photographer: carly wollaert © | make-up artist: violeta marinova from art of colors
annarie oosthuizen(she/her)
head of risk & audit – vp at prosus
about
i’m originally from south africa and have always been curious and comfortable being different. at school i wanted to study computer science, but it wasn’t offered. so with a teacher’s help, i arranged to attend classes elsewhere after hours – the only girl. that didn’t bother me. i loved what i was doing. that mindset stayed with me: i don’t have to accept barriers, i can push through them and keep learning. today i live in the netherlands with my husband and three daughters, leading the risk & audit function at a global tech group, with an exceptional team where i get to try new things and learning from others every day.
i want young women to know that…
you don’t have to have it all figured out to start. most of my career has been shaped by asking for opportunities that stretched me, even when i didn’t feel ready. sometimes i was the only girl in the room. sometimes i failed. but i learned faster by trying than by waiting. don’t let other people’s expectations define what you can do, and don’t say no to yourself before someone else does. the worst that can happen is a no. the best is opening a door to an opportunity you didn’t even know was possible.
prosus
at prosus, we build technology that shapes how millions of people live, learn, and do business. with that scale comes influence, and a responsibility to help shape a more inclusive future. joining the equals role model campaign matters because visibility changes what people believe is possible. when women in technology, leadership, ai, product, and investment roles are seen and celebrated, it challenges outdated norms and sends a clear message: there are no limits to what women can achieve. by amplifying these role models, we help reshape expectations and invest in a future where talent, not gender, defines opportunity. joining the equals role model campaign is important because visibility changes what people believe is possible. when women in technology, leadership, ai, product, and investment roles are seen and celebrated, it sends a powerful signal: there are no limits to what women can achieve.