Elizabeth Okaome: Building Inclusive Tech Communities and Empowering Women Across Africa
In today’s rapidly evolving technology landscape, community building and inclusion have become as
Advocate for Women in Tech | Community Manager | DeveloperRelations | Founder | Tech Event Planner
essential as innovation itself. At the heart of this transformation is Elizabeth Okaome an inspiring Community Manager, Developer Relations Expert, and Founder committed to empowering women in technology and fostering collaboration within developer ecosystems.
Over the past seven years, Elizabeth has shaped the African tech community through mentorship, partnerships, and initiatives that uplift underrepresented voices. Her leadership spans organizations such as Interswitch Group, Google Developers Group (GDG) Benin, and Women Techmakers Benin City, where she continues to drive impact through creativity, strategy, and inclusion.
Elizabeth Okaome is a Developer Relations Specialist and Community Builder known for transforming ideas into thriving ecosystems. She specializes in developer engagement, community strategy, program design, and brand partnerships.
As the Developer Ecosystem Lead at Interswitch Group, she fosters collaboration between internal teams and external developers, growing the community by over 500% within just nine months.
Beyond her professional roles, Elizabeth is also the Founder of Empower Her Community, an initiative dedicated to training, mentoring, and connecting women in technology. With over 6,000 members across 75 countries, her organization is redefining women’s participation in the global tech space.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
| Organization | Role / Position | Duration | Key Responsibilities & Achievements |
| Interswitch Group | Developer Ecosystem Lead | Oct 2023 – Present | Leads programs and partnerships that strengthen Interswitch’s developer relations ecosystem. Grew developer engagement by 500% in nine months. Creates programs that enhance collaboration and innovation between external and internal tech teams. |
| Interswitch Group | Developer Relations Specialist | Sep 2022 – Oct 2023 | Designed engagement strategies to enhance developer participation in Interswitch’s API ecosystem. Organized hackathons, workshops, and community events that positioned Interswitch as a leading fintech innovation hub. |
| Empower Her Community | Founder | Feb 2021 – Present | Established a global women-in-tech community empowering over 6,000 women across 75 countries. Provides mentorship, access to learning resources, and connects members to job and internship opportunities. |
| PennyTree | Product Community Manager | Feb 2022 – Sep 2022 | Built an active user community around PennyTree’s digital savings and investment platform. Organized user research campaigns and feedback loops to improve product design and usability. |
| Future Academy Africa | Community Manager | Jun 2021 – Apr 2022 | Drove talent engagement initiatives and organized training cohorts to upskill young Africans in software engineering and product design. Managed over 500+ participants across programs. |
| Traindemy | Sales & Project Lead | Aug 2019 – Dec 2021 | Led a team responsible for product sales, marketing, and brand representation. Initiated customer feedback systems and introduced strategies that increased customer satisfaction and revenue by 35%. |
| DAN ODIETE & CO | Customer Relationship Manager / Draftsperson | Oct 2019 – Apr 2021 | Strengthened client relationships and improved retention through personalized service. Handled documentation and project coordination for the firm’s operations. |
| GirlLEAD Project | Community Manager | Jul 2018 – Aug 2019 | Managed a tech bootcamp that trained over 50 girls in various digital and entrepreneurial skills. Designed mentorship and partnership programs for continued growth. |
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
| Institution | Qualification | Field of Study | Duration |
| University of Benin | Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) | Microbiology | 2014 – 2019 |
CERTIFICATIONS
- Google Africa Scholarship – Front-End Web Development
- Brand and Product Management (Coursera)
- Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt
- Fundamentals of Digital Marketing (Google)
- Jobberman Soft Skills Training
CORE SKILLS
- Developer Relations & Advocacy
- Community Building & Management
- Strategic Partnerships & Collaboration
- Program Design & Evaluation
- Event Planning & Coordination
- Leadership & Mentorship
- Digital Marketing & Communication
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
- Grew the Interswitch Developer Community by 500% in less than a year through innovative engagement programs.
- Founded Empower Her Community, connecting 6,000+ women globally to tech skills, mentorship, and career opportunities.
- Led multiple international tech events through GDG Benin and Women Techmakers Benin City, fostering diversity and inclusion.
- Organized developer-focused programs that bridged corporate innovation and community development across Africa.
For Elizabeth Okaome, technology is not just about innovation — it’s about inclusion. She believes that building strong, diverse communities is the foundation of sustainable digital progress.
Her approach to leadership is rooted in empathy, collaboration, and empowerment — values that drive her mission to make technology more accessible to women and underrepresented groups.
Elizabeth continues to champion the idea that when women are given equal access to tools, mentorship, and networks, they don’t just participate in the tech industry — they redefine it.
Elizabeth Okaome represents the heartbeat of Africa’s growing technology ecosystem — a builder, connector, and advocate who empowers others to thrive. Through her work at Interswitch, Empower Her Community, and global partnerships, she continues to shape a future where diversity, technology, and opportunity converge.
Her journey is a testament to the power of passion, persistence, and purpose — and a reminder that true impact begins when one person chooses to build a bridge for others.
Connect with Elizabeth Okaome:
www.linkedin.com/in/elizabeth-okaome-a940791aa
Watch Her Feature: YouTube – Elizabeth Okaome
