The City of Tshwane, in partnership with Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), convened a vital dialogue under the theme ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Innovation’ last week.
The 2024 Women in Innovation and Leadership Dialogue, marked a significant step in advancing the conversation about women’s role in innovation and leadership.
By addressing the barriers they face and committing to supportive measures, the City of Tshwane and TUT set a precedent for future efforts to harness the full potential of women in driving progress and growth.
This event also underscored the crucial role of women in driving innovation and leadership, and addressed the systemic barriers they face.
City of Tshwane Deputy Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya said the event promoted dialogue on how to invest in women so that women in leadership and innovation can serve their communities.
“We had a lot of speakers In the event, we heard a lot of success stories and also what I appreciated about this event is that women did not only focus on the successes but also the challenge that they faced; for us as the City of Tshwane it is always important that we bring various stakeholders together so that we dialogue about the issues that affect our countries as well as our city,” she said.
Moya said they heard success stories from women in the leadership and entrepreneurs, innovators, scientists as well as policy makers.
“We are aware that if we leave industries alone and policy makers do not form part of these dialogues then we won’t be able to formulate policies that will help solve the challenges that we face in our society,”
Moya said they were excited about the partnership with the TuT.
“Next year we are continuing this, between the now and next year there are a lot of issues that we need to talk about and programmes that we need to work on, for us to be able to have an impact that when we meet again we don’t repeat the same dialogue but reflect on the progress that we have made,” she added.
Dr Vathiswa Papu-Zamxaka, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Engagement at TuT, said the partnership with CoT had thrived over the past two years, culminating in the establishment of a platform that not only honoured women's accomplishments but also propelled substantive societal change
Papu-Zamxaka said the two partners had underscored their conviction that “investing in women represented not only a morally sound decision, but also a shrewd and indispensable strategy for fostering a more radiant and inventive future.”
Panel discussions throughout the day focused on key issues affecting women in innovation and leadership. Topics included access to funding, mentorship, and educational opportunities. Panellists discussed the necessity for targeted initiatives to support women entrepreneurs and leaders, stressing the need for more inclusive and supportive structures.
The discussions highlighted the need for systemic changes to create an environment where women could thrive and contribute effectively to innovation.
Reabetswe Dire, TUT alumna and CEO of Edenvinne, reflected on the challenges she faced throughout her entrepreneurial journey, including several business setbacks. She also highlighted the specific obstacles she encountered as a woman in business.
“Despite the criticism I faced when trying to expand my ventures, I remained undeterred in my pursuit of my ambitions,” she said, adding that surrounding herself with the right people was crucial in overcoming her difficulties and achieving her goals.
The outcomes of this dialogue are expected to influence future policies and initiatives, promoting a more equitable and dynamic approach to innovation and leadership.
The dialogue concluded with a commitment from both the City of Tshwane and TUT to collaborate on actionable strategies aimed at enhancing women’s role in these critical areas.
The focus will be on implementing initiatives that increase opportunities for women, integrate their contributions into broader development plans, and foster a more inclusive innovation ecosystem.