Diane Murekatete is among a small but growing number of women working in Rwanda’s technology sector where gender gaps remain evident. According to the National Institute of Statistics of Rwanda’s National Gender Statistics Report 2024, 9.6 percent of women are computer literate compared to 14.7 percent of men. ALSO READ: Women in science, technology push for mentorship, access to resources The report also notes that although more women are progressing through school, fewer are opting for technical and ICT-related fields, limiting their entry into careers such as software engineering. For Murekatete, curiosity was the starting point. She was drawn to understanding how systems work and how technology can be used to solve everyday problems. Over time, that interest deepened into a desire to build practical solutions with real-world impact. ALSO READ: Women still face gaps despite workplace equality gains – official She described technology as more than code and computers, saying it also involves improving services, simplifying processes, and supporting better decision-making. Software engineering, she explained, became a way to turn ideas into usable solutions. Her interest later expanded to data after realising how central it has become in helping organisations understand problems and make informed decisions. This led her to pursue a Master’s degree in Big Data Science, which she says complements her background in software engineering. How it all started Murekatete holds a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, with a major in Network and Communication Systems, which she obtained in 2017 from the Adventist University of Central Africa. She also has Master’s degree in Big Data Science from the University of East London. Her entry into software engineering was driven by her interest in problem-solving and how technology supports everyday life. During her undergraduate studies, she focused on how systems communicate and how networks function, which gradually led her toward building solutions users can interact with. As she progressed, she became increasingly interested in how systems are not only built but also how they generate and use data. This realisation strengthened her decision to specialise further in data science. “My experience spans multiple sectors. I worked with a non-governmental organisation from 2015 to 2017, followed by roles in the technology talent marketplace and IT staffing sector between 2019 and 2020. “From 2020 to 2022, I worked in the banking sector as a DevOps engineer (a role that focuses on combining software development and IT operations to automate, streamline, and improve the process of building and running software systems). Between 2022 and 2024, I was in the fintech sector, and since 2024, I have been working with a government institution.” Looking back, she does not point to a single defining moment as her proudest achievement, but rather the progression itself, moving from networks to software engineering and then to data science. She described this as a continuous process of learning and adaptation. While the transition into software engineering was challenging at first, she said, each difficulty helped build her confidence. What she values most is her willingness to keep learning and not restrict herself to one path. Her career also expanded her professional network. Through tech events and collaborations, she has met peers who are now working in major companies and contributing to large-scale projects. These connections have reinforced her sense of being part of a bigger community of people building and growing in technology. Challenges and moments of doubt Murekatete acknowledges that working in a male-dominated field has sometimes meant feeling the need to prove herself more. She encountered situations where assumptions were made about her abilities before her work was seen. At times, this meant working harder to earn trust and recognition, but she chooses to focus on improving her skills and letting her results speak for themselves. She recalls a moment of doubt when transitioning from network administration to software engineering. During her first application for a software engineering role, she was given a technical challenge she initially struggled to understand. For a brief moment, she questioned whether she was ready. However, she chose to break the problem down, research unfamiliar concepts, and learn step by step. After a week of effort, she completed and submitted the task. That experience, she said, reshaped her understanding of the field and taught her that growth comes through persistence rather than prior mastery. In her early learning journey, platforms like Stack Overflow became important resources, especially when debugging and understanding new concepts. That experience taught her that doubt is normal, but curiosity and persistence can turn uncertainty into confidence. She highlighted the importance of support from other women in tech, noting that shared encouragement helps make the journey less isolating. For Murekatete, being a woman in Rwanda’s growing technology sector means being part of a broader national transformation. As Rwanda continues to invest in digital development, she sees women’s participation as both important and symbolic. She believes women are gifted participants in the field as well as builders, problem-solvers, and leaders. Their presence helps challenge long-standing perceptions about who belongs in technology. “Being visible in the field comes with responsibility, it can help build confidence among girls and young women who are interested in tech but still unsure of where they fit. Through my work, I hope to contribute to a more inclusive environment for those coming after me.” Message to young girls Her message to young girls is to start, even without full understanding, noting that technology can seem intimidating, but no one begins as an expert. Learning comes gradually through practice, mistakes, and persistence. The tech expert added that technology is broad and inclusive, extending beyond coding to areas such as data, design, communication, and problem-solving, explaining that what matters most, is curiosity and consistency. She added that girls should recognise that their ideas and perspectives are valuable and needed in shaping the future of technology. What needs to change? Murekatete would like to see stronger support systems for women in technology, including mentorship, internships, scholarships, and spaces for shared learning. She believes early exposure is key, so that girls grow up seeing technology as a field where they belong. In her view, schools, families, and communities have a role in encouraging girls to pursue science and technology without bias. The software engineer advocates for workplaces that are more inclusive environments and where women are trusted, supported, and given equal opportunities to lead and grow. Talent is not limited by gender, she said, but opportunity and encouragement determine how far it can go. Contribution to the country Murekatete hopes to contribute to building technology solutions that address challenges and improve everyday life. She is interested in using her background in software engineering and Big Data Science to support data-driven decision-making. Data can help organisations better understand problems and design more effective solutions as Rwanda and the continent continue to digitise, she said. She hopes her journey will encourage more girls and women to pursue careers in technology. If her experience inspires others to enter the field and remain confident in their growth, she considers that a meaningful contribution in itself.
