Happy Women’s Day and Month to all the Women who run the world! Here in South Africa, Women’s day is celebrated on August 9 and the whole of August is Women’s Month, annually. The much laundered and historically relevant public holiday is the result of the August 9,1956 march in Pretoria to the Union Buildings to protest against the proposed amendments to the Urban Areas Act (commonly known as the pass laws) of 1950.
The march led by Lilian Ngoyi, Helen Joseph, Rahima Moosa and Sophia Williams resulted in 50,000 women leaving bundles of petitions containing more than 100 000 signatures at Prime Minister J.G. Strijdom's office doors. Outside, they stood silently for 30 minutes, many with their children on their backs. The women sang a protest song that was composed in honour of the occasion: Wathint'Abafazi Wathint'imbokodo! (You strike a woman you strike a rock).
Globally, since then, the world has seen women come into international office, become cultural phenomena and exemplary pillars of the community. Considering the above mentioned it was only natural for the Johannesburg Chapter to celebrate Women’s Month by sitting down and chatting with a woman who is making waves in the tech space of South Africa.
Annette Muller is the founder and CEO of DOTNXT, a strategic innovation management firm with offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg. DOTNXT empowers businesses to embrace the real-time digital dynamic cultures of today and new technologies, propelling them forward to the forefront of success. The interview similarly the preceding ones commenced with pre-drinks and guest of honour Muller interacting with attendees.
The hour long chat with Muller kicked off with her discussing her formative years in the Eastern Cape and later her move to the University of Cape Town which introduced her to the tech-scene. From the onset, Muller described how she had always been interested in the evolving tech scene and how the local markets were embracing the fast-paced energy.
Muller continued to engage the audience by describing how early setbacks which include a failed company were a spring board and learning platform for what would be DOTNXT. Throughout the fireside chat, Muller emphasized the importance of a positive attitude coupled with a strong tenacious attitude towards your aspirations. Many of the audiences’ questions during the Q&A session Muller answered enthusiastically and insightfully. Most of the audience which comprised of both the local tech ecosystem and young entrepreneurs continued to ask Muller about her experiences that had impacted her business philosophy the most and Muller continued to provide them with practical and useful business candor.
The hour and a half chat concluded with Muller briefly discussing some exciting projects that DOTNXT has in the pipeline and how they will be a welcome resource to the South African landscape. The evening would not have been a success without our amazing sponsors; JoziHub, SIR JUICE, Black Swan Events, Beatroot Productions and STME Group.