Rachel Sibande
Rachel Chimwemwe Sibande | |
|---|---|
 in 2016 | |
| Born | January 9, 1986 |
Rachel Sibande (born January 9, 1986, in Lilongwe, Malawi) is a Malawian computer scientist and social entrepreneur. She is the Founder of mHub, a technology hub and incubator for innovators and emerging entrepreneurs.[1][2]
She is a technology advocate, a recipient of a Google Anita Borg Scholarship.[3] In 2016, she was named one of Africa's 30 most promising entrepreneurs under the age of 30 by Forbes.[4]
Sibande has championed the development and deployment of innovative technology solutions in agriculture, public health, election monitoring, citizen engagement, disaster management and Digital Financial Services in 18 countries.[citation needed] She has over ten years of industry experience spanning academia, development and social enterprise domains.[5]
Early life and education[edit]
At age 15, she attended the University of Malawi's Chancellor College. She graduated with a bachelor's degree, majoring in computer science.[6]
Sibande attained a Master of Science in information theory, coding, and cryptography from Mzuzu University[6] in 2007 with a distinction.
She attained a PhD in computer science from Rhodes University in 2020 as a Google Scholar.
Career[edit]
Rachel Sibande serves as Senior Director, Data for Development. She pioneered initiatives to advance digital skills among children, girls, youth, and women. She has previously served as Director for USA-based non-profit entities ACDI/VOCA, Agribusiness Systems International, and Palladium Group on socio-economic growth projects in East Africa.
Honors and awards[edit]
- 2019: Recipient of 'Forbes Woman Africa Gen Y Award', at the Forbes Africa Woman Summit, South Africa
- 2019: New Wealth Creator, Forbes Woman Africa, South Africa
- 2018: Won Climate-Smart track innovate to invent award at the Next Einstein Forum (NEF) Global Gathering in Rwanda for creating a thermal chemical process that generates light for rural microgrids.
- 2016: Malawi's Ambassador to the Next Einstein Forum (NEF), Senegal
- 2015:Google Anita Borg Scholarship, London
- 2012:Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), Washington DC
Personal life[edit]
Sibande is married to Chrispine Sibande, a Malawian human rights lawyer.[7] They have three children.
References[edit]
- ^ Africa.com (4 November 2019). "African Women in Tech: Rachel Sibande - Africa.com". www.africa.com. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ "When women are let in — we all win!". www.capetownetc.com. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ "Google Anita Borg Scholarship". www.ru.ac.za. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ Nsehe, Mfonobong. "30 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs In Africa 2016". Forbes. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ Mubarik, Abu (13 January 2021). "Meet 35-year-old Rachel Sibande, the techpreneur whose program has raised 29,000 tech-savvy Malawians". Face2Face Africa. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ a b "Rachel Sibande, MSc". path.org. June 2019. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ "Rachel Sibande on launching first tech-hub in Malawi - Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi". www.nyasatimes.com. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2022.