Ms. Arlene Steyl

Ms. Arlene Steyl, also known as Arlene Mulder, is a dynamic South African entrepreneur and innovator who has built a career that moves seamlessly between investment banking, tech entrepreneurship, and social impact. She began her professional journey in finance, spending seven years as an investment banker before her passion for technology and education took over.

In 2015, she co-founded WeThinkCode, a revolutionary tech talent incubator that offers free, peer-to-peer coding training to high-potential young people regardless of their academic background, directly addressing the tech skills gap across the continent. She was awarded the Forbes Woman Africa Technology and Innovation Award in 2019 and was featured on the cover of Forbes Women Africa as one of the 20 New Wealth Creators on the African continent.

Beyond WeThinkCode, she co-founded BiB, Africa’s Audio Library, in 2020, has served as Chairperson and Strategic Business Consultant at Click Learning, and in January 2021 founded Dire Wolf, a bespoke insurance advisory firm.

Arlene also serves on several boards including the Click Foundation and Pioneering Solutions Studio, helping to shape the future of education and innovation policy in Africa. She holds a Master’s degree in Business Mathematics and Informatics and is a sought-after speaker at corporate events and conferences, sharing insights on digital innovation, inclusive education, women in technology, and the future of work. Outside of work, she is an avid mountain biker and trail runner who also loves to travel and read.