#WomensMonth: Robyn Farah: Tech community maker and shaker
Unsurprisingly, she is an advocate of community-building in business, and the power that it unlocks in terms of knowledge sharing and problem solving. In the spirit of Women's Month, she shared her thoughts on tackling the lack of gender diversity within the tech industry and the importance of creating a safe space for women to learn and thrive.
Tell us about your main business, KAT-O...
KAT-O works alongside businesses and individuals to design and create technologies which revolutionise the way we live in order to solve problems; blending digital and physical technology to explore the intersection of people, technology and business needs. We add creative elements to our work where possible to improve the human experience by producing an emotional, unforgettable experience.
A huge percentage of the business is aimed at developing and imparting knowledge and skills about technology to people of all ages and backgrounds. We achieve this via courses, workshops, monthly #TechTalks, and running and supporting local maker and tech communities including Women in Tech Cape Town, Arduino Cape Town and Modern Alchemists.
What inspired your initial interest in tech?
I guess an internal desire to know how things work and to be able to see what I have in my head come to life. It really came to the foreground when I started building my own electronics instruments, audio environments and interactive sound installations during my undergraduate studies. In order to do this I had to use audio, electronics and code.
Your other ventures – Arduino Cape Town, Modern Alchemists and Women in Tech Cape Town – are strongly focused on the concept of community. What is the value of community in the tech space and business in general?
Community is huge. It means access to more minds and different ways of thinking and seeing the world, understanding what each other's needs are and working together to meet them. With maker/tech/inventor communities along with open-source platforms and prototyping tools we can collaborate to solve problems and change the world into something we want. “Ubuntu is a philosophy that considers the success of the group above that of the individual,” - Stephen Lundin, Ubuntu.
With so many projects operating concurrently, how do you keep your head above water?
Haha! I have very understanding friends and family who realise my life is a little world of tech/making/inventing, and they see how I get people and communities around me to believe in themselves and start making and inventing the difference they want to see.
Do you feel that a ‘glass ceiling’ exists for women in your industry?
For me personally no, but I do increasingly see it the more women I speak to. Since starting the Women in Tech Cape Town group I've met various females who have shared stories about where they want to be, and how they are held back by numerous things, from the men around them, to other females, their own families, and the general stereotype that society has created.
In a way I feel blessed that my parents were so open-minded with me and that I have a strong backbone to do what I feel. I generally feel I am the only one holding me back, but I feel guilty when I sit with these women, I wish I could say that I can relate. But it's why we have the Women in Tech group, so we can meet like-minded people and work together to find solutions - whether it's emotional or coding.
In your opinion, how can the lack of gender diversity within the industry be overcome?
There are many things that need to change but one main thing is that it needs to start at a young age, focusing on girls around age 10 and showing them failure is okay and that science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is fun. Society needs to highlight females and make women in tech a cool thing, and start creating and focusing on role models for these girls so they can see a clearer path based on women who have done it before them.
By having the Lean In and Women in Tech community where we can talk about tech, coding, engineering and more personal things, we create a safe space to build our confidence to go out into the world and say “Look at what I'm doing and how amazing I am!” So even when someone pushes you down you know you are great as you have the proof.
What is your message for Women’s Month?
So many things, but I guess one thing I have been noticing is not to be scared of failure. So to summarise: Failure is okay as long as you don’t let it get the better of you.
