GirlCode is proud to announce that CEO and Founder, Zandile Mkwanazi, was awarded the Tech4Good award at the prestigious Wired4Women event on Thursday, 4 April 2025, in Hyde Park.
The Wired4Women awards honour exceptional women who are using technology to make a positive impact. Zandile was recognised in the Tech4Good category for her leadership in empowering women in technology and driving significant social change with GirlCode.
In her acceptance speech, Zandile expressed her gratitude, emphasising that this award is a collective achievement. “This award is not just for me, but for the whole team,” she said. “I am truly proud of the impact we are making in empowering women in tech, and I am deeply grateful for the recognition we are receiving.”
Zandile also expressed that this achievement would not have been possible without the incredible community that stands behind GirlCode. “We owe this success to the passionate volunteers who give their time, whether it is for helping us with raising funds, public relations, and marketing, or coaching and mentoring the next generation of tech leaders. We also thank the corporates who provide financial support. It’s this collective effort that drives our mission forward,” she added.
Despite progress, the gender gap in the tech industry persists and statistics show that women comprise only about 25% of the technology workforce, highlighting the critical need for initiatives like GirlCode that strive to close this gender gap.
Last year, GirlCode proudly celebrated its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of progress in empowering women and girls through technology. Under Zandile’s visionary leadership, GirlCode has been at the forefront of closing the gender gap in technology through coding bootcamps, hackathons, and mentorship programmes. The organisation’s mission is to equip young women with the skills and opportunities to excel in the digital economy, thus contributing to a more inclusive and diverse tech landscape.
The future of technology lies in innovation and diversity. GirlCode is proud to be a part of this movement, empowering women and girls to be at the forefront of tech innovation. As part of its bold mission, GirlCode aims to empower 10 million women and girls with tech skills by 2030 – a goal that continues to inspire and shape the work they do every day.
“We dedicate this award to every woman we have empowered, every girl who dreams of a future in tech, and every individual and partner who has supported our mission,” added Mkwanazi. “This is just the beginning, and we are excited for the future!”
Looking ahead, Zandile looks forward to the continued growth of GirlCode’s initiatives across Africa. “We hope to reach more girls and women, and being able to expand GirlCode into other countries is crucial for achieving our mission and building a stronger, more connected network of women in tech across the continent.”
