In the past few years, women have been making remarkable strides in the tech industry, breaking barriers and bridging the gender gap in what has traditionally been a male-dominated field. Their contributions are not only reshaping the tech industry but also inspiring future generations of women to step into roles of leadership and innovation.
In this article, we will highlight five exceptional women in tech who are thriving and making waves in Senegal’s tech scene, paving the way for a more inclusive and dynamic industry.
Top Five Women in Tech in Senegal
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Fatoumata Ba
Fatoumata Ba is a progressive and zestful woman who was born in 1986 into a middle-class family in Dakar, Senegal. She developed an interest in technology at a very early age, building her first website at the age of sixteen. Today, she’s grown up to become one of the most enterprising women in tech in Senegal.
Fatoumata Ba’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree from Toulouse Business School in Togo and a master’s degree in Management, Strategy, Marketing, and Finance from ESC Toulouse, France. She also proceeded to Harvard Kennedy School in the United States for an executive education in global leadership and public policy.
In 2007, she began her professional journey as an Accounts Manager and Business Developer at Index Multimedia. Shortly after, she joined France Telecom, starting as a Sales Advisor and quickly advancing to the role of Business Analyst in 2008. Her career trajectory continued to rise as she served for three years as a Senior Consultant at Atos Consulting, further solidifying her expertise in the tech industry.
Returning to Africa, Fatoumata then served as the CEO of Jumia Côte d’Ivoire from 2013 to 2015. Her leadership and vision propelled the company’s growth, positioning it as a key player in the region’s e-commerce sector. Following this success, she became the Managing Director of Jumia Nigeria, where she played a pivotal role in driving the company’s expansion and establishing its influence across the African continent.
In 2018, Fatoumata founded Jango, an Ivory Coast-based venture with a diverse portfolio spanning consumer goods, retail, agribusiness, technology, and healthcare. The company is driven by a clear mission to build innovative start-ups, accelerate development through technology in Africa, and create meaningful social impact.
Read Also: Top 10 Inspiring Women in Tech in Nigeria 2024
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Alicia Wallace
Alicia Wallace started her tech journey in Africa when she traveled to Sierra Leone with a team of doctors and nurses. She initially traveled to Africa with the mindset of exploring, and it has always been on her bucket list. However, in the process, she was inspired to carry out empowerment in the rural parts of Africa in a very sustainable and unique way.
She wanted to provide a solution that wasn’t temporary but permanent, and in a bid to achieve this, she, alongside her business partner, Greg Stone, created Kazi. Kazi was created with the sole aim of creating jobs by training artisans from rural parts of Africa to design products made from local, natural materials to export around the world. She currently serves as both the co-founder and chief operating officer (COO of Kazi).
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Adama Ndiaye
Adama Ndiaye, widely known by her label name Adama Paris, is a trailblazing Senegalese fashion designer who has made an indelible mark on the global fashion scene. Born in Kinshasa and raised in Europe, Ndiaye left a promising banking career in Europe to pursue her passion for fashion in Africa. Inspired by the continent’s rich history of design, she returned to her roots to redefine African fashion on the world stage.
Her journey was anything but easy. Securing mainstream acceptance and raising capital for her business proved challenging. However, undeterred, Ndiaye launched the Dark Fashion Week exhibition to amplify African design’s visibility. By its tenth year in 2012, the show had grown into a major event, hosting 30 designers from nine African and Asian countries, attracting a global audience, and operating on a budget exceeding $150,000.
Ndiaye didn’t stop there. She expanded her vision internationally, organizing Black Fashion Week events in cities like Prague, Paris, and the Czech Republic. Her designs, manufactured in Morocco, are now celebrated globally. In an interview with Vogue Italia, she revealed that her creativity is fueled by urban landscapes and the spirit of globalism. Her ultimate goal is to share a borderless vision of fashion that resonates with modern women everywhere.
While celebrating her successes, Ndiaye remains vocal about the challenges many African designers face. She has highlighted how religious restrictions in certain nations often hinder creative expression. However, she credits Senegal’s tolerant culture for providing a supportive environment that fosters innovation. Alongside other African designers, she continues to advocate for increased government funding and improved access to credit to drive growth and create opportunities in the fashion industry.
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Ndeye Aissatou Diop
Ndeye Aissatou Diop is another trailblazer and one of the top women in tech in Senegal. She is the founder of E-Learning Africa, a groundbreaking online platform dedicated to learning, training, and education across the continent. Since its inception in 2005, E-Learning Africa has functioned and grown as a network connecting trainees, trainers, technology specialists, policymakers, development experts, and investors, all united in shaping the future of education in Africa.
Recognized as the largest digital gathering of education and training professionals in Africa, E-Learning Africa is more than a platform; it’s a movement that focuses on fostering collaboration, promoting knowledge exchange, and bridging diverse industries and communities to drive innovation in education. The platform is deeply committed to advancing sustainable solutions for education, skill development, and training, with the overarching goal of improving access to information and fostering economic and social growth across the continent.
Read Also: Top 5 Women In Tech In South Africa
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Aissatou Sow
Aissatou Sow is the co-founder of Women in Tech Africa (WITA), one of the continent’s most influential organizations dedicated to empowering women through technology. Since its founding, WITA has grown into a transformative platform that focuses on fostering entrepreneurship and increasing the representation of women in tech across Africa.
The organization’s mission is targeted at enabling women to drive Africa’s growth and make a profound impact on both professional and personal levels through technology. Women in Tech Africa (WITA) provides resources, mentorship, and opportunities that equip women to excel in the industry and contribute meaningfully to the continent’s development.
Through her work with WITA, Sow continues to champion a future where women are at the forefront of Africa’s technological evolution, breaking barriers and creating opportunities for others to thrive. Her efforts are shaping a more inclusive tech ecosystem, proving that technology is not just a tool for innovation but also a powerful driver of equality and empowerment.
Read Also: 10 Must-have Skills for Tech Ladies in Africa
Conclusion
These women are not just breaking barriers; they’re building bridges for others to follow. Their stories inspire a new generation of leaders to dream big and embrace technology as a powerful tool for growth and transformation.
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