Women in tech celebrated

Standard Bank Namibia has reaffirmed its commitment to diversity and inclusion in the technology sector by celebrating women driving innovation, digital transformation and technological development within the organisation.

The engagement brought together women from across the bank's technology and digital teams for a day of learning and networking, with discussions focusing on leadership, career development and the changing role of women in technology.

As Namibia's digital economy grows, women are playing an increasingly important role in developing digital solutions, improving customer experiences and helping organisations respond to technological change. The event also highlighted the importance of increasing women's participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers.

Diverse skills needed for technology growth

Speaking about the importance of developing diverse technology talent, Allvan Farmer, chief technology officer at Standard Bank Namibia, said innovation in Namibia and across Africa would depend on organisations adopting emerging technologies while ensuring a broad range of people helped shape their development.

"The bank wants to be at the forefront of shaping how artificial intelligence can drive growth and development across Africa. Artificial intelligence gives us an opportunity to solve uniquely African problems with uniquely African solutions.

"Just as Africa pioneered new approaches to financial inclusion through mobile technology, we believe AI can help address some of Namibia's most important challenges, from expanding access to financial services to unlocking new insights in areas such as healthcare, economic development and business growth."

"To realise this potential, we need diverse voices, perspectives and skills contributing to the development of these technologies. Creating opportunities for women to grow and lead in technology is not only about representation, but about driving better innovation and building solutions that positively impact our clients, communities and economy," he said.

The programme featured industry leaders and technology professionals who shared insights on careers in technology, innovation and overcoming barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields.

Women remain underrepresented

Despite progress globally and locally, women remain underrepresented in many technology-related fields. Opportunities for networking, mentorship and professional development remain important to building a more inclusive technology sector.

Participants highlighted the value of engaging with peers who share similar experiences and challenges.

"While our roles, backgrounds and responsibilities may differ, we are united by a shared passion for technology, innovation and progress. Being surrounded by so many talented women in technology was both inspiring and empowering, and served as a powerful reminder of the significant impact women continue to make across the industry," said Natasha du Plessis, a business analyst at Standard Bank Namibia.