GET TO KNOW
Operators (MNOs)
are planning
to deploy Wi-Fi
technology (either
public or private)
and the traction will
possibly be seen in
the next 12 months.
What changes to
your job role have
you seen in the
last year and how
do you see these
developing in the
next 12 months?
How do you deal with stress and
unwind outside the office?
Being a family guy, most of my free time is
spent with my family and I am privileged
to have boys that play sports and are
exceptional at it.
I spend that time supporting them at all
their sporting games – they all play rugby
really well and two of them play cricket at a
provincial level.
Apart from supporting my boys, I love
spending time listing to music – anything
from jazz and 50’s music right through to
modern day RnB.
I also enjoy researching about music and all
the technology involved to produce it.
If you could go back and change one
career decision what would it be?
I am a firm believer of ‘everything happens
for a reason’ and that your path is carved a
certain way in order to gain life experiences
and learn a little bit about what you are
capable of.
But if I had to choose, I would probably
study telecommunications instead of
industrial engineering.
What do you currently identify as
the major areas of investment in
your industry?
Access to public Wi-Fi – operators need
to change their views and opinions on
Wi-Fi. However, we have started to see
some progress here as Mobile Network
92
INTELLIGENTCIO
I need to be able to look at the horizon and
beyond it to react quickly to any industry
disruption. Take 5G for example, I need to
develop a plan of how it will disrupt the
industry whether positively or negatively
and how we act based on findings.
I need to be able to address market needs,
understand business practices, margins and
profitability, how the new BEE act will affect
the business, ensure that all our partners
are aligned with all the market needs and
understand legislation and how it affects
employees and businesses. It’s definitely a
busy time.
What are the region-specific
challenges when implementing new
technologies in Africa?
As IT very much acted as a silo previously,
I think the biggest barrier is acceptance of
change. While many companies understand
that digital transformation needs to happen,
integrating a function previously perceived
as a cost centre so closely into the business
strategy can be daunting. This also often
raises questions of security and control and
of course, skills.
What’s more, business strategy is usually
longer-term and IT moves quickly, so finding
a balance between immediate gain and
long-term sustainability is critical.
Additionally, most IT strategies are not
business-orientated but rather completely
technology-centric. In fact, IT strategies are
usually bolted on to the business strategy
rather than being created as part of the
business’s centric nervous system which
can make it challenging to align without re-
hauling legacy systems and processes.
There is no instant quick fix – but what
does need to change and change quickly
is acceptance of change. While some
organisations are more open to change and
disruption than others, digital transformation
cannot be ignored and to ensure that your
company is not left behind, there needs to
be an acceptance to do things differently
than before.
Having this buy-in to be open to change and
disruption is half the battle won. We have to
move from the old way of thinking and the
traditional status quo into a broader business
focused approach – with IT at its heart – so
that the business can evolve as the vision
and market change.
What advice would you offer
somebody aspiring to obtain c-level
position in your industry?
You need to have determination and
focus – a never give up attitude. When
you hit a brick wall you need to go under,
around or over it to find a solution. And very
importantly never doubt yourself – if you
believe in something, trust your instinct and
go for it! n
“
DIGITAL
TRANSFORMATION
CANNOT BE
IGNORED AND TO
ENSURE THAT
YOUR COMPANY IS
NOT LEFT BEHIND,
THERE NEEDS TO
BE AN ACCEPTANCE
TO DO THINGS
DIFFERENTLY
THAN BEFORE.
www.intelligentcio.com