Voices of Change: Women in EdTech Driving Educational Equity Beyond Women’s Month

As we celebrate the final day of Women’s Month, we are honoured to highlight the stories of some of the brilliant women in Cohort 2 of our Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship Program. Through their innovation, leadership, and commitment to enhancing the quality, relevance, and accessibility of education, they are making remarkable strides towards a more equitable educational landscape for all. While Women’s Month may be coming to a close, we remain excited and inspired to see women in STEM, particularly in EdTech, continue to thrive and lead beyond this celebration. In the Q&A that follows, they share their unique perspectives on what it means to be a successful individual in EdTech. We are thrilled to feature the experiences of the following women:

Crysty Swift | Digital Lead, Ecubed

Danei Rall | Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Fintr

Jess King | Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer, Ubuntu Education

Julia De Rock | EdTech Project Manager, SOCO_ED

Mokgadi Ramodike | Junior Quality Assurance Tester, The Reach Trust

Tracey Chambers | Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Grow ECD

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Can you tell us about a defining moment or experience that motivated you to pursue a career in EdTech?

Crysty: While living in Kenya, I reached a point where I wanted to pursue meaningful and impactful work. During a call with my sister, the idea of learning more about education emerged. She reminded me that I loved working with children and suggested that I look for opportunities to interact with them. I completed a 6-month course in Social Entrepreneurship with a focus on EdTech. Once the pandemic hit, I experienced the chaos, challenges, and learning curves of digital learning as we moved from in-person learning to online. This experience cemented my belief that everyone should have access to education, regardless of the digital divide. So when I got the chance to join Ecubed, I jumped! It allowed me to use the skills and experience I’d collected and combine that with my interest in education and heart for our country’s youth.

Danei: Wow, there have been a series of defining moments that all led me here. Countless teachers went above and beyond for me when times were tough. My mom worked extremely hard to give me every opportunity possible. I was awarded a scholarship by the Make A Difference Leadership Foundation. I spent five years teaching kids part-time. Let me tell you a story to give you an idea of how long this passion has been growing in me; while applying for the MAD Leadership Foundation, I had to give a presentation on what problem I would address if I were the president of South Africa. Of course, I chose to address the educational system in our country and used Nelson Mandela’s famous words: “Education has the power to change the world.”

Jess: When I was 16, I moved from Zimbabwe to England and soon realised I knew little about my home continent. My education had been good but needed to be more contextualised. That started my curiosity in education, EdTech, and the tools available to make education relevant to students. After catching up on the holes in my knowledge by doing a degree in African Studies, I later trained as a Humanities teacher and began a career in education. After eight years of teaching, I knew it was time to be part of a startup that linked back to my original experience and could significantly impact teachers. I am now in my dream job.

Julia: I started my career in marketing, working on campaigns for local and global companies. My passion for EdTech emerged when I collaborated with software developers and educational specialists on a university's online educational platform. This experience opened my eyes to the significant need for affordable, digital education in South Africa, especially for students from impoverished communities. Realising the potential to make a difference in students' lives was pivotal for me. My marketing skills and interest in technology could help raise awareness and improve access to quality, affordable education. Today, I'm still passionate about making education accessible to more learners, and I feel privileged to work in this field and make a real difference in students' lives.

Mokgadi: During my first year of studies, I took a C++ module, COS1511: Introduction to Programming I. During this course, I discovered my passion for programming and technology. The experience of writing code, solving problems, and creating programmes that could perform various tasks was exhilarating. I found myself profoundly engaged and intrigued by the logic and creativity involved in programming. This realisation was a turning point for me, solidifying my decision to pursue a career in technology. The satisfaction of seeing my code come to life and the endless possibilities that programming offered ignited a spark that has guided my career path ever since.

Tracey: A defining moment for me was after the birth of my third child. Seeing the disparity in early childhood education, I felt compelled to make a difference. The research showed that quality early learning experiences can dramatically alter a child's life trajectory, particularly for those from poorer households. This realisation motivated me to create sustainable ECD centres that could provide high-quality education to all children, regardless of their background. I never set out to pursue a career in EdTech specifically. Instead, like many entrepreneurs, I was in love with the problem rather than a specific solution. That led me to EdTech since, after proving that our model could work, we needed tech to help us scale our impact.

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What unique perspectives or strengths do you believe women bring to the EdTech industry?

Crysty: Having been in some male-dominated spaces where the culture was genuinely terrible, creating an encouraging and people-centric environment was something I was very keen on doing when I joined Ecubed. Some incredible women have also led me, so I have had some great examples to model. My team is predominantly female, too, which makes a difference in how we work together, prioritise, and the life balance we are all looking for. I don’t always get this right, but, with their support and input, I am learning daily to lead by example and give the space and opportunities to speak up, share, and problem-solve together. I’m very grateful for this opportunity to be part of an amazing team.

