Nitasha Pillay
Science, Tech, Energy, and Innovation
Nominee's Province:
Kwazulu-natal
Age:
23
Project Name/Description:
Founder – Tech Society UKZN
Nitasha Pillay is passionate about empowering students in tech. To realise this dedication, Pillay founded Tech Society UKZN, which she captions as a community of growth that allows UKZN students to become leaders in the tech space. Under Pillay’s vision, Tech Society UKZN has significantly contributed to the development of STEM skills among students. “Our vision is to educate, equip, empower and upskill UKZN students for success in STEM careers,” she explains. The society offers coding programmes, community initiatives and platforms for student collaboration. “My desire is to see others succeed through mentorship. Effective mentoring means passing on knowledge and adding value,” she says, adding: “The tech space is truly vast, and there’s so much to learn. As someone starting out in the field of technology, I embrace every opportunity. The journey in tech is rewarding because it's about constantly acquiring knowledge. Setbacks and challenges are where we learn our greatest lessons and build resilience, which is the most powerful attribute of growth.” Pillay’s achievements include receiving the Women in Tech Global Award, which was presented by the Princess of Dubai, and the Women in Tech Africa Award, both in 2022. In 2024, she was honoured with the Most Inspiring Student Award by her university.
