Rachel Sibande
Rachel Chimwemwe Sibande | |
|---|---|
 in 2016 | |
| Born | January 9, 1986 |
| Nationality | Malawian |
| Occupation | Techpreneur |
Rachel Sibande (born January 9, 1986, in Lilongwe, Malawi) is a Malawian computer scientist and social entrepreneur. She is the Founder of mHub, a technology hub and incubator for innovators and emerging entrepreneurs.[1][2]
She is a technology advocate and a recipient of a Google Anita Borg Scholarship.[3][4] In 2016, she was named one of Africa's 30 most promising entrepreneurs under the age of 30 by Forbes.[5]
Early life and education
[edit]At age 15, she attended the University of Malawi's Chancellor College. She graduated with a bachelor's degree, majoring in computer science.[6]
Sibande attained a Master of Science in information theory, coding, and cryptography from Mzuzu University[6][7]
She studied for a PhD in computer science from Rhodes University[3] which she achieved in 2020 as a Google Scholar.
Career
[edit]Sibande was a Senior Officer at the Gates Foundation. She previously served as Senior Director, Data for Development at the United Nations Foundation. She pioneered initiatives to advance digital skills among girls and women. She has served as Director for USA-based non-profit entities ACDI/VOCA, Agribusiness Systems International, and the Palladium Group on socio-economic growth projects in East Africa.[citation needed]
Honors and awards
[edit]- 2019: Recipient of 'Forbes Woman Africa Gen Y Award', at the Forbes Africa Woman Summit, South Africa
- 2019: New Wealth Creator, Forbes Woman Africa, South Africa
- 2018: Won Climate-Smart track innovate to invent award at the Next Einstein Forum (NEF) Global Gathering in Rwanda for creating a thermal chemical process that generates light for rural microgrids.
- 2016: Malawi's Ambassador to the Next Einstein Forum (NEF), Senegal
- 2015:Google Anita Borg Scholarship, London[3]
- 2012:Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), Washington DC
Personal life
[edit]Sibande is married to Chrispine Sibande, a Malawian human rights lawyer.[8] They have three children.
References
[edit]- ^ Africa.com (4 November 2019). "African Women in Tech: Rachel Sibande - Africa.com". www.africa.com. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ "When women are let in — we all win!". www.capetownetc.com. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ a b c "Google Anita Borg Scholarship". www.ru.ac.za. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ "Google Anita Borg Scholarship". www.ru.ac.za. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ Nsehe, Mfonobong. "30 Most Promising Young Entrepreneurs In Africa 2016". Forbes. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
- ^ a b "Rachel Sibande, MSc". path.org. June 2019. Archived from the original on 20 September 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
- ^ Mubarik, Abu (13 January 2021). "Meet 35-year-old Rachel Sibande, the techpreneur whose program has raised 29,000 tech-savvy Malawians". Face2Face Africa. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
- ^ "Rachel Sibande on launching first tech-hub in Malawi - Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi". www.nyasatimes.com. 15 April 2015. Retrieved 3 September 2022.