Africa has
started riding on the new wave of a digital revolution. From the travel
industry to retail, transportation and entertainment, digital disruption is
changing the face of several industries. The retail industry has in recent
times been rattled by the gradual shift to online shopping. Several brick and
motar stores have been hit by this giant wave, resulting in the folding up of
multiple businesses.
Using the music industry as a case study, an
industry that has enjoyed the rewards of digital disruption. A practical
example, Sony went from selling vinyl record albums to selling CDs at walk-in
stores and moved to the sales of digital music to costumers via smart phones.
This type of "digital disruption" is hitting all industries and you
have to find out whether you and your company are prepared for the
transformation.
Another dramatic change in the last few years
has been how companies now look forward to a different type of leadership.
Several companies are now looking toward leaders who are willing to embrace new
technologies. Therefore, it is imperative that today's leaders be prepared
(dynamic and forward thinking), as companies make a shift from traditional ways
of doing business to undergoing a digital makeover.
According to several recent studies, despite the multiple calls from
economic, political and societal experts to promote the inclusion of
women in business, the future of many women in the workforce is uncertain.
While digital disruption means an increase in
the number of opportunities, this also means a number of jobs are in line
to be restructured or entirely replaced by technology in coming years,
women in low skilled occupations such as sales are more
likely to be impacted by automation and artificial intelligence
technology.
Therefore it is necessary to equip and prepare
women in business to understand the fundamentals of technology and gain
new skill-sets which will keep them relevant in today's workforce.
Although women are increasingly becoming key
drivers in the rapid expansion and increasing development of a tech driven
market and economy, there is still a long way to go. A few of the large tech
driven companies like Omatek, Mainstreet Technologies and Jumia Group
Nigeria boast of female Nigeria managing directors and CEOs.
Omatek (founded by the late Florence Seriki, the
first Nigerian IT firm to be listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.)
Juliet Anammah is the CEO of Jumia Nigeria,
Africa's e commerce giant.
Omolara Adagunodo is the MD of Jumia Travel
Nigeria, Africa's largest hotel booking portal that connect you to hotels in
Nigeria and several other countries across Africa.
Olamide Bada is the MD of Jumia Food, a food
delivery service that connects you to restaurants in Nigeria and over 40
countries.
Funke Opeke of Mainstreet Technologies
is the CEO of MainOne Cable Company, a submarine communications cable
stretching from Portugal to South Africa with landings along the route in Accra
, Ghana and Lagos, Nigeria.
Nimi Akinkugbe is the CEO of Bestman Games, the
leading African games company and distributor of Hasbro games for over 40
African countries.
These are key examples of women who have risen
against all odds to become the face of some of the giant
technology driven brands in the country with influence across Africa.
The ability to adapt is critical in a constantly
changing environment. Women should seek out mentors who have the knowledge base
required to coach them in new technologies. So that when equipped, women can
join the digital revolution and the world in making quicker, better
and more informed decisions.
Written
by:
Mariam Banwo
Barry
No comments:
Post a Comment
Contact Us
Email: publisher@absolutehearts.com
Phone/whatsapp: +2348027922363