As part of our ongoing tech female spotlight, we are featuring and celebrating dynamic tech female entrepreneurs who are using unique opportunities to create meaningful innovations and community engagements that affect humans globally. For this edition, we are presenting Stella Njoki; Co-founder and Director of Finance and Operations at Zege Technologies a payments and communication platform in Kenya, read my interview with her and get inspired!
Tell us about yourself and your role as Co-founder and Director of Finance and Operations at Zege Technologies?
I am Stella Njoki, a young female entrepreneur born and bred in Kenya. I am currently serving my organization as the Director of Finance and Operations. This involves preparations of budgets for various projects that we are involved in as well as financial reporting and management of funds of the organization. I also seek out new partnerships and opportunities as well as conduct recruitment and management of the staff.
What does Zege Technologies do?
Zege technologies is a technology company that build solutions around mobile money technology, business communication and business management software solutions for enterprises in Africa.
Who is your target audience?
Our target audience ranges from Small and Medium Enterprises, Institutions such as schools, universities, insurance companies etc. Any business that wants to automate their processes and manage their mobile payments as well as sms communication with their clients is a target customer.
What is your typical week like?
My typical week involves lots of meetings with potential clients and partners, responding to emails, creating financial performance reports for week, Bank reconciliations, meeting with staff team, planning and strategizing as well as dealing with anything else that comes into my attention that concerns work.
How have you built both your technology and leadership skills? Was it through formal education or your interest?
I have built my technology skills through reading as well as interacting with techies within our organization as also through networking and learning from others.
The same applies to leadership; I have built my leadership skills through experience and volunteering for leadership opportunities in the community as well as church. I also like reading a lot of Leadership books and I am inspired by Robin Sharma books especially The Leader Who Had No Title and The Greatness Guide.
How you have stayed focused and developed your brand?
I have stayed focused due to persistence and our vision to change the African story by empowering the African population through technology. This has made us to keep at it as we know where we are going and that makes me keep my focus.
In terms of developing my brand, it has been more of being out here and being vocal about us and what we are doing. This has also involved being present to seize opportunities that come up that help in pushing both my personal brand and my organizations brand.
What steps have you taken in the past and are you taking currently to keep your skillsets up-to-date?
In order to keep my skill set up to date, I have taken classes in finance and accounting, as well as attend various forums, conferences. I also research on the internet on ways to continue improving my skill set.
What is your advice to a younger person who wants to follow your path?
I would advise a younger person that when they are done with school, they should not wait to get a job. They should team up with like-minded individuals and try solving a problem which in exchange, people will pay for the solution. I would also encourage them to aim to be the best at what they do as excellence is always rewarded.
What can we expect from Zege Technologies in the future?
Expect ZegeTech to continue innovating as our motto says we “innovate for life”. We also look forward to expanding our operations in more countries in Africa. Look out for Zege Technologies.
Thank you Stella for your time.
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Somto Fab-Ukozor
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