These are the 5 most inspirational women in tech

Videsha has 17 years of experience in the IT industry with big companies such as Microsoft, EDS and, since 2008, Intel. During this time, she has earned a number of accolades, including Most Influential Woman in Business and Government for ICT in 2010.

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Videsha firmly believes in the power of education and learning to discover not only her own potential, but that of others, too. She is passionate about female empowerment and education and encourages her employees to get involved in community projects that bring about valuable change and upliftment.

2. Titilope Sonuga (She Will Connect ambassador)

Sonuga is the official spokesperson of Intel’s 2015 She Will Connect Programme in Nigeria, which is aimed at educating young girls and women on how technology can contribute towards economic and social development across the world.

Sonuga is an award-winning poet, writer, actor and civil engineer who is using her story to inspire girls to get involved with technology and, as ambassador of She Will Connect, will work with NGOs to train women and girls across Nigeria on how to use technology.

3. Nicky Abdinor (Founder of Nicky’s Drive)

Abdinor was born with no arms and shortened legs but she was determined not to let her disability stop her from living as normal a life as possible. One of her goals was to drive and be independent – and she did just that with the help of technology.

People living with disabilities in South Africa have limited options when it comes to specially adapted vehicles, and will most likely pay up to R15 000 to have a car adapted – and that is if the technology is available locally.

This is what inspired Nicky, through her Nicky’s Drive initiative, to partner with the Cape Peninsula University of Technology for the “Driving Dreams” project, which aimed at bringing joystick steering technology to South Africa so that more disabled people can be mobile and independent.

“The ability to drive a modified vehicle not only provides freedom that we so often take for granted, but it also enables people with disabilities to develop their self-confidence and contribute to society through their work and family life,” Abdinor says.

4. Pippa Tshabalala (producer at Viacom, media personality and gaming enthusiast)

Pippa is in love with video games and started her career as a 3D artist at a gaming company, before teaching 3D Animation at Wits Digital. Her passion for gaming goes far beyond just playing – she believes video games also reflect society and culture in the same way that film and art does. She also believes that video games can teach valuable lessons to children, including strategic thinking, planning and team work.

While teaching, Pippa got her first piece of TV action when she started presenting a show called PlayR and then The Verge, a locally produced show about video games.

She soon became a producer at Don’t Look Down Productions before going to become On Air Producer for MTV Base and later Comedy Central and Nickelodeon at Viacom International Media Networks.

Her opinions on gaming and a career in TV earned her a spot in the Mail & Guardian’s Top 200 Young South Africans list in 2013 and she was invited to speak on the topic of gaming and social change at TEDxSoweto.

5. Emily Reid (curriculum director at Girls Who Code)

Based in New York City, Emily Reid has taught programming and entrepreneurial skills to girls since January 2015 while freelancing as a technical and programming consultant for small businesses. She is passionate about closing the gender gap in the tech space and Girls Who Code provides a space for her to do just that.

The organisation is working towards closing the gender gap in technology by teaching girls computer science skills to prepare them for the 21st century.

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Walking into a computer science class filled mostly with boys who are already familiar with computer jargon could be intimidating, and this may discourage girls from pursuing the topic.

Girls Who Code provides a safe place that introduces girls to computer science in a fun and exciting way, giving them confidence to move forward and challenge males.