Danei: One of our ultimate superpowers is empathy. It adds value to the way we have conversations, the way we understand our team and customers' needs, and the way we deliver our product. While it may slow things down sometimes, it ensures that we always treat our customers and colleagues with grace and consideration.

Jess: Empathy and understanding. As a woman who has also been a teacher, I can relate to the teachers we work with, and where I cannot, I am curious to know more. The success of our business endeavours has relied heavily on our ability to listen and understand the pain points of teachers. Understanding the problems means the solution is a lot more likely to work - and before you know it, you have product market fit!

Julia: From my experience, I noticed that women often approach work-related challenges in the EdTech industry with empathy, collaboration, understanding, and a holistic view. Working with women has impacted my work and leadership style positively. I am an active listener, open to constructive feedback, and compassionate with my team members to create a positive working environment. My goal is always to ensure everyone feels valued and respected at all times.

Mokgadi: Women in EdTech can serve as mentors and role models, inspiring the next generation of women to pursue careers in technology and education. We often prioritise inclusivity, which enables us to develop technologies that are accessible and user-friendly.

Tracey: Women bring a unique blend of empathy, collaboration, and a nurturing approach to the EdTech industry with remarkable strength, dedication, and unrelenting determination. These strengths are crucial in creating educational environments that are supportive and inclusive. As a leader, I strive to embody these qualities by emphasising the importance of building trust, being vulnerable, and leading by example.

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What’s one thing you’re excited about in EdTech right now?

Crysty: I am excited about low-fi, scaleable tech and how it's now possible for everyone with a mobile phone to access the world of education right in their hands.

Danei: The EdTech space, like many other industries, tends to be quite fragmented. We all solve problems with the best intentions, but we tire out schools and teachers by approaching them with separate solutions. Recently, I have seen the EdTech space come together to share knowledge and collaborate. If we get this right, we can provide more holistic solutions to schools, teachers, parents, and learners with less effort for all parties involved. I am excited about a future where we collaborate, building and packaging solutions to change lives rather than compete.

Jess: The space and the market are growing, and the potential for impact is huge. EdTech is often overlooked compared to other tech industries, but considering the impact, it deserves to be on a pedestal!

Julia: Gamified learning platforms! I love finding and testing various platforms and educational games as if I’m a student again.

Mokgadi: One aspect that particularly excites me is the opportunity to be part of the technology that once helped me. For example, I used the platform MoveUp to build my CV. Now, being on the other side, contributing to improving EdTech applications like these is a fulfilling experience. It's incredible to innovate and improve on tools and platforms that have the potential to assist others as they have assisted me. Being involved in EdTech, I feel a deep sense of purpose and gratitude. It's inspiring to know that my work can help shape the future of education and provide valuable resources for learners and job seekers. The ability to contribute to a field that has had a significant positive impact on my life and to help others in similar ways is incredibly rewarding.

Tracey: I’m incredibly excited about the potential of technology to democratise access to quality education. Our free technology platform is now a one-stop shop for preschools, making our complete recipe for success accessible to anyone with a smartphone. This innovation can transform how ECD centres operate, ensuring that quality education is within reach for all children, regardless of socio-economic status.

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Looking back, what advice would you give your younger self when you were just starting in the EdTech field?

Crysty: I would tell myself to embrace the journey, trust in my abilities (however nascent at the time) and take risks; to think of setbacks not as failures but as part of a journey of growth; to be kind and forgiving to myself, to look for any opportunity to learn and always hold onto my curiosity and, as someone once said to me, never let them make you lose your grace.

Danei: Build with the customer. I recently experienced the power of involving customers in your product firsthand. Our desires for a product can only bring us so far, but if you let your customers experience the product from the early days, you can ensure that you provide value to them the moment they are onboarded.

Jess: I accidentally entered the EdTech field after eight years of teaching. However, finding an accelerator programme was fantastic, and if you are starting with a business idea/MVP - seek one out. Assess the gaps you/your team have, and lean into the help offered. There is no quicker way to get to where you are heading than to be supported by people in the know!

Julia: Be open to making mistakes along the way. Don’t be so hard on yourself. You won’t understand every technical problem, but that’s okay; you will learn through experience and research. Understanding the needs of people will guide you more effectively than any textbook, and most importantly if you don’t have the answer right now, that’s okay. You have more than enough time to figure it out. 

Mokgadi: Always celebrate the small wins. Embracing the small victories allows me to appreciate each achievement, the knowledge I've gained, and the lessons I continue to learn daily. It brings a smile to my face each morning, knowing that a new day brings new accomplishments, big or small. These small achievements contribute to my growth and remind me of my passion for my work.

‍Tracey: Embrace the process with all its challenges and uncertainties. It is not a journey where you have complete control, no matter how hard you try. Lean into that. It's important to stay true to your vision and values. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. Each setback is an opportunity to learn and grow. Trust in your abilities, surround yourself with a strong team, and always remember the impact your work can have on the lives of others.