A Gambian woman, Aji Jamaneh Bawo, who arrived in the UK at just 20 with big dreams and plenty of uncertainty, has been named Woman of the Year at the 2026 AllBright Everywoman in Technology Awards, in a moment that left her momentarily frozen in disbelief.
Bawo, who is head of products at Tesco in the UK, speaking to The Alkamba Times after the ceremony at the Westminster Park Plaza Hotel, revealed she had attended the high-profile event purely for the food, the chance to dress up as a mum, and to celebrate with other inspiring women in tech. Winning was never on her radar.
“When my name was called, I froze for a moment, looking around, thinking they must have meant someone else,” she said. “I hadn’t gone expecting anything beyond a good meal and the chance to celebrate incredible women, so it felt surreal.”
At first, the quiet voice of imposter syndrome whispered, “Are you sure?” But as she walked to the stage and felt the warmth and encouragement from the room full of respected peers, something shifted.
“These were women I deeply respected, and they were celebrating me,” she recalled. “That’s when it began to sink in. Winning wasn’t just a milestone, it was an affirmation that I did belong, and that the work I’d been doing, often quietly and with doubt, truly mattered.”
Imposter feelings, she added, do not vanish overnight, but they loosen their grip. “You realise that belonging isn’t something you’re given, it’s something you grow into, often long before you believe it.”
Her journey from a small West African nation to recognition as one of the UK’s top women in technology has been marked by resilience and quiet determination. Reflecting on the advice she would give her 20-year-old self — and to other young women making the same brave move today — she emphasised self-compassion and perspective.
“You don’t need to have everything figured out to be on the right path. The uncertainty you feel isn’t failure, it’s growth,” she said. “Be kinder to yourself, and don’t compare your journey to others with completely different starting points. Building a life in a new country takes courage, and that resilience will become your strength.”
She invoked the Wolof word “Joom” — the ability to always remember why you came in the first place — as a guiding force. To other young women leaping, she offered powerful encouragement: “Your story is your edge. Don’t wait until you feel ready to take up space, you already belong.”
A central theme in her message is the importance of authenticity. As a Black woman in tech, she has felt pressure to adapt or shrink to fit into spaces not designed for her.
“That message matters because, for many of us, the pressure to adapt, to soften who we are… can start very early,” she explained. “Shrinking yourself doesn’t create belonging, it just makes you invisible.”
Representation, she believes, is transformative. Seeing women from similar backgrounds succeed without apology challenges narrow ideas of leadership and belonging, permitting others to show up fully as themselves.
“Taking up space is not just personal, it’s collective. Every time one of us does it, we make it easier for the next woman to do the same.”
In her final words, the award winner left a message of quiet empowerment for anyone doubting their place: “Don’t wait for permission to believe in yourself. Confidence starts long before the recognition, the award, the title — in the quiet moments where you choose to keep going despite the doubt.”
“Winning Woman of the Year hasn’t made me more worthy than I was before,” she concluded. “It’s simply a reminder of what’s possible when you don’t give up on yourself. And that same possibility exists for so many others. You belong in every room your dreams lead you to, and you don’t have to become someone else to get there.”
