Every time I share my tech journey as an African woman from a non-technical background, I receive countless DMs from other African women eager to follow a similar path.
Beneath their questions, I often sense a mix of curiosity, fear, and a deep desire to do more.
That fear is justified. Women are underrepresented in the technology industry, more so on the African continent.
According to Techjury, the ratio of men to women in tech is 5 to 1 in developed countries. The figures are way worse in developing countries like Nigeria.
Numerous barriers make it challenging for women to enter the male-dominated tech industry.
Social conditioning and limited access to STEM education play significant roles in this disparity. But in recent years, several initiatives have been put in place to close this gap.
Even with all the current attention on bridging the gender gap, women still hesitate to pursue tech careers due to the persistent myth that only exceptionally brilliant individuals who can code belong in the field.
The truth is, I have never written a line of code, and I do not plan on doing it anytime soon. If the fear of coding has been hindering you from embarking on this journey, you should reconsider now.
This article is my attempt to break down the tech industry just as I would for my curious friends. It will help you navigate the uncertainties of starting out and choosing the right path in this male-dominated field.
Understanding the African Tech Industry
No doubt, a lot of progress has been made in women’s inclusion over the past few decades. Women all over the world have challenged traditional gender roles and stereotypes, making significant strides and creating impact in different fields.
But the truth is that there is still more work to be done because many women, not just in Africa, struggle for acceptance.
And this challenge cuts across all industries.
Initially, tech started as a male-dominated field, and many women were discouraged from pursuing careers in the evolving industry.
Today, that narrative is being flipped because many African women are leading tech organizations, founding startups, and making significant impacts in the industry.
Despite this big break, traditional stereotypes that women should not pursue demanding and lucrative career paths so they can focus on building their homes still prevent many women from starting a career in tech.
As the world has moved toward digitalization, the tech field has embraced remote working. As an African woman, you can work from any part of the world on your own time and build a healthy work-life balance.
You can look into some of the roles in the field, including product design, data science, product management, product marketing, machine learning, quality assurance, and software development.
Notable African Women in the Tech World
Over the years, many African women tech leaders have paved the way for other women like you to thrive.
Tech has given these women the opportunity for not just entrepreneurship but also for innovation and the launch of initiatives that have tremendous impact on their communities and globally.
You know these women: Ada Nduka Oyom, a thriving software developer and founder of She Code Africa; Ifeoluwa Dare-Johnson, CEO of HealthTracka; Ethel Delali Cofie, a founding member of Women in Tech Africa and founder of Edel Technology Consulting; and Odunayo Eweniyi, co-founder of Piggyvest.
These are just a few of the many trailblazers, including others like Funke Opeke, CEO of MainOne, and Mary Olushoga, founder of The Marketplace Africa. These women are proving that tech is a space where African women can lead, innovate, and make a lasting impact.
How to Acquire the Necessary Skills for a Career in Tech
If you are a woman looking to pivot from a non-tech career, here are some tips to help you get started.
Identify the Right Career Path
The first step in starting your tech journey is identifying the area of technology that best suits your skills, long-term vision, and personality.
Tech is a broad term that encompasses a wide array of career paths, including software development, product management, UI/UX design, cybersecurity, and more.
Here’s a quick breakdown.
Software development involves coding, testing, and maintaining applications and systems on either the front end or the back end to meet user needs.
Product management involves overseeing a product’s development, launch, and lifecycle and ensuring it meets user needs and business goals. It also covers market research, problem definition, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration throughout the product’s lifecycle.
Then you have UI/UX design, which involves creating user-friendly digital experiences by designing the interface (UI) and optimizing the overall user experience (UX) of a product or service.
Another pathway is to become a writer with SEO skills. And with AI making significant strides in this field, you can focus on humanizing AI content or working as a prompt engineer.
If you are interested in protecting computer systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, attacks, or damage, cybersecurity deals with that.
