In a nation where educating girls is seen as rebellion, a visionary woman dares to teach young minds to dream. When their innovation draws global attention, their success sparks hope—and opposition. As threats loom and sacrifices are made, their courage and unity ignite a movement that could forever transform the world.
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When I first began working in technology in Afghanistan, there were very few women in the field, and many people believed it simply wasn’t a place for us.
That experience taught me that leadership often begins with courage, the courage to believe in your vision even when others doubt it. Resilience comes from having a clear purpose. For me, that purpose has always been creating opportunities for girls who were never given access to technology or education. When your work is connected to something bigger than yourself, it becomes easier to push through challenges.
My advice to women in tech is to stay focused on your mission, and remember that leadership is not about standing alone it’s about opening doors for others to walk through with you.
Technology has the incredible ability to connect people and create opportunities where they didn’t exist before. When I first began teaching girls coding in Afghanistan, many of them had never even used a computer.
But once they had access, their creativity and confidence grew so quickly. Women in tech bring perspectives that are often missing when systems are designed. By building technology with inclusion in mind whether in education, healthcare, or economic opportunity we can make sure innovation serves entire communities.
Technology should not only solve problems; it should also open doors for those who have been left out for too long.
One of the most powerful things we can do is move beyond mentorship and into sponsorship.
Mentorship means offering guidance, but sponsorship means actively helping someone grow, recommending them for opportunities, introducing them to networks, and helping their voices be heard. I’ve seen how transformative this support can be through initiatives like the Afghan Dreamers.
When young women are surrounded by mentors who truly believe in their potential, it can change the direction of their entire lives. When women support each other, we don’t just build careers, we build communities.
While progress has been made, many women around the world still face barriers to entering and advancing in technology. In many places, access to education and training is still limited for girls. In others, women face unconscious bias or lack representation in leadership roles.
When I started my first tech company in Afghanistan, one of the biggest challenges wasn’t just funding, it was convincing people that women belonged in technology at all. To change this, we need long-term investment in girls’ education, stronger mentorship networks, and workplaces that truly prioritize inclusion.
Representation matters. When young girls see women building companies, leading teams, and shaping innovation, they begin to see those possibilities for themselves.
What gives me hope is the determination and curiosity I see in young women today. When I meet girls learning robotics or coding for the first time, I see a generation that is not afraid to imagine a different future.
Technology allows them to collaborate across borders, learn from one another, and solve problems that affect communities around the world. Global networks like Women in Tech are incredibly important because they create spaces where women can share knowledge, support each other, and grow together.
When women connect globally, their impact becomes much greater than what any one of us could achieve alone.
Rule Breakers Executive producer & real life subject
Roya Mahboob is Afghanistan’s first female tech CEO and entrepreneur, making a significant impact beyond the business world. She leverages her tech success to foster education and empowerment for Afghan women and girls and champions their rights. Mahboob founded the Digital Citizen Fund (DCF) to improve Afghan women’s technological and financial literacy.
She is also the co-founder of the Afgan Girls Robotics Team and supports their endeavors while promoting robotics education through the Inoura platform. Additionally, she started a robotics company and is launching her educational project called Roby Robot.
She is also launching ZALLA, an online platform to elevate the voices of Afghan women and journalists. Roya Mahboob’s commitment to STEAM education and economic opportunities for women, with a strong emphasis on human rights, has earned her global recognition. She was named among TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in 2013, received the Tribeca Disruptive Innovation Award in 2014, and received other prestigious accolades, such as the Advancement of Gender Equality through Education Award.
She was a Young Leader at the World Economic Forum in 2015, an Asia Game Changer in 2019, and received the Doha Forum Award in 2022. Her contributions have been honored with the Lantos Human Rights Awards, the Presidential Leadership Scholarship, and an honorary Doctorate of Science from McMaster University.
