By: Monica Jamaluddin
Aside from similar first names, you might be wondering what Anne Amuzu and Annette Tetteyhave in common. Well, both are fiercely independent women leading their own technology startups in Ghana. Don’t let their introverted personalities fool you, these ladies have huge ambitions and their quiet confidence will intimidate you. The fact that they are working in a male dominated industry does not faze them for a second.
Anne is the CEO of Nandimobile, which offers mobile marketing and customer management solutions, and Annette is the CTO of AdsBrook, a web and mobile advertising platform targeted at the West African market.
Anne and Annette received their Bachelor’s degrees from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and the University of Ghana, respectively;
two of the top universities in Ghana. Anne studied Engineering while Annette delved into Computer Science and Statistics.
Both started their own companies at the Meltwater Incubator, Anne in 2010 and Annette in 2012.
For Anne, pursuing a career in an industry saturated with testosterone was nothing new as she was one of only 14 females studying alongside 52 males during her undergraduate career. She had enjoyed Engineering but knew that she wanted to start something of her own; she had always felt that entrepreneurial urge. She was lucky to have a supportive mother who gave her children the space to make their own informed decisions. Annette, on the other hand, had grown up with a Dad who was interested in all things technology and entrepreneurship related and a Mom who owned her own clinic.
The concept of entrepreneurship is fairly new in Ghana and it is often difficult for parents to grasp the idea that their children will not graduate college and immediately find a job with a steady income, benefits and some level of job security. Anne and Annette were lucky to have parents who, while they may not have fully understood their daughters’ ambitions, were nonetheless supportive of them.
Coming from strong technical backgrounds, both take the lead on the product development division of their companies. Early exposure to technology impacted their career choices and ensuring that future generations of young Ghanaian women are open to the incredible opportunities that these sectors provide is an important goal for both. While they have previously volunteered at ICT training programs for girls organized by the US Embassy, both women have been searching for a more significant way to give back to their communities.
When Anne was in junior high school she attended a program that aimed to inspire girls to pursue ICT but she found that it was largely focused on guest speakers and lacked a hands-on component. She envisions starting a program that will not only teach young girls how to code but also introduce them to entrepreneurship. Annette is already planning to return to her secondary school, Accra Girls School, to offer practical training in programming in the next few years.
Programs focused on introducing girls to science and technology have been popping up in the US; Anne and Annette hope to be at the forefront of this movement in Ghana.
Although they had strong support from their families, neither Anne nor Annette relied on any specific mentorship relationships. When I asked Annette about mentors, she shrugged and stated that she’s always done fine without them. “I pick up things from people; when I need help I find someone who can help me. A lot of people have mentors but on a personal level I feel I have enough support from family and friends. It’s nice to get support but sometimes you get so much different advice and eventually you just need to make your own decisions.”
Anne had a similar response; she also never relied on a mentor. Though both women are incredibly self-sufficient, Anne sees value in creating a support system for female entrepreneurs in Ghana.
Anne mentioned that when she participated on a panel at the Women’s Forum in Paris, France last year “it was nice to meet women in high positions, as it is not as common in Africa.” It was there that she realized the importance of support groups. She has seen a few such groups around Accra but they focus mostly on organizing speaker events. She would like to see more practical discussion groups where female entrepreneurs can start a dialogue to share common challenges and experiences.
When Nandimobile first started, Anne faced many challenges on her own, including learning to manage her introverted tendencies, but she now confidently leads a team of six people. With invites to speak at numerous events, she had to learn to overcome her shyness. As for challenges she has faced specifically as a woman in tech, she has had to deal with clients not taking her seriously and assuming that her male counterparts were the ones in charge.
How did she overcome this obstacle? Easy, she consistently delivered high quality products and demonstrated that she was capable and fully equipped to lead her team. For her, showing rather than telling has been the most effective method of handling these situations. These types of learning experiences are ones that other younger female entrepreneurs could greatly benefit from; they just need the right forum.
At the end of our conversation, Anne and Annette, who created their own success without relying on anyone but themselves and the support of their families, left me with two important lessons about life:
“I believe that Ghanaian women should learn to keep their standards. We should learn to qualify based on our abilities rather than being chosen because we’re women. In the entrepreneurial world people will want you because of your ideas and talent, not because of your gender,” states Anne, in a very matter of fact tone. When it comes to hiring, Anne does not favor females or push for them just because they are female; she believes in a level playing field and always chooses the person who is most fit for the position.
As for Annette, she quietly imparted the following words of wisdom when I asked her where she gets her motivation: “I just believe in life, I believe things are going to be better than they are already, and there’s nothing I can’t do.”
source: silliconafrica
No comments:
Post a Comment