Every year on International Women’s Day, the world pauses to celebrate progress and reflect on the work that still lies ahead. In Rwanda, where women’s leadership continues to contribute in national development, the theme ‘Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls’ resonates strongly, especially in sectors like technology, where the future is being written line by line.
At the heart of Rwanda’s digital ecosystem is RICTA, an institution that represents the interests of the local Internet community, manages Rwanda’s country domain (RW) and operates the national Internet Exchange point (RINEX).
The organization is led by a woman, Grace Imgabire, whose journey into ICT leadership is marked by curiosity, resilience, and a strong sense of purpose. For her, International Women’s Day is more than a symbolic celebration. It is a reminder that representation matters in shaping tomorrow’s digital world.
‘Technology is shaping the future of economies, education, and healthcare’, she explains. ‘If women are not equally represented in designing, building, and leading that future, then the future will not be truly inclusive.’
A Woman’s Journey in Technology
Her path into technology was not driven only by technical ambition, but by the opportunity to contribute to Rwanda’s transformation. When she stepped into the role of RICTA’s CEO, she saw both responsibility and possibility: the responsibility to strengthen Rwanda’s Internet infrastructure and the possibility to position the country confidently in the global digital landscape.
However, the journey was not always easy. Like many women in technical fields, she often found herself in environments where women were a minority. At times, this meant working harder to prove her expertise, spending long and late hours solving complex problems or dedicating weekends to studying new technologies to ensure systems worked effectively. Those moments, she says, built the woman she is today.
Behind every technological breakthrough are countless hours of curiosity and determination and behind every leader is a story of persistence.
Rwanda’s Progress in Gender Equality
Rwanda’s progress in gender equality, including the high representation of women in leadership and parliament in particular (with 63.75% of the seats in the Chamber of Deputies held by women), shows what is possible when opportunity meets policy and vision. Yet the work continues, particularly in the digital and innovation space.
She believes the key to change begins early. She believes that meaningful change begins early by exposing girls to science, technology, coding clubs, robotics and other digital learning opportunities while they are still in school because when young girls see women leading institutions or shaping digital policy, they begin to imagine themselves in those roles.
At the same time, she considers empowering her colleagues in the workplace as one of the strongest bridges between education and leadership. Known for encouraging staff to move beyond routine and comfort zones, she often delegates responsibilities that allow team members to represent the institution and grow professionally. This culture of learning is also reflected in the many internships and opportunities offered, where individuals are exposed to different aspects of the organization’s work. As a result, wherever they go next, they can confidently say they were empowered far beyond their time at the institution.
Building an Inclusive Digital Ecosystem
At RICTA, building an inclusive digital future means more than managing Internet infrastructure. It involves fostering an ecosystem where innovation is accessible, secure, and open to everyone, including young girls who may one day design the next generation of technology. And to every girl who hesitates before stepping into science, technology, or leadership, she has a simple message:
‘You belong there. Science, technology, and leadership are not reserved for a specific gender. They are fields for the curious, the determined, and the courageous.’
she believes that confidence, does not appear overnight; it grows through action, asking questions, exploring new ideas, and sometimes making mistakes along the way. After all, every expert was once a beginner.
The Next Generation of Women in Rwanda’s Digital Transformation
As Rwanda continues its journey toward becoming a digital and innovation hub, the next generation of thinkers, creators, and leaders is already growing. Some are in classrooms discovering coding for the first time. Others are imagining startups, innovations, and policies that do not yet exist. What matters is that they believe they belong in that future. Rwanda’s digital transformation will not be driven by technology alone; it will be powered by people, many of whom will be young women ready to lead.
