Vision
PingLady’s Vision is to incubate innovation and use technology to advance the welfare of women.
Vision and Mission
Mission
PingLady aims to empower, equip, mentor and uplift women in the technology industry. Through our Social enterprise and other stakeholders, PingLady also aims to create jobs for the PingLady alumni in the technology industry.
Core Values
About the Founder
Syson Kunda - Social Techpreneur
Syson Kunda, is the visionary Founder and Managing Director of PingTechnologies Group.
Syson’s journey from a seasoned IT professional to a pioneering social techpreneur has led to the creation of several impactful initiatives: PingLady, PingTech Academy, PingTech Hosting and PingTech Digital.
With a mission rooted in addressing global challenges like Gender Equality and Poverty (unemployment), PingTechnologies is making a difference. Syson’s work aims to restore hope and dignity to unemployed women and youth, tackling the gender gap in the tech industry.
Her dedication to this cause led her to pursue an MIT ICT Management course at the University of Pretoria, where she authored a groundbreaking mini-thesis on the challenges facing women in South Africa’s IT sector. This work, published in an international journal, has garnered international recognition, winning the Organization Studies International Award for Excellence in 2023.
A South African Case Study of Women in the Information Technology Sector: Challenges and Recommendations
On a quest to find information to back up the PingLady business plan in its startup phase, Syson became conscious of a significant problem regarding the scarcity of information related to women in technology in South Africa.
Determined to avail this information to the public as a significant aid to address the gender parity gap in the technology industry in South Africa, Syson enrolled for an MIT ICT Management course with the University of Pretoria and did a mini-thesis on the low retention rate of women in technology in South Africa. Her mini-thesis was published in an international journal in 2022. In 2023, the article was a recipient of the International Award for Excellence for Volume 22 of Organizational Cultures: An International Journal.
Title: A South African Case Study of Women in the Information
Technology Sector: Challenges and Recommendations
Authors: Syson Nalukwago Kunda, Martina Jordaan , Nita Mennega
Award: Awards | Organization Studies Research Network
Journal Title: Organizational Cultures: An International Journal
Date: June 27, 2022
The direct link to the article can be found here.
Syson’s Qualifications
Syson acquired her MIT ICT Management in 2020. She also has a BCom Honours in Business Informatics as well as a BCom degree in Information Management. She is also certified in various disciplines like Managing People and Agile Methodologies, etc.
Through the Years
PingLady uses technology to advance the welfare of women that have various circumstances impeding their growth. PingLady does this through 100% bursary programmes which equip women with digital skills identified for the future of work as well as equip women with personal and employability development skills to ensure they thrive in any work environment.
PingLady has had a 98% success rate in the PingLady alumini finding employment and evidently having their lives improved. Women from the PingLady programmes are positioned for internship opportunities at PingTech Academy and other companies.
Various stakeholders have head hunted PingLady alumni and have been very happy with the reliable, all rounded, resilient, hardworking talent from PingLady alumni.
Through the years, PingLady has also introduced:
- An Online Innovation Hub
- Internships PingLady Alumni
- Job opportunities for PingLady Alumni
- Connecting Mentees with Mentors
Board Members
Syson Kunda
Founder of PingLady
MIT ICT Management | Award Winning Author | Held Management positions in the Technology space | Extensive Experience in Technology Industry | Speaker at Women in Technology Conferences | Mentor at heart.
Creston Mascini
Director of PingLady
Creston Mascini is a visionary leader dedicated to empowering individuals through education and practical skills development. Holding both a Bachelor of Arts in Theology and a Bachelor of Commerce in Business Management, Creston brings a unique blend of strategic insight and a passion for human upliftment to his work.
Khensani Mbiza
Director of PingLady
Khensani is a dynamic IT professional with extensive experience in STEM education, including Coding and Robotics for kids, as well as Data Analysis and IT Technical Support for young adults. She has a strong track record of leading women-focused teams and driving initiatives that expose more women and girls to meaningful careers in technology.
With a passion for mentoring, robotics , and inclusive leadership, Khensani continues to pioneer solutions that bridge the gender gap in STEM. She leads with integrity, empowers young minds, and inspires lasting impact through education and technology
Hema Vallabh
Co-Founder of WomEng (WomHub)
Founder of The Passionate Professional | Alumna of Fortune U.S State | Department Global Mentorship Exchange | Member of Vital Voices Global Leadership Network | Member of the African Leadership Network (ALN) | Msc in Chemical Engineering
Dr Reevana Balmahoon
Network Security Expert
PHD – Computer Engineering | MBA in Progress (GIBS) | Five International Research Publications
Barbara Birungi
Founder of HiveColab
Founder of WITU | 2014 Winner of the Grace Hopper Celebration Change | Agent ABIE Award | Bachelors degree in Business Computing