Of course, these career paths entail so much more than what you just read in ten seconds. So, take your time to research them, take online quizzes, and attend workshops.
Don’t hesitate to join social media spaces or groups where these fields are being discussed, and ask questions repeatedly until you find the path that best aligns with your interests.
Sometimes, you may have to try out some fields and later discover that you are better at another. Open up yourself to experiment in the tech industry till you find the field that makes you feel fulfilled and also pays the bills.
Take Advantage of Learning Resources and Platforms
Numerous platforms offer affordable and even free learning resources online. These include Coursera, Udemy, and edX.
Available courses usually range from free to affordable to premium. You just need to find the one that covers what you need and has excellent user reviews.
Additionally, many Africa-specific initiatives, particularly for women, offer free opportunities to pursue and explore their interests in tech.
Examples include She Code Africa, Women Techsters Fellowship, Africa Agility, She Hack Africa, and the Google Africa Developer Scholarship. These initiatives provide valuable resources and support for women in tech across the continent.
You should explore their free bootcamps or training and get the education required to start practicing.
How to Build a Strong Network with Other African Women
To avoid the isolation that comes with being a woman in tech, you need to build a network around you. Here are some ways to start building or expanding your network.
Join Tech Communities
Communities facilitate your growth by inspiring you with the work and passion of like-minded people in the circle. Most tech boot camps and learning schools provide a community to assist their members with career growth.
I am a member of the She Code Africa and Women Techsters Fellowship, and being in these communities inspires me to pursue this career path further.
The level of support you can get from a like-minded community is unmatched, so it’d be pivotal to belong to one of these communities.
Other communities you can explore are Women Who Code, Product Buddies, and Black Girls Code. You can find them online or by participating in local meet-ups, conferences, or even hackathons.
Find a Mentor
Having a career mentor is one cheat code to accelerate your journey. A mentor provides guidance and support from hindsight, which enables you to navigate your tech journey faster.
According to a McKinsey study, women who have female mentors are more likely to ascend to leadership positions. 59% of C-suite women report having had a female mentor at some point in their careers.Â
When I started out as a Product Manager, I was clueless. However, having a mentor gave me direction and helped me make a smooth transition.
To choose a mentor, research successful people in your desired field, engage with them, and ask questions. Then, build up the courage to attend tech events and introduce yourself to them.
Be Visible
What stays hidden cannot be seen. I know I’m Captain Obvious over here, but try to stay visible on social media.
Staying active on socials has helped me build a community and get referrals that helped me land my first role. Don’t allow imposter syndrome to prevent you from showcasing your skills, especially as a newbie.
Share your projects and achievements and basically blow your trumpet. No one else will do it until you do. Engage with the tech community on LinkedIn and Twitter/X.
Document your journey as you go. Share valuable insights until you build a reputable personal brand, the type that organizations seek to poach, and keep building even after you have landed your dream role.
How to Gain Work Experience as a Tech Newbie
Most new tech postings require prior experience, which most people don’t have. But there’s a way out. Let’s check out how you can gain work experience as a newcomer in tech.
Start Small with Freelancing or Internships
Before getting the full-time job of your dreams, consider taking a few freelance gigs, volunteering for causes you care about, and interning for a company in the industry you want to join.
Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr offer freelance opportunities, so you can get gigs and build your portfolio there.
Prospective content creators, technical writers, and designers can have an easier pathway to freelancing.Â
However, it is tougher for people in product and cybersecurity to freelance because they typically require involvement with the company’s internal systems and access to sensitive data.
For instance, product managers need to work with cross-functional teams over an extended period. So, project-based freelancing is rare.
In that case, consider looking for graduate programs and internships that provide a pathway to employment. You know, something that’ll look good on the resume.
Create a Portfolio
A portfolio is a page that showcases the skills and projects you have done for potential employees. This can be a compilation of personal projects, freelance gigs, internship projects, etc.
