Confidence is the most valuable digital skill of all

When we talk about preparing young people for the future of work, the conversation often centres on technical skills. Coding, artificial intelligence, data analytics and digital literacy are frequently positioned as the keys to future employability. However, as AI continues to reshape industries and automate routine tasks, technical capability alone is no longer enough.

Yet, as AI continues to reshape industries and automate routine tasks, Zandile Mkwanazi, co-founder of GirlCode, believes technical capability alone is no longer enough.

“Coding skills and digital literacy are vital skills for the future workforce, but the future of tech needs far more than technical knowledge,” she says. “The skills that set people apart and allow them to stay ahead of the curve, no matter how far technology progresses, are the ones that machines cannot easily replicate – such as creativity, critical thinking, adaptability and confidence.”

And while coding remains a valuable skill that teaches logic, problem-solving and systems thinking, Mkwanazi argues that confidence may be the most important outcome of digital education.

“Confidence is what allows someone to tackle a problem they have never encountered before. It gives them the courage to ask questions, pursue opportunities and keep going when things don’t work out the first time. In many ways, confidence becomes the bridge between potential and action.”

It is a lesson drawn not only from her work through GirlCode but from her own journey. Growing up with a passion for mathematics and problem-solving, Mkwanazi went on to complete an honours degree in Computational and Applied Mathematics at the University of the Witwatersrand. This experience provided a strong analytical foundation, but also reinforced the value of approaching challenges with confidence and curiosity.

After graduating, she began her career in technology as a graduate at Boxfusion before moving into a business analyst role at Altron. Working across enterprise technology projects exposed her to the ways in which technology can solve complex business and societal challenges.

At the same time, she became increasingly aware of how many talented young women never viewed technology as a space where they belonged. “The challenge was rarely a lack of ability,” she explains. “More often, it was a lack of exposure, encouragement and confidence. Many young women simply had not been given the opportunity to see what was possible.”

That realisation led her to establish GirlCode at the age of 23. What began as a passion project focused on increasing the participation of girls and women in technology has since evolved into a pan-African movement that has impacted more than 90 000 girls and women through coding programmes, mentorship initiatives, STEM education and entrepreneurship opportunities.

“The biggest transformation doesn’t happen when someone learns a programming language,” she says. “It happens when they begin to see themselves differently. When they realise they can solve problems, contribute ideas and build solutions, their confidence grows – and that changes everything.”

According to Mkwanazi, confidence can also have positive ripple effects on academic performance, leadership development, entrepreneurship and career progression, shaping how young people engage with opportunities and how they navigate an increasingly uncertain world.

As the founder of one of Africa’s leading technology empowerment organisations, as well as a wife and mother of two young children, Mkwanazi remains focused on preparing the next generation for a rapidly changing future.

“The technologies we use will continue to change,” she says. “What must remain constant is our ability to learn, adapt and believe in our capacity to solve new problems. Preparing young people for tomorrow’s opportunities means looking beyond what they know today and investing in what they are capable of becoming.”