If you have a sense of purpose that drives you, then aim high and become a leader and make room as you go. -Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iwaela
Still in the Month of March which is Women’s Month, I will keep sharing the enormous impact of some incredible women in Ghana and today’s post is one of them. If you have been in the Technology space for some time you already know that Techpreneurship is a term coined from two words, Technology and Entrepreneurship. The women breaking the mould in the technology space while impacting more women to get on board are enormous across the globe. That being said, there are many Sheroes doing an amazing work as influencers and role models in the Ghanaian tech industry but the stories of these five will definitely blow your mind. Keep reading to be inspired.
Regina Honu
Regina Honu Agyare is a social entrepreneur using her development center, Soronko Academy, to teach technology and digital skills for youth advancement. Her work as the founder and CEO of Soronko Solutions is very profound in the Ghanaian tech ecosystem so much that she is one of the first females to be recognised in the space of digital skills training and development. She has been able to train thousands of young people, especially young women, to acquire digital skills for career development. With over ten years in business, the tech shero has just got started as she looks to expand her academy in order to build capacity for more young women and girls.
Ethel Cofie
Previously named on the list of top five women making impact in IT in Africa, Ethel Delali Cofie is one woman techpreneur to look out for. As founder of Women in Tech Africa, she has been able to impact women in over 30 countries in Africa as well as in the diaspora. After discovering gender inequality challenges in ICT for women in Africa, she decided to encourage more women to take up courses and careers in STEM. It will be interesting to note that Ethel Cofie doubles as the founder and CEO of an IT Consulting company called the EDEL Technology Consulting.
Ivy Barley
One young woman currently making waves and is on everyone’s lips when it comes to women in tech businesses is Ivy Barley. She runs an organisation called the Developers In Vogue, where she trains young women in acquiring technological skills and job opportunities within the tech industry. Her love for mentorship and women career advancement led her to start her own Twitter Spaces which she has named Spaces With Ivy. She recently interviewed Twitter CEO, Parag Agrawal, where they discussed his new role and his advice for young people in tech. Ivy seems to have an effect on anyone who encounters her and is currently working as the Program Manager, Open Education Analytics at Microsoft.
Rosy Fynn
Rosy Fynn is an award-winning business woman and change maker with over decades of experience at the executive level. From being CEO of Busy Internet to becoming Country Head for Mastercard Foundation in Ghana, Rosy Fynn has used her rich experience to mentor, coach and teach young people the need for digital skills in one’s personal transformation. Rosy Fynn is a well known advocate for women in STEM. She seizes every opportunity she gets out of her busy schedule to speak at conferences and events where there are young people who are willing to glean from her wealth of knowledge.
Larisa Akrofie
Larisa Akrofie runs a digital platform, Levers in Heels, which highlights rising African women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Her digital company was launched in 2013 and since then she has interviewed great personalities and published their articles to inspire women in tech. She is also a member of the Academic Talent Development Program (ATDP) in Ghana. Larisa has a demonstrated history of managing and implementing a portfolio of projects, programs, and partnerships in the areas of education, enterprise, and skills development in Ghana. She is currently a Program Partner with the Mastercard Foundation, co-creating education and skills programs in Ghana, in alignment with the Foundation’s Young Africa Works strategy.