Francisca Boateng Empowers Women in Cybersecurity and Advocates for Practical Learning
Francisca Boateng, CEO of Slam Technology, is making a significant impact in the tech space by empowering women. She recently trained and mentored 20 women in cybersecurity, helping them gain essential skills in the field. Out of the 20 participants, six passed their international certification exams, and her next goal is to help them secure jobs.
She shared that her husband’s curiosity and creativity with technology greatly influenced her journey. “He used to dismantle and repair televisions just to understand how they work. He even built cars using containers. That passion for innovation inspired me,” she said.
Francisca believes that the educational system in many African countries is too theoretical. “The books we study are abstract—we need to bring them to life through practical application,” she emphasized.
She also discussed the global job market and the potential for Africans to compete internationally. “If someone earns $2,000 a month in Ghana, it’s considered a lot. But companies abroad may not pay that amount to someone based in the U.S. if they can hire skilled talent in Africa for less. The key is to learn globally competitive skills.”
She highlighted a story of a woman who migrated to the U.S. with a green card and was determined to succeed. “She did 50 interviews before landing a job—she never gave up. Many people give up after just two rejections. You need persistence and preparation,” Francisca advised.
She noted the importance of truly understanding your resume: “You can have a great CV, but if you can’t confidently speak to what’s on it, you’ll miss your chance. I always take any opportunity to express myself when called for interviews.”
On emerging technologies, she touched on the rise of AI and quantum computing. “Quantum computing processes data at the speed of light—it’s the future. AI is powerful, but it shouldn’t replace your own knowledge. Many companies can detect when resumes are generated by AI and will reject them. Even students who rely solely on AI for their work risk failing. You need to apply what you’ve learned.”
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