Tech firm new initiative to hire, train local women in technology fields : The Standard

Huawei Kenya has embarked on streamlining its hiring policies to boost female participation in top leadership across the firm's departments. Through a host of initiatives, the company seeks to empower women to access senior leadership positions on merit. The company said the Women in Technology (WITH) programme is part of the firm’s deliberate efforts to help women of all cadres and backgrounds to also pursue careers in technology-related fields through various mentorship programmes. Huawei Technologies Kenya CEO Stone He said the company has seriously taken up the challenge to increase women's participation in decision making as well as management through hiring and training of more female IT professionals.

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“To boost women in technology requires giving them more opportunities to do so. However, we are not doing so well. That is why we have come up with the Women in Technology Huawei (WITH) programme,” said He. The programme’s lead Maureen Mwaniki said the initiative seeks to significantly increase the number of women in IT at the firm as well as across the industry. “Currently, the share of women in tech at Huawei Kenya stands at 25 per cent, but we seek to take it to 40 per cent in the next few years,” she said. Ms Mwaniki said the number of women in other specialisations within the firm will also be increased. "According to our strategy, women in procurement, for instance, will be increased from 6.9 per cent to 7.3 per cent in the next year," she said. The Quality Assurance Manager said the programmes long-term plan is to see men and women in technology share positions and benefits equally. Grace Waiyaki, Programme Manager at Safaricom said a lot needed to be done across the board for this to be realised. “The journey for women in technology is long but achievable,” she said. eMentoring Africa Founder and Director Esther Muchiri said more resources should be channelled towards women’s mentorship as well as increasing networking opportunities. “Other than not believing in themselves, most women do not believe in each other. This needs to change,” she said.

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Huawei KenyaWomen in TechnologyStone He