Your portfolio is what convinces an employer that you are capable of delivering all the things you mentioned in your resume.
You can build your portfolio on GitHub, Notion, Vzy, Wix, Webflow, Behance, etc. All these tools are online, and there are free versions you can use to host your professional portfolio.
How to Prepare for the Job Market as an African Woman
Once you’ve acquired the skills and sorted your resume, it’s time to start looking for a job. So here are the things to check off on your list.
Crafting a Strong Resume and Cover Letter
Don’t be one of those people who apply for any and every job with the same resume. Your resume should reflect relevant tech skills and projects. Tailor it to highlight your experience, as requested in the job description.
Your cover letter should be concise and persuasive and capture your unique perspective as an African woman in tech who is passionate about making an impact in her community and globally.
Here are tips on tailoring your resume to reflect relevant tech skills and projects:
- Avoid including unnecessary details in your resume.Â
- Use keywords from the job description.
- Quantify your achievements.
- Highlight the relevant tools you have used, such as Jira, Notion, Posthog, Asana, Azure, and AWS.
- Showcase only relevant projects.
- List relevant certifications.
- Keep it professional, concise, and free of grammatical errors.
Preparing for Technical Interviews
Technical interviews often involve coding challenges, problem-solving exercises, and whiteboard tests.
During my interview, I was asked to explain all the processes that led to the last product I managed according to my portfolio. The good news is that I was ready to walk them through the entire process.
Be ready to defend your skills. Research and familiarize yourself with common interview questions in your chosen field.
Practice explaining your thought process clearly, and watch videos on how you can deliver your answers.
Never walk into any interview without taking time to read and understand the company’s culture.
How to Stand Out in a Male-Dominated Industry
It is true that technology initially started as a male-dominated field, but the trajectory has changed as many women have proven that they also deserve a seat at the table. You equally have an opportunity to make an impact in this sector.
Ironically, I work as a product manager for a company founded by a Nigerian woman, but in the tech team, we still have more men than women represented. Building confidence in such an environment requires boldness and resilience.
Don’t see yourself as less than your male colleagues. You got the role because you were the best fit. As you make mistakes on your journey, remember that failure is also part of the learning process. Speak up and own your achievements.
Imposter Syndrome and How to Overcome It
Imposter syndrome is almost inevitable, especially when you start something new. But guess what? Even the most successful people struggle with this syndrome from time to time. The way to overcome it is to refine yourself and own your accomplishments constantly.
Girl, you are on a journey of learning and growing. Keep showing up and going the extra mile. Embrace mentorship and be open to networking.
More importantly, be a ladder to other women coming behind. Advocate for women’s inclusion and be their loudest cheerleader in support and guidance.
Finally, as you start your tech journey, don’t expect to travel a road without challenges. Every career path has peculiar challenges, but stay resilient and visionary. It will be worth it in the end.Â
It’s okay to be human, to ask for help, and to set boundaries without compromising one’s integrity or capability. Of course, I will be on this side, cheering you all the way.
Who wrote this?
Okoye Chisom is a results-driven product manager with expertise in leveraging user insights, data analytics, and market research to deliver innovative, impactful products. She also specializes in SEO content writing and storytelling, crafting compelling narratives that engage and inform.
On a good day, you’ll find her exploring her passion for content creation and teaching. Feel free to connect with her on LinkedIn.
- Chisom Okoyehttps://roninpoint.com/author/chisomokoye/
- Chisom Okoyehttps://roninpoint.com/author/chisomokoye/
- Chisom Okoyehttps://roninpoint.com/author/chisomokoye/
- Chisom Okoyehttps://roninpoint.com/author/chisomokoye/
English (UK)
1 thought on “How to Start a Career in Tech as an African Woman”
Thank you for the insight. I was a wonderful read.
You are really doing good for yourself and I’m proud of the woman you are becoming. More wins.
Still making my baby steps in transitioning into tech. See you soon