Josephine Chinake: Claiming her stake in male-domi...

Josephine Chinake: Claiming her stake in male-dominated tech industry

Audrey Galawu

The tech industry has been for a long time a male-dominated field, and despite significant progress over the years, women still face numerous challenges as they navigate their way through this ecosystem.

The lack of women taking up tech-related degrees translates into the workforce, where at many tech companies, males form the majority.

While female representation in the technology industry is improving, women still reportedly make up less than a quarter of the workforce.

Women continue to be under-represented in STEM fields, both in terms of educational pursuits and professional careers. Whilst progress has been made, for certain subjects, such as Computer Science, the numbers remain low.

This leads to women experiencing sexism and feeling like they do not belong in the industry.

Josephine Chinake is a young woman and the founder of Tempelite Technologies who always knew that she wanted to be in the tech industry from a young age.

She is one of the most influential women in tech in the country, she was awarded the YALI Zimbabwe Trailblazer 2024 award and she is the country leader at the Project Girls 4 Girls Zimbabwe.

As part of Girls Tech in Zimbabwe, Chinake revealed that they have directly impacted 714 women and 3 570 men and women indirectly through the tech programme.

“Ever since I was a child, I was so interested in computers and anything to do with tech and I am also passionate about business, so I knew from a young age that I needed to do something that incorporated business and tech.

“By day, I am a product manager for a prestigious company that has been in existence for 21 years now called E-Solutions (Pvt)Ltd,” she said.

Chinake says being in the tech industry may not be easy considering the majority of people in tech are men but she says she is working towards empowering more young girls to get into the tech space and de-mystify the idea that is a man’s world.

“My main aim as a young woman in tech is to inspire other young girls to join the tech world because it is not a boys’ club. As young women and girls we have the power to change the narrative and we can do it.

“More women are getting into tech now simply because tech is now being de-mystified as a boy’s club. More women are venturing into the space and now we have more platforms available for us to meet and do business together and address issues affecting us.

“Given young girls more opportunities to get into the digital world. Young girls are afraid of getting into the tech space because they think it is only for boys and men and they do not have equal representation,” she noted.

Chinake says it is important, however, to recognise that as women, we have more challenges navigating the industry as compared to their male counterparts.

She stated that women are faced with the challenge of having to balance between work and their personal lives.

She added that stiff work arrangements might also be a challenge for women in the industry which if not considered, might be a push factor for women to leave their careers and focus on their personal lives.

“Of course, we wanted to be treated fairly and equally, but men in this space don’t realise that apart from being tech women and programmers, as women we are not as available as they are. For instance, I’m married, which means that when I get home, I have to make dinner, I have to make sure my house is clean.

“We don’t always have the privilege of carrying from where we left off at work unlike men,” she explained.

To the young women and girls who wish to be in the tech industry, Chinake said: “Do not be afraid, show up and do what you do best. Execute your duty perfectly and flawlessly.

“Women make up about 28% of the industry and we need to close the gap and have more representation.”