Even though the situation is evolving thanks to proactive policies, technology roles remain predominantly male. At ST DIGITAL, the female representation stands at 45%, and the women colleagues are the ones who speak about it best. Cross-portraits of two women in tech at ST DIGITAL: Laika MBA (General Manager ST DIGITAL Gabon) and JUSTINE YEDEDJI (General Manager West Africa at ST Digital).
Some stereotypes die hard. The image of the computer enthusiast, the hardware tinkerer, the "geek" endlessly writing lines of code, remains durably associated in the collective imagination with men. This stereotype has very real consequences, as reflected in the glaring imbalance in the tech workforce.
Training, recruitment policy, awareness — within ST DIGITAL, several initiatives have been launched in recent years. Two female colleagues, Laika and Justine, have agreed to share their perspectives and analyses on this matter.
The web, a contagious passion
LAIKA MBA shares the reasons for her passion for the Tech industry: " As a CIO in several national agencies, I observed the shortcomings at the national level in finding local resources that could meet the needs in terms of equipment, training or support in the digital domain. I was compelled to contract with companies based in France, Morocco, Tunisia or West Africa.
That is how I developed the ambition to create genuine national expertise, on a par with international standards, that would understand the local context and could support national stakeholders in all their digital-related challenges. In order to equip myself with all the skills necessary to run a business, I decided to undergo further training. I therefore enrolled in an Executive MBA at La Sorbonne. It was following that experience that I ventured into entrepreneurship, met my business partner, and three years ago we founded ST Digital Gabon. »
For JUSTINE YEDEDJI, this passion is also inspired by her parents «
Daughter of a father who is a Chartered Accountant and a mother who is a Programmer Analyst Engineer, I gravitated towards fields focused on business development.
More passionate about Tech, after obtaining my BTS degrees in commercial management - marketing - Negotiation, and a Master's in Communication Administration and Management MCAM, I took my first steps in the professional world at an IT company specialising in the marketing of its own applications (HR software ELIZA, Payroll software CAURIS and health centre management software ELIZA MEDICAL, among others)
Within this company, I was responsible for putting these business applications at the service of companies in order to facilitate the management of their services and work processes.
After completing 10 years in this organisation, I joined an American group that is a Microsoft, SAP, and Oracle partner, where I had 6 years of collaboration during which I became more familiar with Microsoft, SAP, and Oracle products as well as their procedures.
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Your primary role in the company and for your team
Laika MBA reveals her role at ST DIGITAL: "I currently hold the position of Chief Executive Officer of ST DIGITAL Gabon. I was involved in opening the Gabon office and building the operational team. We have now been in existence for 3 years and have around ten employees. My role consists of leading commercial and strategic activities and making ST Digital a major player in the national digital ecosystem. We are today proud to support the vast majority of national and international companies."
"I am Managing Director for West Africa at ST Digital (the various subsidiaries in Togo, Benin,
Côte d'Ivoire...)" describes Justine YEDEDJI. "My primary role as Managing Director is to deliver quality services meeting international standards to private, semi-public and public companies. I oversee the execution of commercial, marketing, financial and technical objectives by identifying new growth and business opportunities (the 100% Togolese cloud). I represent the company before authorities and decision-makers. We have taken actions that have enabled numerous developments within ST DIGITAL, notably making job offers more inclusive to encourage women to feel welcome and to apply."
What role does Tech play in your life?
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I clearly consider myself today as a pure product of tech and I make the promotion of digital my battle horse
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states Laika MBA.
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Beyond ST DIGITAL, I am a member of several associations and movements whose mission is to contribute to the federation of digital players. I also dedicate time to young women through workshops and training sessions to encourage them to get involved in this sector, which critically lacks female talent.
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Justine YEDEDJI shares the same view, stating: " Technology holds a central place in my life because it revolutionizes my work and simplifies my daily life. In short, it allows me to be efficient and productive " .
The role of education and media for women
The role of education and media for women on this orientation: How can the low representation of women in tech be explained?
The first factor is, in her opinion, cultural for Laika MBA.
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Many consider this sector of activity as unsuitable for women and incompatible with family life. This perception discourages many women from wanting to invest in this field. Another factor I can mention is the lack of awareness of digital career opportunities. Women need to be informed about the various professions within this strategic sector, which is not limited to coding or programming.
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Justine YEDEDJI also does not downplay the role of the media: "We are often told about the big names in tech, the American men of Silicon Valley, but very rarely about women" and highlights the importance of gender parity in the digital sector: "Everyone uses the web and for it to be representative of the world's population, it must be developed as much by women as by men."
How do you think we can raise awareness on this topic?
Laika MBA believes that education on this subject can be achieved through: « Training, awareness-raising and listening are essential and play a fundamental role. » Justine goes in the same direction, asserting that it is necessary to
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Raise young girls' awareness of digital careers from school, and in particular during the year 9 work experience placement, would be one solution among many.
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What advice do you give to women?
Justine advises women considering this career path to "go for it, as there is so much to do, so many different professions, and you must not put up barriers for yourself simply because you are a woman. I would encourage women to dare, by enrolling their daughters in these fields and giving them an open mind through the benefits of education. The state must play its part by directing young women toward these sectors and by implementing gender parity." Laika MBA adds: "
Be yourself, embrace your personality without fear of outside judgment. Choose a profession you love and pursue it with excellence and passion. "
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