Vodacom fosters an inclusive workplace where women have been thriving in the tech industry in leadership positions. Through programmes like Code Like A Girl and the Vodacom Discover Graduate programme, they are continuing to empower women to get into the tech industry without discrimination. Here we speak to two graduates of the latter programme who share their experience of working at Vodacom, what they love about STEM and ICT, and what their ambitions for the future are.
Every year on the fourth Thursday of April, the world celebrates International Women and Girls in ICT Day. This day is set aside to encourage more females to take an interest in information and communication technology.
Oratile Maphumulo, Age 40, Manager of Core Data Networks Planning
Mobile Engineering Division
Oratile encourages young women in STEM to be bold, courageous, and to always strive to add value. She believes that women are uniquely positioned to create solutions for the challenges they face, as they understand them intimately.
Her advice is to keep doing the work, invest in personal and professional growth, and surround oneself with people who foster development. For her, the opportunities in STEM are limitless—and if she can succeed, so can others. She shares that her own motivation comes from wanting to pave the way for the next generation, enabling them to build on her foundation and elevate the industry even further.
Oratile also expresses her excitement about emerging technologies, particularly big data and machine learning. She highlights the transformative role of artificial intelligence in the networking space, where it enables the intelligent use of data from network elements to ensure service quality, detect faults before they affect customers, and support future-ready infrastructure. She finds it thrilling to work in a field where data can be used to predict outcomes, simulate solutions, and rapidly develop well-tested products—ultimately delivering faster and more reliable services to customers.
Leandra Brits, Age 26, Discover Graduate Trainee
Core Data Networks Planning Department
As a woman in STEM, Leandra Brits has never felt out of place at Vodacom. She attributes this to the company's inclusive culture that respects people regardless of gender. In fact, her environment at the tech-co has inspired her, especially since her Technology Director, is also a woman.
As a STEM graduate, Leandra's passion for mathematics runs deep, and she sees it as the fundamental foundation which all other STEM disciplines are built upon. She says that she has used this mindset as a compass throughout her career, guiding her through various technological domains. She also has a fascination with machine learning, and During her university years, she applied these principles in scientific contexts, demonstrating her versatility across STEM fields.
Working in the networking department, Leandra describes herself as "a lover of all divisions of STEM." Her professional focus centres on driving automation initiatives, where she's particularly excited about integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities.
She has a clear ambition and purpose, aiming to expand her skillset and establish herself as an indispensable team member. But she is most excited about the fact that the world is moving towards AI and machine learning as major tech pillars, both subjects she is passionate about. She intends to help Vodacom navigate the evolving tech landscape in these fields that align perfectly with her interests and expertise.
Nhlanhla Dludlu, Age 22, Discover Graduate Trainee
Core Data Networks Planning Department
Although she is introverted and shy by nature, Nhlanhla Dludlu has found herself overcoming these traits thanks to Vodacom's inclusive workplace environment. This has allowed her to open up to network and engage more with her colleagues.
Her passion lies in engineering and technology, areas that perfectly align with her educational background and current role at Vodacom. She is especially excited about how automation and machine learning can be leveraged into engineering practices.
She is also passionate about uplifting underprivileged communities through digital expansion. A dream of hers would be to develop a global digital connectivity product that will connect less fortunate communities to the digital world. “This would be used to greatly empower underprivileged communities with access to information, education, and economic opportunities.”
She is also committed to mentorship and actively participates in initiatives like "Code like a Girl" that promote women in male-dominated industries. Through company events like Spirit Day and Summit training, Dludlu continues to push beyond her comfort zone, networking with like-minded colleagues and gradually breaking out of her shell. She continues to journey from self-described extreme introvert to engaged mentor and advocate, showcasing not just professional growth, but personal transformation fostered by the Vodacom environment that values diversity and respects individual differences.
The Vodacom Discover Graduate Programme, Internship Programme, and Bursary Programme offer exceptional opportunities for graduates to start their careers with a leading telecommunications company.
