Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 113 | Page 36

FEATURE example, where visible female leadership shows young women that technology and leadership are spaces where they truly belong and can thrive.
Teckla Giramata: What helped me most was curiosity, persistence and the courage to start even when I didn’ t feel fully ready. I’ ve always been interested in how things work, which naturally led me into IT. Along the way, I grew by staying curious, using every learning opportunity available to me, and being willing to ask questions even when I felt unsure. Over time, I learnt to trust my ability to solve problems, even in unfamiliar situations. That said, there are moments when you feel the need to prove yourself more, or when there are fewer women to relate to. Confidence can be challenged in less inclusive environments. Still, I believe change is happening, and as more women step into tech, the space is slowly becoming more balanced and supportive.
Jeanine Uwiringiyimana: I wanted to understand how things worked, what was really happening behind every system. That curiosity opened the door, but what has kept me walking through it was ambition. It’ s a refusal to stay comfortable at one level when the next one is within reach. I have always believed that learning is continuous practice, and that mindset has carried me along. The biggest barrier I face today is not external; it is internal. It’ s the quiet voice that tells you to shrink, wait or ask for
Emily Makurumidze
Teckla Giramata
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