On the 27th of August, GirlCode hosted its annual Summit at Riversands Innovation Hub under the theme “Lift as You Rise”, which is a powerful 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 3 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.

“This work is not for yourselves. Kill that spirit of self and do not live above your people, but live with them and if you can rise, bring someone with you.” — Charlotte Maxeke.

A powerful reminder shared by Keynote Speaker, Charmaine Houvet who captured the theme, Lift As You Rise perfectly.

“Success was never meant to end with us. 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?”” says Zandile Mkwanazi, GirlCode CEO.

The impact of the Summit was made possible through the support of organisations committed to creating opportunities for women and girls in technology.

Riversands Innovation Hub supported the Summit as the venue sponsor, creating a space where the GirlCode community could come together for the day. GirlCode was also supported by Klipboard, Boxfusion, Entelect and Mint Group, whose sponsorship contributed towards making the Summit accessible and creating an environment where participants could learn, connect and engage with industry.

For GirlCode, these partnerships are critical because the organisation’s role goes beyond simply teaching girls and women how to code. Its programmes are designed to create a connected pathway — from exposing schoolgirls to technology through GirlCoder Clubs, to developing technical skills, participating in hackathons, accessing mentorship and career opportunities, and ultimately progressing into the technology industry.

The Summit closed with a powerful 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.

As the theme “Lift as You Rise” suggests, progress is not only about how far we go individually, but also about who we bring with us along the way. This ensures that the next generation of both men and women in technology has more opportunities, stronger networks and greater support to succeed.

The summit served as a reminder that creating a more inclusive technology sector is not the responsibility of one organisation or one generation. It requires collaboration between women in the industry, businesses, educators, partners and communities.