The initiative, the first of its kind in the South African ICT sector, is the brainchild of MTN SA CEO Mteto Nyati, and was launched earlier this month in partnership with Kagiso Media. It aims to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution made by female professionals in the growth of SA's ICT sector, and to attract women professionals to the industry by highlighting the plethora of career opportunities.

Ranka Jovanovic, editorial director of ITWeb Brainstorm, says there are many inspirational women in the South African ICT sector, but not nearly as many as there should be. “It’s so important to celebrate gender diversity and encourage more women to build a career in ICT, which has been, and remains, a male-dominated industry.”