Inside Biz caught up with the co-founder of WomEng Eswatini and UNESWA Lecturer in the Electrical & Electronics Engineering department Nothando Thwala. She spoke to us about her childhood, and how her community played a major role in her upbringing after she lost her mother at a young age.
In this insightful interview, Nothando also reveals her achievements such as graduating as the best electrical engineering student and getting an award from the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC). She explains why it is so important to have an organization in the country that looks out for women in the STEM fields.
Interview & Article by Phesheya Mkhonta
Q: Hi Nothando, please tell us about yourself.
A: I was born in a small village called Mambane about 50km from Siteki town, as an only child to both my parents. I had the pleasure of being raised by strong women, first my mother who was a teacher by profession and a big believer in hard work, then my grandmother as my mother passed on when I was only 10 years old. Growing up an orphan the “it takes a village to raise a child” quote couldn’t have been truer in my situation. I had help from everyone, including my grandmothers, my aunts, cousins, teachers, and even random people who knew my parents. Today I am a hard-working professional, who is also a sister, friend, mentor, and teacher to others; and I believe my background has helped shape the person that I am today.
Q: Tell us about your educational journey, in particular, how it led you into the engineering field.
A: I started my education at Peak Nazarene Primary School then proceeded to Mhlatane High School, both of which are in Piggs Peak. It is from having a great Additional Mathematics teacher (Miss Mhlanga) during my high school years that I was first introduced to the field of engineering. Being one of her best students, she took an interest in me and alluded to me that engineers get to use mathematics and science to solve everyday problems the world faces, and I was sold. I then went on to study for a bachelor’s degree in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from the University of Eswatini (UNESWA), and graduated as the best electrical engineering student, getting an award from the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC).
After graduating I worked in different industries in the country, first at RES at Simunye, then at MTN Eswatini as a graduate trainee. In both roles, I didn’t feel like that was what I wanted to do with my life, and so when I got the call from UNESWA to join them on an academic career track, I took that chance and joined the University, initially joining as a teaching assistant. In 2018 I got awarded the UK government’s global scholarship program, the Chevening Scholarship, and went on to study for a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Strathclyde, in Glasgow, UK, where I graduated with distinction.
I am currently back at the UNESWA as a Lecturer in the Electrical & Electronics Engineering department. I love teaching, the idea of breaking down complex issues and making them understandable plus knowing that I am shaping the next generation of engineers in the country keeps me going.
Q: You are one of the founders of WomEng Eswatini, which is part of a larger global social enterprise advocating for women in engineering fields, can you tell us how you got to be involved in WomEng and please elaborate on some of the work you have done or are doing as an organization?
A: In 2017, I was selected to attend a fellowship program hosted by WomEng Global in Cape Town, South Africa. It is during this time that I got the full understanding of what WomEng was, I was drawn to their mission and vision of tackling the underrepresentation of women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) fields, particularly engineering. And so, a month later when the founders of WomEng global came to Eswatini, to make a presentation I was one of the ladies to take a leading role in starting up our Eswatini Chapter organization with the support of the global team. I became the first Managing Director of the organization before leaving for school in 2018.
At WomEng Eswatini we have different programs that work to develop the next generation of female engineering leaders. Since 2017, we have hosted several GirlEng events that create awareness and provide information to high-school-going girls, promoting STEM careers and breaking down negative perceptions about the industry. This past May, we held our most recent GirlEng event, where we partnered with the TVET Skills Certification Enhancement Project under the Taiwan Technical Mission in Eswatini and hosted different schools, where female students were trained with basic knowledge of the Internet of Things (IoT), logic gates and PLC programming.
In 2020, we also hosted our first fellowship program with 50 female students from Eswatini’s tertiary institutions. This program is aimed at developing leadership capacity, employability, and entrepreneurship skills for female students. We also have the @Network program, which creates a platform for both male and female professionals to network; and engage in pertinent topics affecting the engineering industry and raising the profile of the sector. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, we also started hosting online @Network events, which we broadcast on our Facebook page. We host these every last Tuesday of the month.
In the years that we have been active in the country, we have managed to partner with many local organizations that align with our mission of developing female STEM leaders in the country. Some of these partners have been the UNESWA, Royal Science Technology Park (RSTP), Taiwan Technical Mission in Eswatini, US Embassy in Eswatini, and the Architects Engineers, Surveyors, and Allied Professionals (AESAP).
Q: According to a UNESCO study, in Sub-Saharan Africa, women comprise only 28-30% of those pursuing STEM careers which adversely affects the skills gap in STEM-focused professions. Why do you think women are so under-represented in the STEM fields?
