Two young women find their future in tech

Lerato wanted to be a doctor, Zama dreamed of flying planes. Through Naspers Labs, both found successful tech careers, proving the best opportunities often come unexpectedly.

Two women from different corners of South Africa prove that the best careers sometimes start with a change of plan.

Lerato Tsotetsi from Evaton West in the Vaal, south of Johannesburg, had her heart set on becoming a doctor. Hundreds of kilometres away in Qwa-Qwa, Zamaphemba Ramatsa was dreaming of flying planes and later considered medicine too. Both thought they knew exactly where their futures lay.

Today, Lerato works in network engineering while Zama has built a career as a network consultant in Bloemfontein, Free State. Neither planned to work in tech, but both discovered something better than what they imagined.

A leap into Information Technology (IT)

Lerato’s shift happened after matric when she moved into technology. Initially, she admits, “I underestimated IT” – until she joined a programme that opened her eyes to just how vast the field really was.

Zama’s story has an element of pure chance. Arriving at Central University of Technology (CUT) somewhat undecided about her future, she ended up in computer networking after a registrar placed the course on her form. 

Both women could have remained stuck in uncertainty or disappointment. Instead, they embraced the opportunities before them.

Finding their breakthrough

This is where Naspers Labs transformed everything for both women. Lerato joined a funded learnership that changed her understanding of what was possible in IT. “It served as a career breakthrough,” she explains, giving her not just technical skills but the confidence to see herself differently.

Zama discovered the programme when it was introduced at CUT. “I took opportunities presented at university,” she says, recognising that waiting for the perfect moment wasn’t an option. The programme didn’t just teach her technical skills – it prepared her for the workplace with the soft skills that matter just as much.

The impact has been profound for both women. Lerato found that her new career brought respect from family and friends, making her more involved in decision-making at home and in her community. The certificates and practical skills she gained through the learnership opened doors she didn’t know existed and prepared her for what was to come.

Building bigger dreams

What’s remarkable is how both women’s ambitions have expanded. Lerato’s goal is to become a pillar in network engineering so that systems can’t work without her. This is one way the programme has helped women understand their value in the industry. 

Zama is also pursuing a cybersecurity certification to help her further her career. Her dream? “To work for major companies globally in the security field,” she says. From uncertain university student to global aspirations – that’s the power of finding the right programme at the right time.

Part of something bigger

Lerato and Zama represent a growing wave of women succeeding in South Africa’s tech sector through programmes like Naspers Labs. This social impact programme tackles youth unemployment through digital skills development, technology career access, and support for youth-led tech micro-businesses. Since 2022, the initiative has trained over 7,000 young people – 60% of whom are women and placed more than 6,000 in work experience opportunities. Each placement represents not just individual success, but proof that with the right support, South African women can compete anywhere in the world.

Both women overcame the challenge of uncertainty by embracing unexpected opportunities. As Zama puts it, instead of being paralysed by indecision, she took available programmes and leveraged them to build a career.

Their message to other young women is simple: you don’t need to have everything figured out from the start. Sometimes the best careers begin when you’re brave enough to try something completely different from what you originally planned.

Ready to change direction? Find out more about Naspers Labs opportunities at naspers.com/naspers-labs.

This post is sponsored by Naspers Labs and produced by Media24 Advertising and Content Marketing for News24