SheHacks, Microsoft collaborate to empower women in Kenya with Cybersecurity Engineering skills

Oct 18, 2019

Microsoft at Shehacks HackFest 2019

Microsoft is partnering with SheHacks Kenya to co-host this years HackFest event. A move that showcases Microsoft’s commitment to supporting and advocating for Kenyan women and minorities with interest in cybersecurity engineering. The two day festival is taking place at the Strathmore University Business school in Nairobi.

shehacks
Day 1 at HackFest 2019 ?: SheHacks

Microsoft General Manager Cybersecurity Engineering, Hayden Hainsworth was the keynote speaker at the event. She expressed the company’s delight to partner with SheHacks for this year’s Hackathon.

We want to inspire the next generation of cybersecurity engineers. With a focus to prepare women to thrive in the technology industry.

We also want to make it easy for anyone to take their next step forward in technology, Hayden says. Highlighting the importance of the partnership and event in developing competency in tackling cyber threats in a rapidly evolving tech ecosystem.

Pratik Roy, Microsoft Modern Workplace and Security Business Group Lead
speaks on the principles of kill-chain at HackFest 2019

We have seen tremendous growth in the number of young women who want to participate since we founded this initiative. SheHacks founders Evelyn Kilel and Laura Tich shares. Emphasizing the need for increased support towards the youth in Kenya. To support this, they share that this years Hackfest will host close to 300 young ladies from across Kenya.

Hackfest 2019 will firstly bring together learners and experts to share knowledge and experience. Secondly it will try to inspire and nurture others to join the cybersecurity industry. Thirdly it will equip and empower them with the required technical know-how to combat cyber-crime.

Microsoft supports Women In Tech

Microsoft continues to show increased support to encourage women in technology in the region. The company introduced the LEAP engineering accelerated apprenticeship program for women in Lagos and Nairobi. Microsoft 4Afrika also collaborated with Strathmore University to extend Microsoft’s Women In Software Engineering Mentoring (WISE) Program into Africa.