Women in tech: Oreabetse Matlhare, founder at The Scalable CFO

I would summarise 2022 as a year of realising the power of self-reflection and execution. It’s been an incredibly powerful exercise to understand, not only my strengths, but also the company’s strengths and double down on that to do what we do best, even better. Market sentiments have never been so mixed, yet I find myself incredibly lucky to be in a position where I can help businesses deal with the uncertainty.

I am typically against the idea of seeing myself as a “woman” leader as opposed to just a leader. However, the statistics speak volumes and I cannot ignore the fact that the playing field is not even. I have often found myself baffled at why I did not get the deal despite clearly ticking far more boxes than my male counterparts.

Over the last few years, I have been more conscious of this and have recognised that the challenges that I have faced as a woman are both internal and external. There is always that internal voice that makes you doubt yourself, that requires daily affirmation and pep talks. Externally, I am an introverted, artistic, petite, black woman operating in a predominately male world. This can be very tough and possibly lead to overexerting myself. How I overcome this is by reminding myself that this game is about excellence and not perfection.

But broadly speaking, if we are to increase the number of women in tech, we need to focus on three areas. The first is to recognise the unconscious bias. The second is that we need more male allies who understand how important it is for women to be supported. The third is for investors to shift their mindset from viewing women as a risk but rather as a de-risking strategy. These steps will foster an environment that is healthier to women.

If I had to advise aspiring women leaders/entrepreneurs, I would lean heavily on my own experience. Firstly, never give up under any circumstance. It takes longer for women to get there but it doesn’t mean you will not get there. It is also important to realise that you can venture into the tech industry despite not having a tech background. Don’t be afraid of what you don’t know, however, be ready to upskill yourself and ask for help.

Read: Women in tech: Trixie LohMirmand, EVP – Events Management at Dubai World Trade Centre