing mentees with a safe space to access free learning resources and networking opportunities.
In addition to She Code Africa, Ada is the co-founder of Open Source Community Africa (OSCA), a community that fosters collaborations among Open Source enthusiasts.
Ada has made an indelible mark within the African tech community through her steadfast and relentless advocacy, a trait that translates well into her current role as the Developer Relations Ecosystem Community Manager at Google.
As a result, she has garnered multiple prestigious awards such as an Honouree on the "100 most inspiring Women In Nigeria" by Leading Ladies Africa, Developer Advocate of the year (2021) by HackerNoon, and Top 10 women making change through Education across the world, via the 2021 Women Of the World (WOW) Hope Brigade exhibition, among other accolades.
I witnessed her hard work, compassionate leadership, brilliant mind, sheer determination, and commitment to excellence while working as the then Programs Manager for the mentoring programs. Furthermore, Ada reached out to me to ensure I was alright and transitioning well after leaving She Code Africa to pursue personal commitments. Her leadership extends beyond professional work; she genuinely cares about people and will ensure she brings out the best in her team and those she impacts.
I learnt from Ada the true meaning of commitment to a noble cause, commitment to excellence, and having a genuine interest in creating more opportunities in whichever capacity you're in.
Dr. Chao Mbogho
Dr. Chao Mbogho is a true definition of remarkable and inspiring excellence, evidenced by her distinguished track record and undivided commitment to mentoring others to achieve their full potential.
Dr. Chao is also a trailblazer in social enterprise and is the Founder of KamiLimu, a career mentorship program for university students pursuing studies in tech.
This mentorship program bridges the gap between university students and career readiness, an area where they direly need additional mentorship to tap into the vast opportunities offered within the tech space.
She has a Ph.D. in Computer Science and is the Dean of the School of Science and Technology at the Kenya Methodist University. Dr. Chao is also an instructor at Coursera, a leading Massive Online Course provider.
The combination of her academic achievements and the direct impact she's had in equipping tech students with real-world skills have earned her the prestigious OWSD-Elsevier Foundation Award, making her the first Kenyan to receive the distinguished award.
Her illustrious career and achievements are a true testament to her commitment to helping people realize their full professional and personal capabilities.
Sasha Rosenbaum
Sasha's admirable tech career cuts across DevOps, Consulting, and Cloud Architecture. Currently, she serves as the Director of Cloud Services Black Belts at Red Hat, where she helps enterprise clients to navigate and migrate to RedHat's Cloud services. Sasha has also previously held senior roles at GitHub and Microsoft.
Sasha has been instrumental in driving the adoption of cloud and open source technologies through her podcasts, presentations, and speaking opportunities.
She is also the lead organizer of DevOps Days, Chicago, an event that brings "development, operations, QA, InfoSec, management, and leadership together to discuss the culture and tools to make better organizations and products."
In this particular month, what drew my attention to Sasha is how she has transformed her Twitter platform into a medium for driving awareness, support, and aid to Ukraine in these past weeks.
The current Ukraine-Russia conflict has brought untold suffering, pain, and loss to many people's lives. Sasha sheds more light on what is happening in Ukraine using her personal website and Twitter platform of over 21,000 followers.
I admire Sasha's vulnerability and willingness to step up for her country during these challenging times. It's not every day you see a prominent person setting aside tech conversations on their online platforms to focus on non-tech matters.
Such proactiveness is what the tech community needs to embrace, especially in a humanitarian and military conflict. We have the influence, the numbers, and the technology to make a tangible impact beyond our professional capacities, and Sasha is a true example of this kind of leadership. (Here are ways to support organizations and people helping in the Ukraine conflict)
**Ruth Ikegah **
Ruth Ikegah is an award-winning backend developer, public speaker, GitHub Star, and a force to reckon with in the tech community, thanks to her relentless work in growing the Open Source community in Africa. Her dedication, consistency, and passion for helping people have catapulted her into the tech limelight.
I first encountered her genuine desire to help others when I was prepping for an interview. Ruth took time out of her busy schedule to assist me in understanding the role, the requirements, and how to present my case in the best light. That encounter helped me understand at a deeper level why Ruth stands out. Her tenacity and genuine service to other people have helped her grow in her career and paved the way for others to succeed in tech.
Ruth's impact is exceptional; her community contributions range from mentoring aspiring developers on Open Source technologies at She Code Africa's Contributhon program to speaking at global Open Source conferences.
With an educational background in microbiology, Ruth Ikegah has demonstrated that African women can make a career change and succeed in it while making a tangible impact in people's lives.
I do hope the women I have highlighted in this article continue to inspire you to create solutions and make a positive impact with the tools, knowledge, and skills you already have.