On March 25th, 2023, I had the honor of being a panelist for the event "Dare to Be: Women talk about how to be audaciously bold in the tech industry", a panel discussion held in celebration of International Women's Day. Alongside Mandisa Dlubom and Busiswa Mbuko, two exceptional women in their fields, we delved into the pressing questions that many aspiring women in tech want answers to.
The discussion revolved around the theme of "Dare to Be," which encourages individuals to challenge norms, take risks, and fearlessly pursue their dreams. We discussed dealing with imposter syndrome, finding motivation, and navigating being a minority in a workplace dominated by the opposite gender.
As a panelist, I had the opportunity to share my perspective and experiences in the tech industry. We all had unique journeys, but we encouraged everyone to challenge themselves and take the risks necessary to achieve their dreams. In my opinion, we did an excellent job addressing these questions, providing insights from our personal experiences that will undoubtedly help those looking to break into the tech space.
Participating in a panel discussion was an exhilarating experience. It was different from being a speaker, as I had the opportunity to hear from the individuals sitting next to me and around me. Panel discussions are more interactive, and everyone is involved in the conversation. I thoroughly enjoyed sharing the stage with such exceptional women and learning from their experiences.
My takeaway from this experience is that we have so much to learn from others. Being involved in this panel discussion taught me to look beyond my views and perspectives. An example would be that I learned so much about strength, hope, and resilience just by hearing the stories of the other panelists.
I would like to extend my gratitude to BabesGotBytes and GDG Cape Town for giving me this incredible opportunity to be a part of the International Women's Day celebrations. I am looking forward to participating in many more panels in the future.
