For its sixth iteration, the Huawei Women in Tech programme gives local context to the AI era

A regular fixture on the South African tech calendar these days, the Huawei Women in Tech Digital Skills Development Programme recently wrapped up its latest instalment, as a cohort of 50 female entrepreneurs and senior managers in government took part in an intensive and enlightening three-day course, which focused on the hard and soft skills when it comes to running a business in the AI era.

Now in its sixth year, each iteration of the Women in Tech Digital Skills Development Programme refines its curriculum, focusing on an emerging trend in the market that warrants further exploring and unpacking. For 2026, it was AI, as Huawei South Africa looked to showcase its expertise in this pervasive technology, as well as demystifying it for the 50-strong women cohort.

“Artificial intelligence is accelerating what is possible. A small business can use AI to understand customers better, improve marketing, analyse information faster, forecast demand or automate work that once took hours. Cloud gives businesses access to computing power and services without having to build everything themselves. 5G and reliable connectivity make it possible to work, trade and serve customers from almost anywhere,” noted Christina Naidoo (pictured below), chief operating officer (COO) of Huawei South Africa, during her opening speech to the 2026 cohort.

Christina Naidoo, COO of Huawei South Africa.

It was critical to bring AI to a tangible level for participants, in order to illustrate how best it can be implemented or deployed within their own organisations. While many are still scared of AI as it is an unknown quantity, the Huawei Women in Tech Digital Skills Development Programme tackled this head on by giving the cohort hands-on experience with several AI-powered tools and solutions.

Coupled with an expert-led course in leadership, delivered and hosted with long-time partner, Henley Business School Africa, the Programme has equipped this year’s cohort with an understanding of how to make AI an enabler and multiplier within their businesses.

Speaking to some of the entrepreneurs involved with this year’s cohort, many highlighted the fact that they were unaware of the full technology stack that Huawei South Africa owns and operates locally, with some even noting a desire to move their organisation’s operations to Huawei in order to access the added benefits that its local presence offers.

“Getting exposed to life at Huawei was a truly eye-opening experience,” noted Sanjuka Bejanath of Riverhorse IT Solutions. “The programme allowed me to step away from day-to-day work, and look at technology from a broader perspective,” she added.

“As much as you can train people with regard to data, if you don’t have the correct infrastructure, you’re going to be doing them a disservice,” highlighted ZDM Solutions‘ Nomcebo Mwandla. “Coming to Huawei, and understanding the magnitude of the entire platform that it has, has helped me understand the infrastructure needed to help grow our business,” she continued.

Another key point highlighted by those who participated in the programme was the willingness to explore emerging technologies, and look for new ways to use experiential solutions like VR and AR in order to engage in unique ways with customers and consumers.

“I still have to wrap my head around it, but it would be very interesting to explore,” said Karabo Matsoso of legal technology solution provider, Legus Texology. “If our clients cannot physically attend a legal proceeding or be in a court room, and we want to give them an experience of the platform we’re creating, VR would offer us the opportunity to virtually play out what would happen. Having a VR demo as opposed to just a simple sign-in would expand on the experience we currently offer lawyers,” she enthused.

Lastly, and outside of the pure technology focused elements of the Programme, was the need to trust your instincts and listen to your gut when it comes to important decisions.

“It’s something we don’t get to experience every day,” explained Ru Foster, from identification specialists, Verify Now. “As women in tech, we are exposed to the technology side of things, but the Henley Business School Africa sessions have been focused on soft skills, which is something we’re not often exposed to, and it gives a human touch to the technology industry, and a female human touch at that,” she shared.

The 2026 Women in Tech cohort touring Huawei’s Innovation Centre.

With the Huawei Women in Tech Digital Skills Development Programme now operating for the better part of a decade, the initiative is having a tangible impact, and delivering industry-specific skills to segments of the market that have been previously underserved.

“Our ambition is to keep creating pathways through which women can participate in technology, use it confidently and convert that capability into stronger careers and stronger businesses,” concluded Naidoo.

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