Huawei South Africa is putting women entrepreneurs at the centre of the artificial intelligence conversation as its 2026 Women in Tech Digital Skills Training Programme kicks off in Johannesburg today, 26 August.
Running until 28 August, the three-day programme is designed to give women practical digital skills that can help them grow their businesses and compete in an increasingly AI-driven economy. Now in its sixth year, the initiative forms part of Huawei’s broader efforts to increase women’s participation in the technology sector and digital economy.
‘HERabytes: Small Business. Big Intelligence’
This year’s programme is being held under the theme “HERabytes: Small Business. Big Intelligence.”
The theme reflects a growing shift in how artificial intelligence is being used by small businesses, with AI increasingly becoming accessible to entrepreneurs who may not have large technology teams or significant budgets.
Rather than positioning AI as technology reserved for major corporations, the programme aims to show women entrepreneurs how digital tools, automated processes and AI applications can be incorporated into their everyday businesses.
Huawei says the initiative is intended to help participants move beyond experimenting with AI and begin integrating the technology more confidently into their operations.
South African SMEs Are Already Embracing AI
The programme arrives as South African small businesses rapidly increase their adoption of artificial intelligence.
According to figures cited by Huawei from Sage’s Small Business, Big Opportunity research, 73% of South African SMEs have already invested in AI.
Separate research from GeoPoll and Africa 118 found that 62% of women-led businesses have adopted AI, with the technology most commonly being used for areas including marketing, productivity and customer service.
The numbers point to a changing small-business environment in which understanding AI could increasingly become an important competitive advantage.
Three Days of Digital Skills Training
Participants will spend the three days exploring both emerging technologies and the practical skills needed to run businesses in the digital economy.
Training at Huawei’s Johannesburg campus includes introductions to artificial intelligence, cloud computing and 5G-Advanced (5G-A).
The programme also features a practical session examining technology tools and gadgets that can assist small businesses.
The final day will move to Henley Business School Africa, where participants will focus on personal leadership, business resilience and strategic adaptability in the data era.
Women who complete all three days will receive certificates of attendance.
Making AI Practical for Entrepreneurs
For Huawei, an important part of the initiative is removing some of the uncertainty surrounding artificial intelligence.
“AI can feel intimidating, especially if you’re running a small business,” Huawei South Africa Senior PR Manager for Media and Communications Vanashree Govender said ahead of the programme.
She explained that the initiative is focused on making the technology practical, with the intention of ensuring participants leave equipped with tools they can immediately begin using to help grow their businesses.
Supporting More Women in the Digital Economy
Huawei’s South African Women in Tech Digital Skills Training Programme has received support from the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies since its launch in 2021.
The initiative forms part of efforts to improve digital inclusion while expanding women’s participation in entrepreneurship and the wider technology economy.
Huawei’s wider Women in Tech project dates back to 2020 and was created around the company’s ambition of making “Tech for Her, Tech by Her, and Tech with Her” a reality by increasing women’s participation in ICT and the digital economy.
Building Businesses for the AI Era
As artificial intelligence becomes embedded in everything from marketing and customer service to administration and business strategy, digital skills are becoming increasingly important for entrepreneurs.
For women running small businesses in South Africa, the opportunity is no longer simply about understanding what AI is, but learning how to turn the technology into practical business value.
