Nonjabulo Gumede

General Info

What will be your most valuable contribution to your TechWomen mentorship?

I bring a unique blend of engineering expertise, entrepreneurial resilience, and a deep commitment to community empowerment. Having built Maichatron from a grassroots robotics education organization into a company solving complex industrial challenges, I offer insights into innovating with limited resources, navigating African markets and driving inclusive tech. I hope to share my experiences in leading cross-functional teams, empowering youth through 4IR skills, and building solutions that are both commercially viable and socially impactful. My cultural perspective as a South African woman in STEM adds value to cross-cultural learning, fostering mutual growth, collaboration and global sisterhood within the TechWomen network.

The Top Three Things I Would Like to Learn or Experience During my Mentorship

1. Gain insight into usage of IOT & other smart technologies in reliability, maintenance and HVAC systems.
2. Expand network with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
3. Establish a network that will be fertile ground for business opportunities/deals.

Mentorship Characteristic

• Have exposure to the company culture
• Visit an office or attend a site-visit
• Participate in a skills-building course, either provided by my mentor’s company or identify a free resource online
• Focus on leadership skills building
• Have exposure to specialized industry techniques

Ideal Company Type

My ideal mentor is a leader at an engineering or technology firm focused on mechanical/mechatronics/industrial automation, smart manufacturing services or products. Their company fosters innovation, especially among women in STEM. I value a mentor who understands scaling tech-driven solutions in complex sectors, balancing commercial growth with community impact. A collaborative, purpose-driven culture that encourages mentorship, resilience and adaptive leadership would offer the ideal environment for me to learn, grow and apply insights to Maichatron's expansion and mission.

What are three adjectives that best describe you in the work place?

1. Considerate
2. Sociable
3. Passionate

What impact will your mentorship have on your career and professional path?

I hope the 15-day mentorship will deepen my strategic and leadership skills in scaling engineering ventures, particularly in industrial automation and smart infrastructure. I hope to further partner with them upon my return to SA. Learning from a U.S.-based mentor will expose me to global best practices in innovation, operations and team development. I aim to explore new approaches to managing growth, securing partnerships, and building sustainable tech ecosystems. This experience will directly support my goal of expanding Maichatron's impact across Africa, while enhancing my ability to lead high-performance teams and drive solutions that merge engineering excellence with community empowerment.

After participating in the TechWomen program, how will you leverage your mentorship experience to make an impact in your home country?

After TechWomen, I will leverage the mentorship experience to scale Maichatron's impact in South Africa by integrating global best practices into our engineering and automation solutions. I will share insights gained through workshops, mentoring sessions, and youth programs focused on 4IR skills, entrepreneurship and women in STEM. The experience will enhance my leadership capacity to drive sustainable industrial innovation while creating more opportunities for young talent, especially girls, in underserved communities. By bridging global knowledge with local challenges, I aim to strengthen Africa's innovation ecosystem and contribute to a resilient tech-enabled future.

Work History

Years of Full-time Work Experience

8

Primary Professional Focus

• Electronics or telecommunications
• Leader who is in charge of managing technical employees
• Mechanical or aerospace specialist

Education History