Tech Trivia with Ada Oyom, Founder of She Code Africa

“The real impact in tech comes from structure, not just passion.”That belief has guided Ada Nduka Oyom’s career for more than a decade. 

Throughout her journey, she has partnered with global organisations, enterprises, and founders to design programmes, build thriving communities, and create systems that drive measurable impact across technology, innovation, and social development.

Her mission has always been rooted in the conviction that technology and community can be powerful equalisers when people are given the right opportunities.

That conviction led her to found She Code Africa, a pan-African nonprofit dedicated to closing the gender gap in technology. What started as a small community has grown into one of Africa’s largest networks for women in tech, impacting more than 65,000 women and girls through technical training, mentorship, career development, and leadership opportunities. 

Today, as Founder and Executive Director, Ada leads the organisation’s strategy, builds global partnerships, manages high-performing teams, and ensures every programme delivers meaningful, long-term economic impact.

Before dedicating herself fully to She Code Africa, Ada built an impressive career working with some of the world’s leading technology organisations.

At Interswitch Group, she served as Head of Developer Relations, where she built the company’s Developer Relations function from the ground up. She designed community engagement strategies, connected developers with Interswitch’s products, and created scalable structures that strengthened the company’s technical ecosystem. 

Working within one of Africa’s leading digital payments companies deepened her understanding of digital infrastructure, governance, and the operational discipline required to scale technology responsibly.

She later joined Google as Developer Relations Ecosystem Community Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa, where she coordinated and managed scalable developer outreaches and support programs for the Google Developer Groups (GDG) and Women Techmakers (WTM) programs across Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA),  reaching over 300,000 developers. 

The role expanded her global perspective on ecosystem development and reinforced her belief that inclusive, well-designed programmes can transform careers and entire communities.

Beyond She Code Africa, Ada is also the Co-Founder of Open Source Community Africa (OSCA), where she champions open-source innovation across the continent. Through mentorship programmes, community initiatives, and collaborative projects, she has helped build an inclusive ecosystem that has attracted over 3,000 developers, students, and technology enthusiasts, encouraging more Africans to contribute to the global open-source movement.

Alongside her leadership roles, Ada serves as an executive consultant, advising organisations, startups, and leaders on building sustainable communities, inclusive programmes, and impact-driven strategies that deliver measurable results.

Looking back on her journey, one thing becomes clear: Ada has never simply built communities; she has built ecosystems that create opportunities, remove barriers, and empower people to thrive.

Her mission remains to create pathways where diverse talent can access opportunities, grow their skills, lead confidently, and shape the future of technology across Africa.

Ada Nduka Oyom 1. Summarise your mornings in one sentence

I prefer easing into the day with a slow, quiet morning of reflection, followed by a quick sync with my Executive Assistant and a look at my Trello board to align on my focus. 

2. Describe your gadget setup

My setup is all about flexibility and functional structure. Because I’m often on the move, I can work from almost anywhere, but my dedicated workstation is kept minimalist and efficient, anchored by my laptop and my essential daily gadgets to keep me focused. 

3. What tech tools/ applications do you use the most for work?

Google Workspace, Claude and ChatGPT. 

Ada Nduka Oyom’s gadget setup 4. What do you do when you need inspiration?

To stay grounded, I block out the noise with quiet, intentional time with God, reflecting on the path ahead. I also love reading stories of fellow builders creating meaningful things; it always helps me reconnect with my core purpose.

5. What mobile application can you not do without daily?

ChatGPT. 

6. What tech solution do you wish someone had created?

I would love to see a truly intuitive, AI-powered career companion that goes beyond generic advice to dynamically map your skills, uncover strategic opportunities, and design a personalised 10-year growth path that continuously adapts as you and the global tech ecosystem evolve. 

Ada Nduka Oyom 7. If you have unlimited time and money, what problem would you solve?

I would dedicate my resources to solving unequal access and pay for women and girls. True equity isn’t just about opening doors; it’s about fixing the broken systems, closing the wage gap, and building sustainable pipelines so that women have both the tools to succeed and the compensation they deserve.

8. Which woman in tech inspires you the most?

Rather than focusing on just one individual, I am constantly inspired by the collective power of African women in tech who are quietly building, leading, and creating sustainable opportunities for others despite the systemic odds against them. 

9. Which profound statement inspires you the most?

“To whom much is given, much is required.” This is a constant anchor for me. Every opportunity, privilege, and platform I have isn’t just for personal success; it’s a responsibility to build sustainable pathways and open doors for others to rise. 

10. Whose women in tech trivia would you love to read? Confidence Staveley, Founder of CyberSafe Foundation

I would absolutely love to read a feature on Confidence Staveley, Founder of CyberSafe Foundation. Her phenomenal impact in cybersecurity and her relentless dedication to training and protecting women in the digital space are incredibly inspiring. 

Read also: How mastering no-code tech skills improved the livelihood of these 5 university students