Beyond the Hype: Why Performative Support Isn't Enough for Women in Tech
3 min read
Mitchelle Chibundu
Being visible is not the same as being supported. I refuse to settle for the first when I deserve the second.
This year, I said no and intentionally participated with genuine support, not simply for one day.
No, to performative lists. No more empty posturing. No to endless panels where nothing changes. No to insincere gestures of support that disappear as soon as the hashtags stop trending.
I've witnessed this cycle before. Brands, organisations, and individuals who have never invested significantly in women now want to highlight our identities, faces, and achievements. They do this not for actual support but because it looks good.
I was not interested.
What real support looks like
I still vividly remember the Global Creative Festival 2024. Our multi-city festival brought together over 400 brilliant minds in creativity and technology, of which over 70% were women.
I witnessed firsthand who showed up and supported, and who cheered when the world watched.
Visibility is not enough to demonstrate genuine support. It comes from those who believe in the goal, support the work, and show up even when there is nothing to gain.
Alison Eyo, a 2021 Designer Babe Laptop recipient, proudly presenting a laptop to Gbemisola Owolabi at The Global Creative Festival 2024.
Industry reality: Beyond the optics
This is about more than just my own experience. It is an industry-wide problem.
Despite public attempts to encourage women in leadership, technology, and design, the statistics reveal a different tale.
According to Tech Crunch, women-founded enterprises in Europe raised €5.76 billion in 2024, down 12% from €6.56 billion in 2023. The financing deficit is not closing. It's stagnant.
Women in tech leadership are still considerably under-represented.
Even organisations dedicated to assisting women are closing owing to a lack of financing. Girls in Tech and Women Who Code, previously leading venues for women in technology, have just declared their demise due to their inability to sustain operations.
Recognition isn't enough. The real question is what happens following the applause.
“Focus on the work, not the accolades.
There will always be lists and recognition. But recognition depends on who’s looking and when.
Impact, however, should be constant. That is what makes you undeniable.”
The matter of time
In 2019, while on a work exchange in Germany, my teammates asked why I wasn’t on a list of the top 50 Nigerian Women in Tech. I laughed and said, "It’s only a matter of time."
Six years later, my work speaks for itself.
From building platforms that empower thousands of creatives to lead conversations that influence industries, I've appeared on innumerable lists, gotten numerous honours, and seen my impact grow beyond what I could have envisioned at the time.
“Recognition is borrowed, legacy is earned. Choose wisely.”
The choice that matters
This year, I prioritised integrity over visibility.
But this isn’t about rejecting visibility. It’s about redirecting it where it truly counts.
Imagine if we shifted attention to
Funding more women-led businesses.
Hiring and promoting more women in leadership, not just at entry level.
Sustaining organisations that support women year-round, not just in March.
The loudest moments aren’t always the most impactful. The most meaningful work often happens outside the spotlight.
To every company and individual who truly believes in supporting women: Keep the energy you bring to International Women's Day beyond one day.
And to every woman establishing, growing, and transforming industries for the long term, keep going.
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