Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 46 | Page 38

COMPANIES THAT PRIORITISED DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION BEFORE THIS YEAR ’ S LOCKDOWNS WERE IMPLEMENTED HAD A CHANCE AT NAVIGATING THE STORMY SEAS OF 2020 .

CIOopinion OPINION

COMPANIES THAT PRIORITISED DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION BEFORE THIS YEAR ’ S LOCKDOWNS WERE IMPLEMENTED HAD A CHANCE AT NAVIGATING THE STORMY SEAS OF 2020 .

Cathy Smith , Managing Director , SAP Africa

Is 2020 the year Africa takes charge of its destiny ?

Cathy Smith , Managing Director , SAP Africa , shares with Intelligent CIO Africa , the continent ’ s immense challenges and why she believes Africa ’ s moment has finally come .

Does 2020 mark the year Africa steps into its stride and takes charge of its destiny in the 21st century ? While we ’ re still dealing with the disruptive events of this year , I would argue that Africa ’ s moment has finally come . How we act over the coming months will echo across a generation . Take the correct steps now and we could unlock the continent ’ s vast potential . Miss the opportunity and we could see on-going instability and lack of prospects for millions .

It won ’ t be easy . Our challenges are immense , and have only been intensified by this year ’ s events .
The pandemic has accelerated some of the social , economic and political changes that emerged from the 2008 global financial crisis . According to
Deloitte , there remains a growing frustration with organisations that focus only on generating profits without addressing social problems , aiding political stability and mitigating the unintended consequences of the technologies they develop .
This has created a lack of trust between the public and the institutions that are meant to serve them . The pandemic has worsened the situation by further polarising people along political and social lines . It is not a stretch to say public trust is at historic lows .
Transforming leadership and business
And yet , we need to collaborate and work together to repair the damage wrought by the events of 2020 . 38 INTELLIGENTCIO www . intelligentcio . com