Redefining possible

Carnegie Mellon University Africa's Women in Tech Club collaborated with Women Techmakers Kigali to host an International Women’s Day event under the theme of "Redefine Possible."

The event brought together more than 150 attendees, including female tech professionals, high school students, male allies, and female industry leaders, to celebrate women's contributions to technology. This year's theme, "Redefine Possible," encouraged women not only to participate in, but to lead the AI revolution.

H.E. Ambassador Janet Mwawasi Oben, Kenya's high commissioner to Kigali, was the keynote speaker. Ambassador Oben shared her story of growing up in Taita, Kenya, and becoming a global leader. She emphasized the importance of transforming education into leadership, highlighting that empowering women is not just an opportunity but a responsibility.

Oben emphasized that women must thrive, not just participate, that the time for talk is over; it's time for action. She highlighted that the future of technology will be shaped by those who collaborate, innovate, mentor, and lead. She also stressed that change requires collective responsibility, and we must all play a role in creating the future we envision.

MTN Rwanda CEO Mapula Bodibe also spoke, calling for more women to step up, break barriers, and shape the future of tech. She spoke about the importance of continued learning and growing, especially in today's world, where AI is changing how people work. She stressed that to stay relevant, focus should be directed to skills that technology cannot replace, such as empathy, emotional intelligence, and leadership.

Bodibe also shared a personal story about attending a conference where a facial recognition system failed to recognize her because it was not designed for African features. She said this is why Africa must create solutions—technology that understands our languages, recognizes our skin tones, and meets our needs.

Her remarks delivered a strong reminder that embracing new technology calls for inclusion and adequate representation. Despite advancing technology, the human touch remains irreplaceable.

The event aligns with CMU-Africa's commitment to inspiring women to join the technology field and fostering an environment where women can thrive and lead in tech through targeted initiatives, mentorship, and inclusive educational opportunities.