Celebrating 6 Years of Digital Transformation: Empowering Africa's Future Through Teamwork and Values

In 2017, exactly 6 years ago, I was asked to build one of the largest pan-African digital infrastructure businesses in Africa. It was a bold vision, but I was inspired by a belief in the continent's potential and in the power of digital infrastructure to transform lives. Today, it's with immense gratitude and a profound sense of purpose that I take a moment to reflect on the remarkable journey, celebrating 6 years of relentless dedication, remarkable growth, and an exceptional team with unwavering values that have propelled us forward.

The journey began with a small team of passionate individuals, we set out on a path less travelled, driven by a bold vision. We worked tirelessly to build our network and customer base, one country at a time. We faced many twists and turns along the way, but we never gave up. Today with 310 dedicated employees spanning Africa and Dubai, our growth has been nothing short of phenomenal, driven by our fantastic customers and partners.

Our success is rooted in our exceptional team. We have built a team of some of the brightest and most talented minds in Dubai and Africa. Our team is diverse, inclusive, and passionate about our mission. We firmly believe that through our digital infrastructure ecosystem, we are enabling the benefits of a modern connected life for everyone, we connect and transform communities. A heartfelt thank you to the Bayobab ExCo and team.

We also have a strong set of values that guide our work. We are committed to innovation, excellence, and customer service. We believe in the power of partnerships and working together to achieve our goals. Echoing the African proverb “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”.

Today, we stand as one of the largest pan-African digital infrastructure players, with a presence in over 12 countries. Our journey is just beginning as we transform, innovate, and create our next-gen platforms, building 108,000 kms of proprietary fibre into an open-access model for everyone to utilise. We provide a diverse range of services throughout our two distinct business arms, Fixed Fibre and mobility communications platforms, including data centre connect, roaming, and internet connectivity, which form the backbone of Africa’s digital transformation.

We are immensely proud of our journey, playing a role in Africa's digital evolution, committed to providing our customers with the infrastructure they need to succeed and helping them grow their businesses.

Building a successful business is not easy, but it is much easier when you have a great team, a strong set of values and the belief of top management who has been instrumental in this belief from the start of this journey Jens Schulte-Bockum, Ralph (Tendai) Mupita and Ismail Jaroudi, thank you for believing in us!

I do get the question often how do you do this?

It’s simple, a great team is essential for success. Your team members should be talented, passionate, and committed to your goals. Working well together with passion, getting things done and create a positive work environment. I always jokingly gave them a book to kickstart their journey “The Fred Factor” by Mark Sanborn, which is a powerful, poignant parable of success, going the extra mile and always doing more than expected.

Strong values are also essential for success. Your values should guide your decision-making and inform your actions. Strong ethics are reflected as veins in your company culture.

• Hiring talented people who share your values.
• Cultivating a positive and supportive work environment.
• Empower your team members and give them the autonomy to do their best work.
• Providing opportunities for learning and development.
• Recognise and reward your team members for their achievements.
• Be transparent and honest with your team members.
• Leading by example, Live your values and be a role model for your team.

By building a great team and fostering a strong culture of values, you can create a business that is poised for success. Here's to the next chapter in our remarkable journey, as we continue to empower Africa's digital future through teamwork and unwavering values.

#ConnectingAfrica #MTN #DoingGoodTogether #Bayobab