How Linda Kamau’s AkiraChix is Empowering Women to Thrive in Tech

On this episode of “B The Way Forward,” host Brenda Darden Wilkerson is joined by Linda Kamau, Founder & Executive Director of AkiraChix, a Kenya-based company dedicated to providing training, mentorship and outreach programs to increase the number of skilled women in technology. As a champion for women in tech, Linda hopes to bring more women to the center of the growing technology ecosystem in African communities and beyond. When women come together to participate in AkiraChix programs like CodeHive and CodeHiveX, they not only learn more STEM skills, but they also create a sisterhood and strong community. Linda tells Brenda that so far, AkiraChix has graduated 485 young women and 80% of them are employed and earning money. They also discuss the development of soft skills, barriers that women continue to face in Africa and why having hands-on experience is so important. Linda challenges more companies to focus on inclusion and invest in the talented pool of women in tech. This conversation will leave you feeling inspired and optimistic by the work Linda is doing across the world.“There's still some parts, even in our country, that don't advocate for girls' education. And so, pushing back on that and being able to show them that when you educate a young woman, our whole society changes. And so being able to do that really, really means that we can get more young women in tech.”For more, check out Linda and AkiraChix on...X - @lkamau | @akirachixInstagram - @lkamau | @akirachixFacebook - /AkiraChixLinkedIn - /linda-kamau-a5288125 | /akirachix---At AnitaB.org, we envision a future where the people who imagine and build technology mirror the people and societies for whom they build it. Find out more about how we support women, non-binary individuals, and other underrepresented groups in computing, as well as the organizations that employ them and the academic institutions training the next generations.---Connect with AnitaB.orgInstagram - @anitab_orgFacebook - /anitab.0rgLinkedIn - /anitab-orgOn the web - anitab.org ---Our guests contribute to this podcast in their personal capacity. The views expressed in this interview are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology or its employees (“AnitaB.org”). AnitaB.org is not responsible for and does not verify the accuracy of the information provided in the podcast series. The primary purpose of this podcast is to educate and inform. This podcast series does not constitute legal or other professional advice or services.---B The Way Forward Is…Produced by Dominique Ferrari and Paige HymsonSound design and editing by Neil Innes and Ryan Hammond Mixing and mastering by Julian Kwasneski Associate Producer is Faith KroguleckiExecutive Produced by Dominique Ferrari, Stacey Book, and Avi Glijansky for Riveter Studios and Frequency Machine Executive Produced by Brenda Darden Wilkerson for AnitaB.orgPodcast Marketing from Lauren Passell and Arielle Nissenblatt with Riveter Studios and Tink Media in partnership with Carolyn Schneller and Coley Bouschet at AnitaB.orgPhoto of Brenda Darden Wilkerson by Mandisa Media ProductionsFor more ways to be the way forward, visit AnitaB.org