Women are slipping into STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) like feet into Manolo Blahniks - easily and with no small amount of style. South Africa's career landscape is dotted with those who are taking their roles as leaders and mentors very seriously indeed, and we catch up with three women to find out how they are inspiring the younger generation to get into tech.
Lee-Anne van Zyl, CEO of FNB Online
Lee-Anne van Zyl has been the CEO of FNB Online for the past four years and her portfolio encompasses FNB.co.za, online sales and the online banking platform. She is the mistress of FNB's digital bank that spans from the consumer banking base to the multinational and large corporates in South Africa, Africa and India.
When asked what qualities she believes a woman needs in order to succeed, she says: "I think the idea that certain qualities or personality traits for being successful in business are gender-specific is wrong. What it takes to succeed in this industry requires universal qualities such as passion, ambition and the ability to question the status quo, even in difficult circumstances."
Van Zyl mentors women at FNB who show an interest in the field of online banking and leadership in general.
"I try to provide guidance not only in the field of online banking, but also on a personal level on the things that you won't learn at university," she says. "Like what it takes to succeed in a male-dominated environment and balancing lifestyle and work."
For Van Zyl, the selection of a mentor and mentee is important for both parties as it is a working partnership that is based on mutual trust, respect, openness and confidentiality.
"People I mentor have shown exceptional growth potential, are ready for a career move and the next step up, but merely require some extra attention and guidance to take the next bold step with confidence," she says. "My advice to women drawn to STEM is to never give up, no matter what their academic or family background is. It's a rewarding field that definitely needs more women. It's important to have diversity in the workplace."
Judith Middleton, Founder of DUO Marketing & Communications
Judith Middleton is the CEO and founder of DUO Marketing & Communications, which has recently expanded into Africa and focuses on bringing strategic marketing solutions to clients within the technology sector. Her role is to translate complex technological concepts into easy-to-understand and memorable messages that show business value. She is committed to mentoring women in the technology arena.
Her journey in mentoring started at the Bandwidth Barn, South Africa's first tech incubator, where she provided insight and advice. She then joined the Women in ICT Forum, a government-funded platform to discuss the challenges faced by female business leaders in the Cape Town technology sector.
"Learning from peers has been an invaluable part of my growth and development, and I salute our local government for making initiatives such as these available to local ICT entrepreneurs," says Middleton. "While the tech sector is still heavily dominated by men, there is a vital role that women need to play in this arena and international female tech stars such as Marissa Mayer and Sheryl Sandberg have done women's standing in the sector a world of good."
What it takes to succeed in this industry requires universal qualities such as passion, ambition and the ability to question the status quo, even in difficult circumstances.
Lee-Anne van Zyl, FNB Online
Middleton advises women to be tenacious, have a commercial understanding and a willingness to learn as the market is constantly changing and demands a commitment to a lifelong learning focus.
"Women should understand that they bring unique qualities to the workplace that men often can't match, and it's important that these qualities are refined and improved on as they progress in their careers. Don't ever be tempted to behave like a man in the boardroom," she says.
Olga-Lee Levey, CIO of Mustek South Africa
As CIO of Mustek, Olga-Lee Levey finds her role challenging, exciting and demanding. She drives the analysis and redesign of business processes, when required, and the tools that enable, manage and optimise these processes.
"I'm accountable for the protection of company data and intellectual property and, without seeming to generalise, I strongly believe women are perfect for this type of role as it requires an eye for detail, a focused approach to the task at hand and the ability to engage and communicate with teams at all levels," says Levey.
The Mustek Organisational Development Department provides guidance and support for future CIOs through focused internal programmes and financial support of formal programmes and qualifications.
"Succession planning lies at the heart of our organisation and we consistently run leadership development programmes, with a large majority of the participants being women," says Levey. "It's critical that more women choose a career in this sector and it's my belief that women bring a fresh perspective and operate through a very inclusive approach, which is so important in such a rapidly evolving environment."
These leaders in their fields are playing a vital role in ensuring that the next generation of CIOs doesn't think about gender when they choose their careers, but rather about where their passions take them. Women add value to the boardroom and the sever room, and they are most definitely welcome.
First published in the August 2014 issue of ITWeb Brainstorm magazine.
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