Heba El-Hefnawy

Egyptian tech entrepreneur and advocate for women in STEM who revolutionized digital inclusion in Africa

Heba El-Hefnawy (born 1972) is a pioneering Egyptian tech entrepreneur whose work in digital inclusion and women's empowerment has made a profound impact across Africa. As co-founder of Cairo ICT in 2000, she helped bridge the digital divide by training over 50,000 African women in IT skills through her innovative programs. Her organization established the first pan-African certification program for women in technology, directly contributing to a 40% increase in female tech professionals in Egypt by 2010.

El-Hefnawy's vision extended beyond training to creating sustainable ecosystems. She developed the 'Women in Tech' initiative that partnered with governments and NGOs to establish 120 tech hubs across 15 African countries. Her work was featured in the UN's 2012 report on gender equality, and she advised the African Union on digital policy frameworks. In 2008, she launched the first Arabic-language coding platform, reaching 200,000 users in its first year. Her advocacy led to Egypt's 2015 law mandating gender parity in STEM education programs.

El-Hefnawy's approach combined technical training with business acumen. She created the 'Digital Sisters' network connecting female entrepreneurs across 30 countries, which generated $150 million in tech-related revenue by 2018. Her 2010 TED Talk "The Power of Digital Sisters" became a blueprint for global digital inclusion strategies. She currently serves as UNICEF's regional advisor on youth tech education, continuing her mission to make technology accessible to all.