No task given to you is beneath you; learn from it

You must have been doing serious stuff at 21…

I was just about done with my undergraduate degree in International Business Administration with a focus in Marketing. I loved the outdoors like any other curious 21 year-old; but I still knew that good grades would steer me into a world of professional excellence, so I worked hard, even as I went out with friends for expeditions.

Which attributes do you owe your success to?

Resilience. I don’t believe in giving up. I also focus on fewer, but strategic objectives and getting them done.

Say something to a young person who dreams of  heading a big organisation.

You need to have lots of patience and humility. Never assume that any task given to you is beneath you. If you need to sweep floors, do it. If you need to pick litter, then pick the litter, and if you need to drive your boss around or pick him up, then do so. Learn from all opportunities accorded to you.

What has inspired you in your journey as you moved up?

The ability to give people a chance to grow inspires me. To see someone start from the very bottom and rise up the corporate ladder to be the best that they could be keeps me going. Mentorship and coaching are key inspirations for me as well, but it is the ability to build on an idea, execute it and grow it profitably and run with it in the market that I look forward to everyday. In it, I see the work of my hands come to fruition.

You have encountered a couple of challenges along the way…

Initially, age was a big issue as I entered into business and corporate leadership at a relatively young age. I see this as a misconception that we in the corporate world need to eliminate from our psych.

How have you been able to overcome such challenges?

Experience remains for me the quality and expediency of one’s output, rather than the number of years they have amassed in the business. I also challenge systems as I do not believe in being stuck in processes that are cast in stone and cannot be tweaked within policy, to address the dynamics of the industry.

I also get to seek solutions, even outside the industry, and tailor-make them to suit business needs. I live in a dynamic world and I have to be very receptive of ideas and technological innovations to address emerging trends in the telecommunications industry.

How do you unwind?

I am ardent fanatic of the outdoors. I love taking part or supporting off-road competitions. For instance, the Quattro Charge and the Rhino Charge remain my all-time favourites. I am also a founder member of the Bundu Rovers Club, a group of 4X4 enthusiasts that take time to enjoy the outdoors and have great fun driving off-road.

Your Top Five secrets to success

•             Resilience

•             Passion,

•             Drive

•             Determination

•             A respectful fear of failure

Which is the most interesting book you have read so far?

Seize the Daylight by David Prerau.