Lamia Guemghar

Tunisian tech entrepreneur empowering women through digital literacy and entrepreneurship

Lamia Guemghar: Pioneering Women’s Empowerment in Tunisia

Lamia Guemghar is a Tunisian tech innovator whose initiatives have transformed opportunities for women in a region where gender disparities persist. Born in 1989 in Tunis, she studied computer science at the University of Carthage and later worked in Silicon Valley, where she observed how technology could bridge economic gaps. Returning home in 2015, she founded WomenCode, a nonprofit training program for women in software development and digital marketing.

WomenCode’s signature program, 'CodeWoman', offers free courses, mentorship, and internships to Tunisian women. By 2023, over 3,000 graduates had entered tech careers, with 60% starting their own ventures. Notable alumni include TechSisters, a startup providing cybersecurity solutions to SMEs, and eHealth Tunisia, a telemedicine platform.

Guemghar’s impact extends beyond training. She lobbied Tunisia’s government to include digital literacy in national education curricula, resulting in partnerships with 50+ schools. Her Forbes Middle East article, 'Tunisia’s Tech Feminism', sparked regional discussions on gender equality in STEM. In 2022, she launched SheFund, a seed investment fund exclusively backing women-led startups in North Africa.

Guemghar’s approach combines technology with cultural sensitivity. For example, WomenCode’s 'Ramadan Coding Camps' run during evenings to accommodate religious observances, ensuring accessibility for mothers and homemakers. Her work has reduced Tunisia’s gender gap in tech employment from 78% male-dominated in 2015 to 52% male in 2023.

Her global influence grew after a TEDxTunis talk titled 'When Code Meets Hijab', which has over 2 million views. Guemghar is now advising the UNDP on digital strategies for women’s economic inclusion in the Maghreb region.