#CareerFocus With Lerato Boikanyo Snr Tech Support & Delivery Lead For Integrove -

1. Tell us a bit about yourself?

This is always a challenging question to answer but, I’m a women that’s juggling being a wife, a mom, a career woman all while being intentional about becoming my best self. I love reading as this has the ability to completely transform you and your outlook on life, a podcast enthusiast and currently on a quest to find a new hobby – running used to be my hobby but not anymore. Oh, I also love coffee.

2. What work do you do?

I work in the tech industry as a Snr Tech Support & Delivery Lead for Integrove, an amazing Tech Start-Up that specialises in offering companies with bespoke digital solutions. My role entails overseeing a team of Support Analyst Consultants that provide specialized application and system support across a spectrum of cloud-based applications as well as assisting with 3rd line escalated support calls. I also assume the role of a Delivery Lead when assigned to projects and that entails consulting, portfolio & stakeholder management as well as coordinating project deliverables on to ensure client tasks and timelines are met.

Outside of my full-time employment, I’m also a founder of LadyTech Africa – a platform that is dedicated to increasing the voices & visibility of Women In Tech and through this I also wanted to encourage young women and girls to be confident in taking up STEM subjects at school which will later lead to them being comfortable pursuing STEM related careers such as Tech. , , ,

3. How long have you been in the industry?

I have been in the industry for just over 10 years.

4. Has your work always been your passion? Tell us why?

Not exactly – I can say my work as a passion grew on me and I say that because as I worked in this industry, I realised how technology can be used as an enabler of opportunities. Technology when developed and used correctly has the ability to change many world issues and that’s why I have a keen interest in the industry achieving true quality so that the products and services being developed reflect the societies we live in.

5. Being a women in the industry – what does it take?

It sounds cliché but, it takes hard work, dedication and confidence in yourself, your skill as well as knowing the value you bring. Understanding and knowing this about yourself is key in helping you navigate this industry.

6. What has been the most difficult challenge of your career?

For me it has been finding my voice & trusting it, not having a voice or rather not trusting it has in the past hindered my career progression. I say this because it is easy to be forgotten in this industry when you don’t have a voice – opportunities will miss you and I have personally experienced that.

7. What advice do you have for other women in your industry?

To believe and have confidence in themselves and the value that they bring despite being in a challenging industry. To also be intentional about their holistic personal growth & development because we as women are multi-layered and are not just one thing and so it is important that we give attention to our holistic selves.

8. Plans for the future?

For the foreseeable future it is to continue building my leadership muscle in this industry and trusting and establishing my voice as a leader. I also wish to use the LadyTech Africa platform to positively impact the lives of young women & girls from the township and make them realise of the opportunities that exist through technology and awaken them to possibilities outside of their immediate reality.

Short Bio:

Lerato Boikanyo is a Rosebank College Computer Engineering graduate working as a Snr Tech Support & Delivery Lead. Lerato is a founder of LadyTech Africa which is dedicated to amplifying the voices & visibility of women in tech as a way to get young women and girls to take up careers in tech. Through this platform she has now started a podcast called “LadyTech Africa the Podcast” a podcast that is centred around women in tech.