The creative energy that is being unleashed as women and technology come together is not only reshaping the technology industry; it is also transforming women’s lives throughout the world. Here, Videsha Proothveerajh provides an insider’s perspective on women’s role in the future of technology, having spent the last 15 years working for major ICT companies. Proothveerajh is Intel’s country manager for South Africa, developing and implementing strategies and managing all aspects of the business locally. Prior to joining Intel, she worked for EDS South Africa and was a partner group manager for Microsoft South Africa. Ashoka Changemakers®, a global community of action that encourages collaboration to find and grow innovative solutions to the world’s most pressing problems, sat down with Proothveerajh to discuss the world of women in tech. In partnership with Intel Corporation, Changemakers is hosting She Will Innovate, an open source competition to find the best technology solutions for enriching girls' lives.
Changemakers: Why were you determined to work in the male-dominated information and communications technology (ICT) industry?
Proothveerajh: If you are passionate about making a difference in your community, country, or the world, then this is the place to be. I am happy to say that, after the initial very steep learning curve, I know that I am seen and recognized by my peers and colleagues, be it men or woman, as an equal—and this is important to me. I do not identify myself as a woman, first, but as Videsha – the country manager of Intel Corporation. This means that I have the skill sets, reputation, knowledge, experience, and level of education that is necessary to warrant me being in the position I have. That said, being a women in ICT management does come with many challenges. I have learned to use my unique abilities, that I feel come from being a women—such as active listening, true empathy for others, a nurturing perspective that is inclusive, perseverance, multitasking, etc.—as a competitive advantage, and as a tool to change perceptions. These have helped me in my rise to success.
Changemakers:How open is the ICT industry to women?
Videsha Proothveerajh
Proothveerajh: The world of technology has traditionally been male dominated, and the current status quo shows that radical change is required if we are to create an environment in ICT that is attractive to women, and is amiable to their success. I believe that we have made huge strides in this area, but we are nowhere close to where we should be as a collective. The opportunities available in the ICT industry are increasing with a growing level of acceptance of women’s abilities, even though the ICT industry is male-dominated. But concept of gender equality in the workplace is a business imperative that needs to be embraced at all levels of an organization. Nearly 20 years after the dawn of democracy in our country, many girls and women still battle to complete an education and gain the skills required to secure work in a very competitive environment. There is still much work to be done to enable a pipeline of young women leaders, in order to ensure that the picture changes dramatically as we move forward. In South Africa, more than half our population is female and we make up 45 percent of the workforce. The latest statistics for the ICT sector show that women make up less than 20 percent of the workforce, and the percentage of women in leadership positions is less than 2 percent. Women are not claiming their rightful places in the fields of mathematics, science, engineering, technology, etc. We have to create a huge paradigm shift here if we are to see the myriad of benefits that will come to these sciences, and the world at large, if women were to embrace them in large numbers. We need to focus on programs such as mentorship, training, coaching, sponsorship, and leadership, coupled with executive commitment to change in order to drive a culture that is “women friendly.”
Changemakers: As a girl, were you encouraged to believe you were as capable as men?
Proothveerajh: My dad is a retired diesel mechanic, and my mum was a home executive for the most part—but she was always busy studying new things, running her own designing business, and being actively involved in community development. They sacrificed many luxuries to ensure that my two brothers and I were well educated, because they believed that education was a tool that could lift people out of the cycle of poverty and enable people to achieve the seemingly impossible. They are truly inspirational human beings, and their encouragement of me to always reach for the stars and achieve my potential was evident in their belief that the only limitations that existed were the ones that I created for myself. They taught me to learn from my failures, to always be true to myself, and to dream big! So, according to my mum and dad, I was pure potential, the world was my oyster, and they would support my dreams no matter how impossible they seemed! How could anyone be anything but successful with that behind them? Even today, they are still my pillars of strength and keep me grounded, whilst being the wind beneath my wings.
Changemakers: Do you receive the support of a mentor?
Proothveerajh: In my final year at university, I had an interview with Electronic Data Systems (EDS). I had such a great rapport with the interviewer, Fred Hardin, who would later be my mentor and manager at different stages of my career. He was very passionate about the role of IT outsourcing in assisting companies to focus on their core competencies, leaving IT to the experts, and he wanted to play a pivotal role in growing the next generation of leaders. This was where my love affair with the Information Technology industry really started. I wanted to be part of the technological evolution of the corporate world, so when EDS offered me a systems engineering development (SED) graduate role, I jumped at the opportunity to get involved in the industry.
Changemakers: Research suggests that women are the most intensive users of the Internet, e-readers, GPS, and social media tools. Can this be true?
Proothveerajh: Not only are more females qualifying themselves with degrees in IT and related fields, and entering the workforce, but as more and more, as consumers, women have become technology’s “early adopters.” When you think about it, technology allows women to comfortably keep in touch with business networks, friends, and family. To me, it says that women excel in the world of technology when they feel comfortable with using technology. Then, the world is at their fingertips.
Changemakers: There was a time when women were the gatekeepers for new technology—the telephone specifically. What happened?
Proothveerajh: Women still are the gatekeepers, I believe. As long as a woman is comfortable with using new technology, she will buy it for her and her family, and tell her friends.
Changemakers: How do women and men use technology differently?
Proothveerajh: Women like to talk about things, and use technology and social media as a way to connect. We stay up to date with friends and family. We get more personal in our interactions. Women want to learn about real people experiencing similar things to them, and solving real-life issues: how are other women tackling the same issues that I am? Women are also known for wanting to participate in activities that increase the social good. Men, on the other hand, are more inclined to use technology and social media to gather information and boost their influence, to compete and climb the ladder.
Changemakers: Intel is studying the future of technology. What do you see? How will women use it to change their lives, especially in Africa?
Proothveerajh: Technology will allow users to display and interact with media content on any surface, like a wall or counter in the home. In your car, technology will map the connections between people, the highway, and the information superhighway to enhance the driving experience. At home, we’re looking at gesture-driven and energy-conscious technologies to enhance and transform home living. In-home sensors know who you are, so keys will no longer exist At work, enhanced meetings, dependable cloud services, and visual analytics promise to transform the way we work. Smart meeting assistants will combine technologies to create a real-time transcription, captioning, and translation experience for group meetings. Technology will bring “big data” to life to help identify important patterns and relationships that encourage exploration, knowledge discovery, and support decision making. In Africa, though, the real promise of technology is simply to empower millions of women with access to information that will allow them to take charge of their lives, improve the lives of their families and communities, and establish themselves as independent voices and businesspeople in charge of their own destiny.
Changemakers: What's behind the resistance to technology-empowered women?
Proothveerajh: I don’t think that’s really an issue anymore. In fact, I see women in our society fast becoming the early adopters in using modern technology. I am seeing more and more women excel in the world of technology, simply because they feel comfortable with using technology.
