When technology meets purpose, access becomes opportunity, and systems begin to shift.
For Njideka U. Harry, that shift began at Microsoft. As a tech executive supporting market expansion into sub-Saharan Africa, she brought more than professional expertise—she brought lived experience. Having grown up in Nigeria and later moved to the U.S. for college, she had seen both sides of the digital divide. That dual lens became her superpower.
While at Microsoft, Njideka collaborated with the organization she founded—Youth for Technology Foundation (YTF)—to launch the Digital Village Movement, an ambitious initiative that brought education, entrepreneurship, and digital tools to rural communities. What started as a small effort has now empowered over 1.7 million youth and women across five countries.
One of YTF’s most transformative programs, 3D Africa, has trained more than 10,000 youth—65% of them girls—in AI, human-centered design, and emerging technologies. These young innovators are launching microenterprises, developing solutions for local challenges, and building a new model of inclusive innovation. This work at YTF earned Njideka global recognition including her selection as an Ashoka Fellow and a World Economic Forum Social Entrepreneur.
Today, as Global VP at Ashoka, Njideka is bridging the worlds of social and corporate innovation—connecting entrepreneurs and changemakers to co-design the systems the world needs most. “Real equity is about more than access—it’s about shifting power to those closest to the challenge, especially young people and women,” she says.
Her vision is clear: embed social innovation into the core of corporate strategy, not as a CSR initiative but as a critical lever for sustainable growth.
Njideka’s story is a blueprint for change—one where the people most affected by problems are trusted to design the solutions. From Microsoft boardrooms to grassroots tech labs, she’s proving that when empathy meets execution, entire ecosystems transform.
About #empowHER50 campaign
This campaign celebrates women leaders at Microsoft, past and present, who have been instrumental in democratizing access to technology, opportunity, and growth. By honoring their contributions over the last half-century, this campaign highlights stories of resilience, innovation, and inclusivity. Through digital spotlights, a commemorative coffee table book, live recognition events, and more, the campaign inspires collective action toward achieving equitable societal goals. To learn more about empowHER50, please visit https://womenincloud.com/empowHER50
To learn about Microsoft 50th celebrations: https://news.microsoft.com/microsoft-50/
