Mentorship can close the gender gap in the ICT industry

OVER the past decade, transformative technological advancements, such as smartphones, e-commerce, artificial intelligence and 5G, have revolutionised our daily lives.

- MANDIS NTLOKO-PETERSEN

These innovations have opened up a world of possibilities beyond what we could have imagined a mere 10 years ago.

However, this technological progress has also highlighted a significant gender gap. Women remain vastly under-represented in the ICT sector, particularly in technical roles.

The root causes of this disparity are multifaceted. A survey conducted by Fortune.com in the US found that women often leave the tech industry due to discomfort in environments that feel explicitly or implicitly discriminatory.

Many women report facing discrimination based on age, race, sexuality, gender and motherhood. Although the US is geographically distant from South Africa, women’s challenges in the ICT sector are strikingly similar.

According to the 2024 ICT Skills Survey by the Institute of Information Technology Professionals South Africa (IITPSA), women make up only 13% of STEM graduates in South Africa, significantly lower than the global average of 35%.

The survey identifies numerous challenges contributing to this gender gap, including misconceptions about women’s technical abilities, discrimination, and harassment. These issues perpetuate negative stereotypes, create hostile work environments and foster unconscious bias against women.

Notably, the survey highlights the absence of strong role models and mentors who understand women’s unique experiences in ICT. Having been on both sides of the mentoring process during my over 25 years in the ICT industry, I can attest to the profound impact of mentorship.