A: This is, unfortunately, true, and no, it is not because of a lack of ability but a combination of social issues. One of the main issues is the perpetuation of stereotypes and biases which have shaped the public’s opinion on what “female jobs” should look like. Studies have shown that people still tend to associate the STEM disciplines with men and tend to hold negative opinions of women in what they view as “masculine” careers. Furthermore, the women who enter these careers still have to deal with the masculine culture in the workplace, and as a result, a lot of women tend to leave STEM careers early.
Another reason women leave STEM careers is because of the lack of support for the “female experience”, that is, most women become wives and mothers, and because of traditional gender roles, they are most likely to be the primary caretaker at home, which means they have more work to do than their male counterparts. But most organizations lack the flexibility and support structures women need to prosper, in turn making women leave the field to pursue other less demanding career paths.
The lack of role models is another reason women are under-represented. There is a Marie Wilson quote that goes, “You cannot be what you cannot see”, and this is true for young girls, students, and graduates who, because of the lack of women in STEM, do not have anyone to look up to for inspiration to opt for STEM careers. And those who make it in the field lack mentors to guide them for a successful career progression.
Q: Speaking of mentors, who are some of your mentors who have guided you on your own journey or have provided you with inspiration?
A: There are many people I look up to for inspiration, but the two women I can mention locally are Lindiwe Dlamini the National Coordinator of the GEF Small Grants Programme at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Senanile Mayabane, the Project Manager at Eswatini Railways, both these women are part of the management team at WomEng and have inspiring careers in the engineering sector. They are also wives, mothers, and overall superwomen. I am inspired by their achievements, both professionally and personally.
Internationally, there is Dr. Jess Wade, whom I met in 2017 during the International Visitor Leadership Program ‘Hidden No More’ by the US Department of State. She is a physicist and a huge advocate for the representation of women in STEM. She has written more than 1,600 Wikipedia entries for long-ignored women scientists, in an effort to fight gender bias in Wikipedia. I look up to her work as a researcher and as an advocate for women in STEM professions.
Q: How can Government and the corporate world come on board to address the misrepresentation of women and inequality that exists in the STEM professions?
A: Firstly, the government and businesses need to understand the value of having women in these fields. Attracting and retaining more women in the technology and engineering workforce will maximize innovation, creativity, and competitiveness. Government can help by creating policies that ensure a certain number of female representation is achieved across the sectors. They can also create programs for grassroots engagement to help engage the girl child at an early age.
Businesses can help by creating an inclusive work culture where women feel welcome. They can do this by educating individuals about the existence of stereotype threats and engaging men to help cultivate an environment where women feel valued. With the burden of childcare, businesses can also help by providing a flexibility that will allow women greater career progression without having to choose between family responsibilities and work.
The recruitment process also needs to be reviewed to ensure it attracts a diverse candidate pool. Furthermore, studies have shown there is a gender pay gap, especially in STEM careers, so businesses need to start paying their female employees the same as their male employees for the same work done. Finally, by creating partnerships with schools or organizations like WomEng, businesses can ensure they have a great pool of new talent coming in.
Q: You were part of the STEM Careers & Skills Expo, please elaborate on why such an event is about and what is its significance.
A: Yes, WomEng Eswatini was part of the 2nd Annual STEM Careers & Skills of the future Expo. The Expo is aimed at creating awareness about different STEM careers, the target is both high school and tertiary students. The program includes exhibitions, seminars, content, and games for all. Speakers who are experts in different fields gave insights into the skills needed to have a successful career. Students were also exposed to professionals both from academia and industry.
Our WomEng Managing Director, Bongekile Matsentjwa was one of the speakers on the day, speaking on “STEM careers and future demand skills”. There were also exhibitions showcasing different organizations and also a contest of student projects that were judged and awarded on the day. Students are expected to leave the event inspired and ready to be fast-tracked onto careers in STEM.
This day is significant because there is a huge lack of career guidance in this country. And so, a lot of students graduate from high school without a clear path of where they want to go and what they want to do. This day brings them exposure to different career paths they can tackle and the opportunities available to them, putting them in a better place to choose the appropriate career path for themselves.
Q: What are your personal short to long-term career goals and how does this tie into the larger vision for WomEng Eswatini?
A: As an academic my short and long-term goals are to pursue a Ph.D. in Electrical engineering and to make tangible research contributions to the field. That in itself speaks to WomEng goals of having role models young girls can see in the field. For WomEng Eswatini, we envision a future where the young girls we’ve reached out to and mentored in the past, will come back to work with us and lead our programs and the organization.
This was very enlightening. Thank you Nothando for your time!
It has been a pleasure, and thank you for featuring me in the country’s leading business publication.