registrars on the same through Domain
Name System Security trainings. In
addition to this we encourage companies
and individuals with registered trademarks
whose goodwill is at risk of litigation/
infringement, to secure both Second
Level and Third Level domain name.
As a corporate citizen how
do you interface with other
corporates in the Kenyan
business ecosystem? How do
you tap into their muscle in
helping drive your vision?
KeNIC and in turn .KE is an enabler
to critical government operations, it’s
crucial in driving the Digital Economy
and in meeting the National Broadband
Objectives. We collaborate with the
private sector, government entities and
corporates to push for the uptake of the
.KE domain through partnerships on
many events and sensitization workshops
across the country.
How effective is the reliance
on registrars as the driver
of your sign ups especially
when some of them have no
capacity to carry your story
appropriately amid their
own challenges?
We have been able to register over
100,000 domains, with the 3-R Business
Model we are able to reach a wide range
of clientele that we would have otherwise
not been able to reach had we not included
registrars in the value chain.
Why can’t KeNIC open
a window for direct sign
up independent of the
registrars?
Our role is to support growth in
Information, Communication and
Technology (ICT) by creating a conducive
environment for registrars to operate
within the DNS ecosystem. Opening
up the registry would place us in direct
competition with the same registrars that
we would like to support.
How has the Covid-19
pandemic impacted your
operations? Do you see
more opportunities in the
mix? How do you intend
to ride on this to give more
value in view of the changed
landscape?
Covid-19 has caused a rapid shift to
remote working, online classes for students
and increase in e-commerce. KeNIC, in
working with the private sector players has
been able to support businesses that want
an online presence.
We are leveraging on the increase in
use of technology to facilitate business
continuity by positioning .KE domains as
one of the technological solutions required
to adapt to the current situation.
We have however seen an increase in
online cyber-attacks with unscrupulous
people taking advantage of Covid-19 to
scam people. KeNIC has taken proactive
steps to scrutinize domain names that
incorporate “Covid-19” and we are
creating awareness on our social media
platforms by providing tips on how to stay
safe online.
What milestones have you
achieved and what are some
of your successes?
In terms of business growth, we have had
other registries coming over to Kenya to
benchmark with KeNIC; these include
South Sudan, Somalia, Belgium, Togo,
Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Tanzania. We
have increased our marketing activities to
grow the brand and over the years we have
experienced continued domain growth.
Tell us about yourself.
How did you get started
off in your profession,
what has been your career
progression path, what
interesting challenges have
you faced in your journey?
I give a lot of thanks to the grounding I
got during the pursuit of higher education
at USIU, the motto of the school rings
true every day of my life “education to
take you places”.
My career has primarily been in
marketing and progressing into business
development in the latter years. I have
indulged in various industries in the last 20
years such as hospitality, FMCG, Airline
(specifically cargo), banking, professional
services and now in the internet space.
The different roles have allowed me to
cross borders in pursuit of success and
to gain a different perspective on how
business is run. During my journey I have
encountered numerous challenges, cut
throat deadlines, office politics, unrealistic
ambitions and career ceilings, basically
the typical lifestyle of any ambitious
individual, right?
What do you attribute your
personal growth to in the
profession? What would be
among the most important
skills you have developed as
a professional to continue to
be effective and valuable?
When I look back at my journey certain
skills come to mind, the knowledge I
have gained from working in different
industries, leveraging on my selfawareness
to guide my leadership style,
channeling my passion for data and
innovation to guide my strategies.
I attribute my personal growth to having a
patient family that believes in every little
project I try to create without questioning
while ensuring I maintain a clear head
during decision making. I take value in the
network system I have nurtured along the
way that creates fountains of information
that helps oil my decisions ensuring they
are well grounded and calculated.
What is your biggest fear?
I fear lack of a support system that I can
count on when making crucial decisions.
What has been the proudest
moment of your career?
Making a success of my role in a
challenging environment while working
in Tanzania.
Who has influenced you the
most in your work life?
My greatest influence Blue Ocean
Strategy, authored by W. Chan Kim and
Renee Mauborgne. Kim challenges the
normal and inspires me to create my new
normal in every challenge I come across.
Anything you wish you had
done differently?
Maybe I should have been a little bit more
patient in some of my previous roles and
not moved on as quickly as I did!
Where do you draw your
inspiration from?
Being able to do the right thing at the
right time and not having any regrets
by saying, I wish I did that which I had
a chance to do. I also look forward to
doing something good, for my family, my
community and my entire ecosystem.
How do you unwind?
Family?
Until recently I was a busy body and
unwinding was not part of my vocabulary
but when time is available I lean on sports
as my go to chill place. I love watching
rugby and have been hitting the golf
course when possible. My family is my
bedrock, and as a family we enjoy to travel.
I am the official Uber driver in the family.
What are the biggest
challenges facing the
About Joel
corporate world today from
your bird’s eye view?
I think technology has brought about
information overload, everywhere you
turn data hits you. How are we consuming
this data for decision making? I also see
lack of trust in our systems and a selfish
streak where it’s everyone for themselves
with little regard for your neighbor. I
believe that competition has made us
monsters of success, at whatever cost!
What changes do you
anticipate in the work place
over the next few years?
The future of work is definitely changing
and there is need for all of us to be more
adaptive to this change. We can’t do the
same things and expect different results.
We shall see a different crop of work
place leaders who will demand more from
their employers for less. The clamor for
financial gratification will be replaced by
purpose driven employment.
What are among the best
lessons you have learned
about business and industry
that you can share?
As a career marketer, look for signs’ way
in advance and anticipate the customer,
make sure you complete the customer
journey. Customer Experience is king.
Take time to learn and consult, there is
nothing like a stupid question. Try and
learn new things all the time. Take time
to survey your surroundings, you will be
surprised that the rat race can actually be
minimized by the resources around you
that you never noticed. Most importantly,
make time for others and determine your
own legacy.
These are excerpts captured in
the interview with Joel Karubiu,
Chief Executive Officer, Kenya
Network Information Center
(KeNIC). Drop us a line for more
information or comments on: Info@
marketingafrica.co.ke.
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MAL36/20 ISSUE