We’d like to welcome you to our # WomenInTech series, in which you’ll meet some of the incredible women at Peach Payments who are helping to revolutionise the African tech space. 

There are so many amazing stories about these ladies, and we’re thrilled to be able to share them with you all. 

Meet Prom, our Social Media Manager at Peach Payments.

How did you get into tech?

Straight out of college I got offered an internship at a really cool fintech company here in Durban and thats how I got into the tech scene and I have been here since

Why do you think it’s important for more women to join the tech industry?

I think its really important because it was previously such a male dominated sace and I feel like more women are finding their voice, confidence and love and even the opportunity to join the tech space. I think it’s really cool and encouraging to see more women joining tech.

What do you think are the skills needed to join the tech industry? 

I think the three main things that are crucial in the tech space other than the technical abilities are confidence. I think as women you need to be extremely confident in who you are. It You need to know what you bring to the table. I think I have a willingness to learn. As you know the tech space is changing so rapidly, almost hour by hour there’s new things coming up. So willingness to learn is crucial. And the last thing I would say is , being comfortable with failure. You’re going to fail at things, it’s just how you get back up and bounce back from those failures that is really going to make the difference.

What advice would you give to your younger self,  just starting out in tech?

I think I would tell young Prom to just be who you are, unapologetically. Stay true to yourself and true to your values and be confident because you are going to handle everything that life will throw at you and you will be fine

Who is your biggest role model? 

My biggest role model is Rihanna. I think she has been a women who is stoeng, empowering and the changes she has made within the beauty space has been incredible to watch as well as to see how she has used innovation and technology so creatively in a product that has not been necessarily linked to technology.

What trend would you like to see more of in the tech space? (eg inclusivity measures, more women in leadership positions etc)

I would definitely like to see more women in the tech space. Women just bring something special to the table. Women bring just a new vibe that’s needed. I think we are that emotional factor that every tech company needs in order to solve problems for its consumers. So yes, definitely more women.

What role can male team members play to support their female peers in the industry? 

I’d say give us room to grow, and room to learn. As it is quite male dominated, I think it is a responsibility as males to kind of give more females the opportunity to get invited into the space and to play a larger role in the tech space, because I think we’re just as capable.

What is something you are proud of ?

I am proud of my resilience. I have been dealt some situations and I have been able to overcome them being resiliant and tenacious and not giving up. And within the African tech space, I’m so proud of seeing more black own businesses and tech companies. I feel like it is such a great space and I feel very proud to watch the younger generation be so tenacious within the tech space. .<\/p>