Mushfiqoh Samodien of Aspire Solutions: breaking barriers and empowering women in tech

As Chief Executive of Aspire Solutions, Mushfiqoh Samodien has been recognised as one of the Top Women in Tech, an accolade she described as deeply personal.

“It was not just a milestone, but a moment that reminded me of every time I felt like I did not belong and still showed up. I never set out to be a woman in tech. I was just a woman trying to build something meaningful. But over time, I realised the power in owning both, the woman and the tech,” Samodien told Business Report. 

Samodien’s career in a male-dominated sector had not followed the mould.

She often brought colour into rooms that expected grey and asked questions when silence would have been easier.

“I also saw something many missed, that tech is about people, not just systems. Once I understood that, I knew I had a place,” she said. 

She acknowledged that challenges remained.

The silent expectation to rise without asking and to succeed without showing struggle weighed heavily in her early career.

Imposter syndrome and the pressure of being the first in many spaces added to the climb.

“I overcame them by leaning into my truth, building relationships, and refusing to shrink. I stopped trying to fit into spaces not made for me and focused on belonging and helping others belong too,” Samodien further added.

At Aspire Solutions, gender empowerment had been central to her leadership.

She believed it was not a policy but a practice.

“We created a space where women could lead without apology, grow without permission, and bring their full selves into the room,” she said.

Through Aspire Academy, the company built not only technical skills but also confidence.

She said that true empowerment was about addressing barriers often left unspoken.

“The unspoken expectations, the pressure to prove your worth twice over. We worked to dismantle those, brick by brick, through mentorship, dialogue, and shared responsibility. Because when one of us rises, we all do,” Samodien said.

Her work extended far beyond technology.

She supported human rights, youth leadership, and education initiatives.

“Purpose drove me,” Samodien said.

“I lived the reality of being overlooked and underestimated, and I had seen what a single opportunity could unlock,” she said. 

Initiatives ranged from robotics labs in under-resourced schools to feeding schemes and care packages for the elderly.

Social impact, for her, was not an add-on but part of the company culture.

“At Aspire, profit and purpose worked hand in hand. One of our proudest contributions was Aspire Academy, not just because it built technical skills, but because it focused on something often overlooked: character,” Samodien said.

Her international collaborations also spoke to her vision.

She worked with organisations supporting women in Gaza through the Hope for Gaza campaign and mentored young women in legacy leadership programmes.

“The goal was always the same: spark something in one person and watch it spread,” she said.

She also channelled her creativity into Mush Label, a clothing brand born out of her need to express culture and diversity.

“Mush Label became a statement: you do not have to choose between being creative and being credible. You can do both and you can do it with edge.”

Mentorship remained a thread throughout her journey.

She recalled the growth of one young mentee who joined Aspire as a high school learner and went on to become a junior developer.

“He reminded us why creating access and opportunity matters,” she said.

“Our hope was to see many more young people like him who lead with intention and build their future with purpose and integrity.”

Her exposure to projects across Africa and Europe had shown her that innovation was not exclusive to wealth or infrastructure. “Innovation is born from necessity, context, and courage,” Samodien said.

“Inclusion means looking beyond the usual voices and seeing what each region and each person brings to the table.”

On Aspire’s flagship product, Findology, she said it had emerged from a real need.

“Every industry relies on data, but not every organisation trusts it. Findology changed that by making information accessible, auditable, and relevant. It bridged the old and new, providing confidence in decision-making.”

Looking ahead, Samodien saw both her journey and the company’s as aligned with purpose.

“For Aspire, the next phase was about expanding our footprint and remaining a home for tech talent. For me personally, it was about scale and legacy. I wanted to explore cross-industry incubators, expand mentorship, and create more access points for underrepresented voices,” she said.

Ultimately, her vision was rooted in the belief that leadership in tech meant leaving the door wide open for others. “It was about making sure others knew they belonged here too.”

BUSINESS REPORT