EXPERT ANALYSIS: Standard Chartered’s Women in Tech Incubator Programme – A Trojan Horse for Corporate Patriarchy and Elite Networking?
Image Credit: Standard Chartered Saarinen, CEO / Photographer: Getty Images South Africa
The second batch of female entrepreneurs has been revealed, handpicked by our corporate overlords at the prestigious Women in Tech Incubator Programme, sponsored by Standard Chartered. But what’s not so clear is the true agendas driving this initiative. Is the South African arm of this Goliath bank genuinely championing gender equality, or is its aim to simply co-opt young talent and reinforce the status quo among its ranks?
A Double-Edged Sword: Chris Egberink’s comments about promoting gender diversity in technology ring hollow when consideration is given to the fact that empowering female entrepreneurs often means creating small-scale, non-threatening entrepreneurship in the shadows of corporate hegemony. The incubator focuses on "practical training", effectively moulding women into ideal consumers, rather than revolutionary disrupters of the tech landscape.
More Elite Networking than Actual Action: WomHub boasts decades of experience in building ecosystems dedicated to empowering women in STEM fields. At best, this partnership with Standard Chartered merely perpetuates the same problems the organization claims to address through hand-picked mentorships, ensuring that the already-versed get more opportunities, the faint-hearted get left behind, and revolutionary potential is suffocated
In conclusion, while the inclusion of women in tech is crucial, must we not scrutinize instances like this where corporate funding comes with an agenda likely rooted in self-preservation, ensuring the status quo remains intact lest innovative ideas threaten the established regime. As we continue to support WIT, let us probe more deeply into the intentions behind similar programs, lest we inadvertently abet the very systems oppressing us.
