Technology is changing how Africa works, trades and grows. But behind every innovation lies a bigger question: who has the power to shape its future?
That question takes centre stage at the Innovator Trust Women in Tech Awards (WIT) 2026, returning on 24 November under the theme Tech Believers. The event will bring together experienced leaders across artificial intelligence (AI), digital business, finance, market access and public leadership to explore how women can influence the technology shaping Africa.
This year’s conversations will examine the opportunities presented by agentic AI, the challenges facing small businesses seeking corporate markets and the importance of women’s participation in decisions about products, investment and policy.
The programme will also feature a fireside chat titled The Audacity to Believe, exploring what it takes to lead when decisions carry real consequences.
For Innovator Trust CEO Tashline Jooste, belief is more than a slogan. It is something technology entrepreneurs must demonstrate when building products, hiring teams and convincing customers to invest in their solutions.
Jooste says the WIT Awards create opportunities for women to share experiences, exchange practical advice and connect with potential buyers, partners and advisers. Those relationships can help entrepreneurs move forward when the right opportunity arises.
The Leadership Gap Behind the Technology
The need for greater representation becomes clearer when looking at the numbers.
Women accounted for 46% of South Africa’s ICT employees in 2024/25, yet held only 1,351 of the country’s 4,700 top-management positions, according to the figures cited in the event announcement.
That gap matters because leadership determines how businesses invest, which suppliers they choose and which products reach the market.
The WIT Awards will bring together women working across different parts of the technology ecosystem, from developing software talent to building technology companies and applying AI to practical challenges.
At WeThinkCode, Executive Chair Nyari Samushonga works to develop software talent. Yashmita Bhana, Founder and Group CEO of Nihka Technology Group, brings 18 years of experience building a South African technology company.
An engineer by training, Bhana leads work spanning cybersecurity, data and artificial intelligence, cloud and digital platforms, managed services and technology innovation.
Their work highlights the relationship between technical skills and business purpose. Developing technology is one part of the equation. Ensuring it solves meaningful problems is another.
From Artificial Intelligence to Real-World Solutions
Artificial intelligence offers opportunities to address practical challenges, but its value depends on how it is developed and applied.
Kaluba Chikonde, known as “The Queen of Data”, brings experience in data engineering and AI strategy. As a Clarity Engineer, keynote speaker and Senior Data & AI Engineering Lead at Livetec Systems, she leads production-grade data and AI platforms addressing biosecurity challenges.
These include an AI biosecurity assistant and real-time disease alerting systems used by farmers.
Dr Rakeshnie Ramoutar-Prieschl also brings experience in technology innovation. She currently directs internationalisation and strategic partnerships at the University of Pretoria.
Together, these areas of expertise contribute to a broader discussion about turning technical capability into solutions that serve businesses and communities.
However, building useful AI tools also requires an understanding of the policies, regulations and commercial realities surrounding their use.
Nomvuyiso Batyi, CEO of the Association of Comms and Technology (ACT), represents an organisation that serves as a unified voice for South Africa’s ICT sector. Heather Irvine brings expertise in technology competition and law.
Their experience connects innovation with the questions businesses must consider before adopting new tools: what work can agentic AI perform, what data does it require, which rules apply and will the investment deliver value?
For smaller businesses, those questions can determine whether a promising technology becomes a practical business asset.
Unlocking Capital and Corporate Markets
Access to finance and customers remains an important part of growing a business. At WIT 2026, speakers will bring experience in funding, procurement and supplier development to this conversation.
Cleola Kunene is Fund Partner and Executive Director at Equate, where she leads Equate Trade Finance, a debt fund designed to unlock capital for South African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Previously, she served as Head of SME Development at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), where she built the continent’s benchmark SME acceleration programme.
Tanya Briggs, a Supply Chain Business Partner (B-BBEE) at Vodacom, brings more than 17 years of experience in procurement, supplier development, transformation, corporate governance and environmental, social and governance (ESG)-aligned business practices.
Her work includes designing and implementing supplier development initiatives to help small businesses become more competitive and grow within corporate supply chains.
Their experience highlights two important considerations for entrepreneurs: securing the funding needed to grow and building the relationships required to access new markets.
For smaller businesses, these connections can be crucial to turning a strong idea into a sustainable commercial operation.
Turning Visibility Into Influence
Market access is not limited to traditional supply chains. For creative entrepreneurs, building an audience can also create opportunities to expand into new markets.
Kim Jayde, a Pan-African creative entrepreneur, MC and host, is the founder of KJ Productions and the creator, director and host of Kickin’ It with Kim Jayde.
Her self-funded YouTube series developed into an eight-episode broadcast on Bravo Africa, reaching audiences across 52 African countries.
A Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 honouree, Jayde has also spoken and served as a panellist at Cannes Lions in 2025 and 2026.
Her experience illustrates how a creative platform can grow beyond its original audience. For entrepreneurs, however, visibility is only one part of building influence. The next step is turning that reach into meaningful opportunities.
Ati Ngubevana, Group Executive Head: Intelligent Automation (IA) & Artificial Intelligence (AI) Go-To-Market at Vodacom Group, brings a different perspective on influence.
She leads the strategic adoption, commercialisation and scaling of AI and automation solutions across Africa. Her work focuses on AI-enabled transformation, intelligent automation, data-driven decision-making and responsible AI practices.
Her role highlights how leadership can shape the way organisations adopt technology and translate it into measurable business value.
Leadership Beyond the Boardroom
The conversation extends beyond the technology sector to the businesses and industries influencing everyday life across Africa.
Mwamvita Makamba, a Tanzanian entrepreneur, investor and author, is the Founder and Chair of MMConnect Africa Group.
Following 14 years at Vodacom Group, she now leads ventures spanning inclusive finance, clean and portable energy, the carbon economy, lifestyle and experiences across Africa.
Her work broadens the discussion about women’s leadership, showing how decisions made by entrepreneurs and executives can influence opportunities across multiple industries.
Together, these speakers bring perspectives from technology, finance, creative business and corporate leadership to the WIT Awards. Their experiences connect a central idea: representation matters, but so does the authority to influence decisions and put ideas into practice.
The Audacity to Believe
The programme will conclude with The Audacity to Believe, a fireside chat featuring Irene Charnley and Professor Thuli Madonsela, South Africa’s former Public Protector.
Charnley brings experience in building and leading within the telecommunications industry, while Professor Madonsela has held public authority to account.
Their careers offer a platform to explore what it takes for women to claim authority, make difficult decisions and stand behind them when the consequences extend beyond the boardroom.
The discussion places leadership at the heart of this year’s theme. Belief can inspire a business idea, but turning that idea into reality requires decisions, accountability and the willingness to act.
Celebrating Women Building South Africa’s Technology Future
The Innovator Trust Women in Tech Awards recognise female-owned small and medium-sized enterprises that have participated in the organisation’s Start-up Enterprise Development, Youth Entrepreneurship or Supplier Development programmes.
By bringing together women with experience in building businesses, developing technology, opening markets and shaping policy, the 2026 programme will examine the different ways leadership can influence South Africa’s digital future.
The event will take place in a hybrid format on 24 November 2026, allowing participants to join virtually.
Register to attend online: Women in Tech Awards 2026 – Virtual Registration.
As Africa’s technology landscape continues to evolve, the conversations at WIT 2026 will focus on more than who develops the next innovation. They will also consider who gets access to opportunity, who influences investment and policy, and who has the authority to shape the outcomes.
Under the theme Tech Believers, the message is clear: women are already building businesses, developing solutions and influencing decisions. The challenge is ensuring their expertise and leadership continue to shape what comes next.
