I didn’t exactly choose a career in tech, it chose me. Having studied accounting, I was later exposed to software that led me to quality assurance. What started as a chance encounter quickly turned into a passion and that’s where my journey with tech began.
From there, I’ve worked hard to grow, learn and evolve, carving out my path in the tech space through hands-on experience and continuous learning. Tech has a way of constantly challenging you, and that’s what keeps me motivated.
But I did not only want to build software. I wanted to find a space where I could see tangible impact and the idea that technology could be used to uplift women and girls resonated deeply. There are too many girls and women, particularly in Africa, that are left behind when it comes to their overall health and wellbeing. Many do not have access to vital health services especially when it comes to pregnancy, HIV and sexual and gender-based violence. I wanted to be part of something that creates real change and gives a voice to those who are often unheard. That is what led me to Tiko.
Tiko connects girls to free health and wellbeing services across health systems, through a community-driven and tech-enabled model of care. Vulnerable girls can receive care and use the Tiko platform to rate services. Through this rating, they earn Tiko miles that can be redeemed at a Tiko partner retailer. Health care providers are also incentivised to focus on service quality standards. I had never come across something like this before- an ecosystem all underpinned by technology that keeps the girl at the centre. The girls do not have to own a cell phone as the platform is built for low tech to high tech environments. As a Quality Engineer at Tiko, my role is not just about testing software, it’s about building impact. Every technical solution we create is designed with the end user in mind. Knowing that my work contributes to something greater, something that directly enriches lives, is both humbling and incredibly fulfilling.
At Tiko, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a diverse set of technologies that have helped me grow significantly in my role as a Quality Assurance Engineer. My main focus is quality and test automation, and I write most of my tests using JavaScript. I use Playwright for UI testing and Cucumber to structure tests in a behaviour-driven development (BDD) format, running on Node.js. I also use JSForce to automate and verify Salesforce data and interactions, building on my Salesforce Administrator certification, which originally opened the door to this career path. Our infrastructure interacts with AWS services, so I use the AWS SDK for JavaScript to programmatically validate backend events and APIs that power both the mobile app and internal tools. I also monitor service behaviour and investigate issues using Grafana dashboards, which support real-time visibility and faster debugging. This cross-functional exposure has given me a broader understanding of how different systems connect and how quality can be built into every layer of the product.
The environment at Tiko has encouraged continuous learning, always exploring ways to improve stability, reliability, and user trust.
I am excited to see the next wave of this kind of impactful tech where we can learn by leveraging data to tailor individual support and reaching more remote users by enhancing offline capabilities. Addressing complex challenges like sexual and gender-based violence means we have to work with a close network of partners to make sure girls are supported to receive integrated care. The tech is the quiet companion that offers more opportunities for the whole system to become stronger, all in support of the girl being able to lead the life she deserves.
A life in tech does not come without its challenges. Balancing the fast pace of the tech world with the responsibilities of raising a family, managing a household and staying up to date with new technologies isn’t easy, but over time, you develop your own rhythm. I have learnt to be resourceful, to adapt quickly, and to carve out time for growth in unexpected moments. It’s a journey, but one that has made me more resilient and efficient and I’ve loved every second of it.