Aspen Pharmacare puts Amanda Strydom in charge of digital technology group
The appointment puts a woman who began in technical support at the head of the systems that keep South Africa's largest pharmaceutical manufacturer running.
Aspen Pharmacare has set out the work of its Group Digital Technology division under group executive Amanda Strydom, in an announcement published on its own website on 7 September 2026. The company states that her priorities are stable, secure and resilient technology foundations, the modernising and consolidating of platforms, strengthened cybersecurity and information management, the responsible adoption of data and artificial intelligence, and technology investments that deliver measurable business value.
Strydom also names the building of an integrated, adaptable and cross-skilled Group Digital Technology team as a priority, one that combines internal business knowledge with specialist partner expertise.
From technical support to group executive
The announcement records a career that began in technical support and moved through business analysis, architecture, service management, business relationship management, strategy and large-scale transformation. Strydom says that progression gave her an understanding of both the detail required to make technology work and the leadership needed to ensure it creates sustainable value.
She describes leading complex global programmes across different industries, countries and cultures, and says that transformation is rarely only about the technology. In her account it is about bringing people together around a shared outcome, listening, navigating uncertainty and remaining accountable when things become difficult.
In 2023 she received the Aspen Inspire Woman Achievement award. She says she sees it as recognition of the teams, mentors, colleagues and leaders who contributed to her journey rather than as an individual achievement.
What the division is for
The announcement ties the technology work directly to Aspen’s stated purpose of improving the health and quality of life of patients through high-quality, affordable medicines. Strydom makes the link explicit: the division may not interact with every patient, but the reliability of the systems helps the people who manufacture, supply and support those medicines to do their work safely and efficiently.
For me, digital transformation is not about pursuing technology for its own sake. It is about making Aspen simpler, more connected, more resilient and better equipped to serve its stakeholders.
She states that the priorities support Aspen’s broader strategy by enabling secure growth, operational efficiency, quality, compliance and better connectivity across the group.
The barriers women still meet
Asked about the challenges women face in technology and digital transformation roles, Strydom names unconscious bias, under-representation in senior roles and assumptions about technical credibility or leadership style. She adds that many women feel they must be completely ready before pursuing an opportunity, and argues that in a fast-changing field curiosity, adaptability and a willingness to learn often matter more than having every answer.
She says Aspen creates opportunities for growth through meaningful assignments, mentoring, sponsorship and development, and that her own journey reflects an environment where women are encouraged to lead, contribute and progress on merit.
On Women’s Month, she says visible female leaders challenge outdated assumptions and make careers in technology feel more accessible to the next generation, and that being a woman in a senior technology role carries a responsibility beyond her own career.
The advice, and the legacy
Her advice to young women considering technology careers is to build a strong foundation, stay curious and keep learning, and to develop business awareness alongside technical understanding. She encourages taking on opportunities that stretch a person even when they do not feel completely ready, finding mentors and sponsors, and learning from leaders without trying to become a copy of them.
Looking ahead, Strydom says she wants to help build a technology capability that is trusted by the business, resilient by design and recognised for delivering measurable value, with simpler and more sustainable platforms, stronger information and technology governance, better use of data and responsible adoption of artificial intelligence.
She describes the legacy that matters most to her as a people legacy, a division where talented people are given the opportunity to grow, different perspectives are valued, and leadership is measured not only by what is delivered but by the capabilities and confidence built in others.
Aspen’s stated philosophy, Healthcare. We Care. is the anchor she returns to. She says it reminds the division that behind every platform, process, project and decision are people who depend on Aspen to deliver with quality, integrity and care.
The full announcement is published at https://www.aspenpharma.com/driving-digital-transformation-amanda-strydom-on-women-technology-and-leadership.
