Empowering African tech talent with soft skills for global career growth

 Soft skills that unlock global career opportunities

‍

While Africa is home to a rapidly growing population of highly skilled developers, succeeding in global roles requires more than technical expertise. To increase employability and help talent grow into leadership roles, Tunga partnered with Lepaya to deliver soft skills training focused on assertiveness and feedback.

Business need

‍

Preparing African tech talent for global workforce expectations

‍

Africa has an abundance of highly capable tech professionals ready to contribute to global innovation. However, success in international roles requires interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills that complement technical knowledge.

‍

Employers increasingly expect developers to:

‍

• Navigate stakeholder dynamics
  
• Communicate confidently
  
• Give and receive feedback effectively
  
• Influence team decision-making
  
  

Recognizing this need, Tunga launched the Tunga Academy in July 2023 to support developers’ career progression.

‍

“Our mission is to empower aspiring African developers with the expertise and opportunities to thrive in the global tech ecosystem.”

Jori Gerritsen

Project Manager at Tunga

Training solution

‍

Practical soft skills training for real-world tech roles

‍

To address the skills gap, Tunga partnered with Lepaya to deliver digital soft skills training programs tailored to the needs of tech professionals.

The training focused on two foundational capabilities:

‍

1. Assertiveness
   
   1. Empowering developers to communicate with confidence, advocate for ideas, and demonstrate their expertise in global teams.
2. Feedback for Growth
   
   1. Helping participants learn how to give, receive, and apply feedback productively with stakeholders and colleagues.

‍

Learning designed for real behavioural change

‍

Lepaya ensured practical skill transfer through:

‍

• Peer buddy exercises
  
• Role plays with actors
  
• Interactive classroom sessions
  
• High-quality instructional design
  
  

This approach helped learners apply the concepts immediately in real-life situations.

Impact

‍

Increased confidence, influence, and career opportunities

‍

The value of the Tunga Academy soft skills training became immediately clear in participants’ professional growth. Developers reported a noticeable boost in confidence, enabling them to speak up at tech events, share ideas, and build stronger professional networks. This newfound assertiveness also translated into more effective stakeholder management, as participants learned to adapt their communication styles to navigate diverse teams and workplace dynamics.

‍

The program fundamentally changed how learners contributed within their teams. No longer just executing technical tasks, they began articulating their expertise clearly and influencing decision-making processes, positioning themselves as trusted advisors. For many, this shift opened doors to new career paths in fields such as artificial intelligence, investment banking technology, mobile development, and leadership roles.

‍

Beyond individual development, the program is contributing to a broader transformation of Africa’s tech ecosystem. By equipping developers with critical interpersonal skills alongside their technical expertise, Tunga and Lepaya are preparing a generation of well-rounded professionals capable of thriving in global, cross-cultural environments. As one participant reflected

‍

Through this holistic approach, the academy not only strengthens employability and career growth but also positions Africa’s tech talent to make a meaningful impact on the global stage.

‍