Tech Talk with Vodacom

At just 22 years old, Zainaaz Hansa has built an app, won Vodacom's Code Like a Girl competition, and earned a place on the Vodacom Discover Graduate Programme. Now she is making her mark in cybersecurity — and she is just getting started.
 
In this episode, Zainaaz joins us to share her story: how she went from building an app for past exam papers to a career in cybersecurity, and the role her family's support played in getting her there.
 
She also talks about the educational lifeline Vodacom gave her, and why she believes every young person deserves the right opportunity to make their dreams real.
 
Whether you are a student, a technophile, or someone who simply loves a story about grit and possibility — this one is for you.

Digital footprints have become as essential as phone connections for modern businesses, yet many SMEs neglect this crucial aspect to their detriment. In this episode, we have Kamogelo Selepe, proposition specialist at Vodacom Business, who enables SME growth through integrated ICT solutions. Join us as we discuss the reason every business needs a strong digital presence and practical strategies for SMEs to establish an online footprint successfully in today's competitive digital marketplace environment, while maximising growth opportunities for sustainable business success and profitability.

In an age where the internet has made shopping from home a breeze, many experts have predicted the end of the brick-and-mortar store as we know it. But physical stores have shown resilience, and are now offering sci-fi movie-level tech advancements that are making it worthwhile to go to the store.
Vodacom has taken the lead with this, equipping several of their physical stores with tech advancements and solutions to make them more efficient and fun to visit. Here we speak to Sam Botha, Managing Executive of Retail Operations and Branded Channels at Vodacom. She discusses the future of tech-enhanced physical stores, what kind of tech is driving this revolution, how this tech benefits consumers and why you should still go to a store.

AI fraud is no longer theoretical - it’s personal, persuasive, and increasingly difficult to detect. In this episode, we’re joined by Dr Natalie Raphil, a trusted voice in AI ethics and founder of Robots Can Think, to unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping the fraud landscape.

From tournament hubs in local townships to activations for high-profile brands and even university bursaries for tournament achievers, Mettlestate is on a mission to take gaming to the next level in South Africa by legitimising it as a sport, pushing for it as a potential career, and providing alternative opportunities for higher education to those who may not have access to it.
In this episode, we speak to Barry Louzada, founder of Mettlestate, about gaming in South Africa, the challenges and opportunities it presents, and how his organisation is striving to make it as relevant as other mainstream sports in South Africa.