Huawei and Henley Business School Empower 40 Women Leaders for Digital Future
Huawei South Africa, in partnership with Henley Business School Africa, has successfully concluded the fourth edition of its Women in Tech Digital Skills Training Programme, equipping 40 women entrepreneurs and senior government leaders with the tools to thrive in an increasingly digital economy.
Launched in 2021, the initiative has now trained more than 300 women, combining leadership development with exposure to advanced technologies such as 5G, cloud and artificial intelligence. The 2025 cohort included representatives from the Department of Employment and Labour, the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), and the Department of Digital Technologies.
The programme began with live demonstrations at Huawei’s Innovation Centre, where participants explored practical digital solutions to challenges facing small businesses. Sessions covered secure Wi-Fi through Huawei’s eKit, cloud-enabled procurement tools, and the use of AI to boost efficiency.
The training culminated at Henley Business School in Johannesburg, where executive coach Christine Williams led a masterclass on personal mastery, work-life integration and the neuroscience of leadership. “As women leaders, we have an important contribution to make,” she told participants, urging them to remain curious and resilient in a rapidly changing environment.
Keynote speaker and DSBD Director-General, Thulisile Manzini, highlighted the importance of backing women in business. “No situation should ever make you believe you cannot rise to the next level,” she said, stressing that women’s empowerment is both a matter of fairness and a strategic economic investment.
Huawei’s Senior PR Manager for Media and Communications, Vanashree Govender, emphasised that the initiative is designed to blend technology with leadership confidence. “The true success of Women in Tech is seen in how these women go on to transform their organisations, their communities, and South Africa’s digital economy,” she said.
The programme concluded with a certification ceremony, where participants celebrated their achievements and reaffirmed their commitment to applying both the digital and leadership skills gained.
Henley COO, Jacques le Roux, closed the event by highlighting the school’s role in bridging leadership and innovation: “When women understand themselves as leaders, they are better equipped to lead others, especially in sectors being reshaped by digital technologies.”
