Two Nations, One Connection: Kenya and Uzbekistan

Events

Two Nations, One Connection: Kenya and Uzbekistan

On March 6, 2026, Women in Tech Kenya and Women in Tech Uzbekistan jointly hosted Beyond Boundaries: Women in Tech Global Exchange in Nairobi, bringing together women in technology from different continents.

Symbolically, at the end of 2025, Uzbekistan and Kenya officially established diplomatic relations, making this collaboration even more meaningful.

The initiative reflected the core mission of Women in Tech Global — connecting regions and communities around shared priorities. Despite geographical distance, countries like Kenya and Uzbekistan face many similar opportunities and challenges: access to education, the future of work, ethical AI, entrepreneurship, financial empowerment, and youth leadership.

More than 200 participants attended the event — from Gen Alpha students to experienced industry leaders — along with male allies supporting gender equality in technology.
In a creative and celebratory moment, the event’s MC even produced a custom theme song inspired by the spirit of “Beyond Boundaries” and the connection between Kenya and Uzbekistan, keeping the audience energized throughout the day. https://youtube.com/shorts/9CoLSwo2774?si=pXGKKFfinY5qXvqe

The event was made possible through the support of valued partners, including Canva, UN Women, PesaLink, AWS, European Business University (EBU), UNICAF, Little Cab alongside media partners CIO Africa and Business Insider Africa.

Conversations That Reflected Real-World Challenges

A special address from Antonia Ngabala-Sodonon, UN Women Kenya Country Representative and global partner of Women in Tech, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to advancing gender equality in the digital age.

Throughout the day, discussions explored the broader realities women face in the digital economy, including:

  • Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV) and digital safety
  • Financial resilience for women, including wealth protection and long-term financial security
  • Entrepreneurship realities, from rejection and persistence to difficult decisions around equity and investment
  • Personal branding, encouraging women to confidently share their achievements and gain visibility

Youth engagement was also a strong theme throughout the event. A highlight was the presentation by girls from the Kenya Girl Guides Association (KGGA), who showcased robotics projects developed in collaboration with the European Business University (EBU).

Borders Stop Flights. But They Cannot Stop Collaboration

Although much of the Uzbekistan delegation was unable to travel due to the geopolitical situation in the Middle East, the spirit of cross-continental collaboration remained strong.

Ayumi Moore Aoki, Founder and Global CEO of Women in Tech, joined the event virtually to congratulate the organizers and participants, highlighting the presence of multiple Women in Tech chapters and global partners such as UN Women and the European Business University.

From the international delegation, Lidiya Borisenko from Serbia attended the event and delivered a welcome message on behalf of the co-organizers, sharing remarks from Anna Ambrozevich, Director of Women in Tech Uzbekistan:

“Uzbekistan and Kenya may be far apart geographically, but when we started working together, we discovered how much our countries actually have in common. Both are dynamic, ambitious, and full of young talent. Both are building growing technology ecosystems. And both have incredible women who want to innovate, lead, and shape the future.”

Another distinguished guest was Benie Koy, Co-Founder of Women in Tech DR Congo, who joined the event in Nairobi, representing the wider global Women in Tech community and sharing her leadership experience.

Africa in Focus: Technology and Women’s Empowerment

This celebration comes in the lead-up to the Women in Tech Global Summit 2026, which will be hosted for the first time on the African continent in Cape Town, South Africa.
Events like Beyond Boundaries demonstrate that when women connect across continents, industries, and generations, they create a powerful force for innovation, opportunity, and change.
And perhaps most importantly, they remind us that even across thousands of kilometers, shared ideas can bring continents closer together.