GirlCode hosted its annual Summit at Riversands Innovation Hub last week under the theme “Lift as You Rise”, with call to action for women in technology to support, mentor and create opportunities for the next generation of female developers, engineers and technology professionals.
The summit brought together 150 delegates, including women working across the technology sector, aspiring technologists, industry leaders, partners and supporters who share a commitment to building a more inclusive future for women in technology.
This year, GirlCode intentionally extended that opportunity to the next generation by inviting 20 high school girls from its GirlCoder Clubs to attend the Summit. The learners were given an opportunity to sit in the same room as women leading across technology, business and entrepreneurship, hear first-hand about their career journeys and begin building networks at an early stage in their own development.
GirlCode also invited the Johannesburg top three winning teams from the 2026 GirlCode Hackathon, demonstrating the organisation’s commitment to creating continuity between its programmes. Rather than opportunities ending when a hackathon, coding class or individual programme concludes, GirlCode aims to create pathways that allow participants to continue accessing mentorship, networks, industry exposure and opportunities across its broader ecosystem.
Throughout the day, conversations centred on the importance of representation, mentorship and creating meaningful pathways for women to enter and thrive in the technology industry. The event continued into an evening networking and cocktail session, allowing attendees to connect and exchange ideas to build relationships beyond the formal programme.
“Success was never meant to end with us,” says Zandile Mkwanazi, CEO of GirlCode. As we grow in our careers, build businesses, gain influence and access new rooms, the question should not only be,’How far can I go?’ It should also be ‘Who am I bringing with me?’.”
The Summit closed with a reflection from Dr Tryphosa Ramano, who reminded delegates that women do not always need to feel fully prepared before stepping into an opportunity.
“Sometimes readiness comes after you step into the opportunity.”
Her message reinforced one of the central themes of the day: women must stop waiting for perfect confidence or perfect timing before taking up space. In many cases, confidence is built by accepting the opportunity, entering the room, raising a hand and backing oneself before feeling completely ready.
The summit also reinforced the importance of putting women at the forefront of software engineering and creating an industry where their skills, ideas and leadership are recognised. Building this future requires collaboration between businesses, educators, industry leaders, partners and communities. Investing in mentorship and creating stronger networks and meaningful opportunities ensures more women can build careers and take on leadership roles as well as shape the future of the digital economy.