Women in Tech: Spotlight on tech talent with RedAcademy's Jessica Hawkey

South Africa's youth unemployment rate is amongst the highest in the world and yet South African businesses are facing a massive skills gap.

Against this backdrop RedAcademy, an innovative skills and experiential learning hub that specializes in teaching coding and technology skills, is collaborating with local companies to build a sustainable tech talent pipeline for the future.

RedAcademy's goal is to give talented South Africans the opportunity to sprint into their IT careers.

"By giving Sprinters the opportunity to work in a live environment and gain experience on our clients’ own tech stack, we work closely with industry-leading senior developers and our client partners to ensure that Sprinters have the soft skills and work-readiness to step into a career in the tech industry," Jessica Hawkey, founder and MD of RedAcademy said.

Ahead of Africa Tech Festival 2024, which features the EQL:Lounge – a dedicated space where women and allies come together to learn about key industry trends and nurture meaningful connections – Connecting Africa spoke to Hawkey about her career in tech and how digital skills development programs are growing Africa's tech talent pipeline and providing jobs for the youth.

Connecting Africa (CA): What inspired you to pursue a career in technology or entrepreneurship?

Jessica Hawkey (JH): South Africa faces one of the highest unemployment rates globally with the youth being disproportionately affected, all whilst facing a dire skills shortage in ICT, leading to the loss of R8.5 billion (US$487 million) in export revenue to our country.

To me, this highlighted a tremendous opportunity to get youth into skilled careers and quickly.

Pioneering a new way for matriculant youth to gain not only the skills but experience to be successful in careers in technology.

CA: How did you get started in the industry?

JH: RedAcademy launched in 2022, having secured our first client.

I had previously worked both locally and internationally in the finance and investment space, most recently having managed the operations team of an offshore wealth management company.

This is where I gained in-depth knowledge of running various teams and honed my business skills.

CA: Who are your role models or mentors in the industry, and how have they influenced your career?

JH: I have always sought role models and mentors from a number of sources, taking advice and learning from others' experiences.

We live in a time where role models can be those that you read about in books, listen to via podcasts and watch in videos. Inspiration and guidance is always around us, seek it.

CA: Can you share a success story that highlights the impact of your work in the tech industry?

JH: To date 100% of our graduates from RedAcademy have entered roles in the tech sector the day after graduating the program. This showcases the value of work experience and soft skills being incorporated into the program, together with the tremendous potential of our youth.

CA: What technical and soft skills do you believe are currently in demand and most important for women to succeed in tech today?

JH: It is most important to align your skillsets to employer's needs. This is why at RedAcademy we start with the client demand and train our candidates to be role ready for their employer.

The soft skills are:

To date 100% of RedAcademy's graduates have entered roles in the tech sector the day after graduating the program. (Source: RedAcademy)

CA: What emerging technologies or trends are you most excited about, and how do you see them shaping the future of the tech industry in Africa?

JH: The trend I am most excited about is Africa, and particularly South Africa, being more widely recognized as a software development hub for local organizations to bring their development work back locally as well as international organizations outsourcing to the continent.

CA: What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as a woman in tech, and how have you overcome them?

JH: In pioneering a new approach to solve a problem, it takes time to educate the market and to prove that your solution works.

I am proud to have done just that, contributing significantly to our client's tech talent pipelines and reducing spend, but most of all [I'm proud of] 100% of our graduates being employed in the sector the day after graduation.

CA: How do you handle situations where you might be the only woman in the room?

JH: With many years in corporate, I have used every opportunity to learn, grow and contribute my ideas where I have been able to add value.

Now as a business founder I actively seek to be a part of the change in the tech sector, through encouraging more females to take up a career in software.

Through mentorship and leadership, I hope to encourage more women to take up careers in technology, a traditionally male-dominated field.

RedAcademy's training program aims to build a sustainable tech talent pipeline for South Africa's future. (Source: RedAcademy)

CA: Can you share any resources for networking, mentorship and community development that have contributed to your journey in tech?

JH: I actively use LinkedIn as a resource, to gain information, gain awareness of networking events, and to connect with potential clients and team members.

CA: What advice would you give to girls and women who are interested in pursuing a career in technology?

JH: Learn as much as you can about the field of technology you want to enter, to ready yourself to put your hand up for the opportunity when it arises.

If you have the attitude and aptitude for a career in technology, I encourage every female to go for it.

CA: How do you see the role of women in tech evolving in Africa over the next decade?

JH: Tech represents one of the biggest opportunities for economic growth on our continent over the coming decade.

I am excited to see that, although small, the representation of women in many of these fields within the tech sector is increasing.

I believe women will continue to play a growing part in shaping the tech sector in Africa but also thrive off the tremendous opportunities that tech brings to the youth in particular.

*Jessica Hawkey is an InspiringFifty 2023 alumni. Nominations are now open for InspiringFifty Africa 2024. The team is on the lookout for 50 female leaders who are shaping the future and inspiring the next generation of tech leaders. You can nominate women from your network here. Winners will be invited to a reception on November 10, 2024, in Cape Town, before the opening of Africa Tech Festival.

*Connecting Africa is a media partner for InspiringFifty Africa 2024 and the EQL:Lounge at Africa Tech Festival.

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*Top image is of Jessica Hawkey, founder and MD of RedAcademy. (Source: RedAcademy)

— The Staff, Connecting Africa