Pure Infrastructure Podcast
By Pure Infrastructure Limited
Pure Infrastructure PodcastAug 28, 2023
S02E05, Nadeem Noordin, Sales Director, Board Member, The Copy Cat Group Kenya
on the fifth episode of this seasons podcast, we are happy to host Nadeem Noordin, Sales Director at the @CopyCatGroup_, one of the oldest and most storied technology firms in the region. Nadeem has extensive experience as a situational leader in the technology sector, where he has successfully driven sales, managed operations, and executed company strategies. His track record includes delivering solutions to customers in emerging markets, consistently surpassing revenue and profit targets. His leadership style, which he refers to as "leading with authenticity," enables him to effectively build and motivate diverse teams, even in remote settings. Drawing upon his experience and research, he strives to establish a framework that empowers teams to achieve organisational objectives and thrive in an environment of mutual success and interdependence. In addition to his leadership skills, he possesses strong communication abilities, adeptness in building relationships, and proficiency in negotiation. These qualities have allowed him to secure business opportunities in emerging markets and establish valuable partnerships with industry leaders and partners in support of various initiatives. With over a decade of board experience in both the private and not-for-profit sectors, he brings a comprehensive understanding of fiduciary, strategic, and generative modes of governance. This expertise enables him to leverage these modes effectively, resulting in optimal outcomes and performance. This podcast has been produced in conjunction with @CIOAfrica. The podcast is sponsored by VMware. Learn more about @VMware here http://www.vmware.com
S02E04, Alex Karanja, Head of Digital Transformation: Data Analytics and Innovation, Naivas Kenya
Alex is an accomplished leader with over 16 years of experience, he has been recognized for his ability to develop plans for automated information systems from project inception to conclusion, including system integration, testing, and end-user training. He's an expert in analyzing and designing processes, software, and software customizations for client use, with a focus on optimizing operational efficiency. He has demonstrable ability to communicate complex concepts to diverse stakeholders and deliver mission-critical results that yield direct and measurable profits and process improvements to diverse organizations. His commitment to staying ahead of the curve and continuously improving operations to better serve clients is exemplified by his achievement of the Gold Mark in Enterprise Technology adoption. This recognition highlights his team's outstanding commitment to staying ahead of the curve in the field of business process automation and digital transformation. In addition, he was a finalist for the 2022 @CIOAfrica CIO of the year Africa award, which is a testament to his unwavering hard work and dedication to driving innovation and efficiency in the industry. Currently, he's the Head of Digital Transformation: Data Analytics and Innovation at Naivas Supermarket, wher he leads the development and management of customer insights, vendor data, and performance analytics across the business. His role supports the innovation agenda and moulds the retail giant into a dynamic data-driven enterprise. He also leverages analytics or process improvement methodologies to support key projects each year, such as Six Sigma or Lean, and provide guidance to ensure departments have proper access and training to the appropriate databases and reporting tools to complete department-level analyses. Additionally, he's passionate about developing and executing strategies that drive organizational change and innovation. Whether it's implementing new technologies, creating agile processes, or fostering a culture of continuous learning, he's committed to helping organizations stay ahead of the curve and drive value for their stakeholders. If you're looking for a dynamic leader with a proven track record of delivering results in the digital space, he would love to connect and explore how he can help your organization thrive in the digital age. https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-karanja/?originalSubdomain=ke
S2E03, Ian Jansen Van Rensburg - Director Solutions Engineering at VMware & Lead Technologist SSA
In the third episode of this seasons podcast, we spoke to Ian Jansen Van Rensburg, Director, Solutions Engineering & Lead Technologist at VMware SSA. Ian's focus is to assist companies achieve their business goals through a software defined, digital approach. He's also responsible for a dynamic solutions engineering team that builds revenue in over 26 countries throughout Africa. He shares his passion and experience with customers and partners to enable them to achieve their digital ambitions, be more competitive and create new experiences for their customers . Ian joined VMware in 2007 and has more than 25 years of experience in the IT industry. Prior to joining VMware, he held technical and director positions at leading technology companies. Ian has been instrumental in the uptake of multiple technologies across Africa, we took this opportunity to learn about him and his vision of technology in Africa This podcast is sponsored by @VMwareEMEA (https://www.vmware.com), produced by @SemaBOXAfrica in conjunction with @CIOAfrica .
S2E02, Sanjay Sanjay Kumar - VP of Products and Marketing - Arrcus, Inc.
Sanjay Kumar is the VP of Products and Marketing Arrcus Inc has over 20 years of experience in the networking industry, at companies like Cisco Systems, Broadcom, Aruba Networks (HPE) and IP Infusion. He has held leadership roles in Product Management, Product/Corporate Marketing, and has a proven track record of leading product development, creating and driving go-to-market strategies and developing compelling messaging for multi-billion dollar product lines, across Enterprise and Service Provider segments. Prior to joining Arrcus, he was CMO at IP Infusion where he successfully created a new brand identity and led the overall global marketing and Strategic Alliances strategy. Our conversation covered an introduction to Arrcus, he work that Arrcus is doing in building Next Generation networks and practical use cases in Africa and beyond. This podcast is sponsored by @VMware EMEA (https://www.vmware.com), produced by @SemaBOX TV in conjunction with @dx5group
S02, Episode 1, Lorna Hardie, Director, VMware SSA
Lorna is the Regional Director of VMware for Sub-Saharan Africa. In her role I she is directly responsible for driving the company’s vision and strategy across the region. Drawing from her business development and people management skills, she strives to empower the regional team to take VMware’s compute, cloud, mobility, networking and security offerings, to a market hungry for a digital foundation that enables new customer experiences. This podcast is sponsored by VMware (https://www.vmware.com), produced by Semabox in conjunction with Dx5.
Episode 10: Ben Roberts, CTIO, Liquid Intelligent Technologies
In the tenth episode of our podcast, we interview Ben Roberts, CTIO, Liquid Intelligent Technologies.
Ben has been Liquid Intelligent Technologies Group Chief Technology and Innovation Officer since 2017, having previously served as Chief Technical Officer since 2006.
With over 20 years’ experience across a range of technologies in design, support, integration and operational management roles, he has led the group’s networking and product strategy, expanding its technology base and fibre network across Africa.
Ben led the integration and business transformation as CEO of Liquid Telecom Kenya as CEO from 2013 to 2017 and remains in Kenya as board chairman. In his current role, Ben is driving innovation across the Liquid Telecom group, while exploring how to digitally transform our services and technology stack, launching new technologies and products to our customers, and helping our customers innovate using our services.
Before joining Liquid Telecom, Ben was responsible for electronics design and satellite systems at Ericsson UK Limited. He also worked with Lotus Cars, the British sports car manufacturer, as an engineer. Ben holds a BSc Hons Physics from the University of Bristol in the UK.
Ben is passionate about STEM education and how it can be enabled by ICT, and is a board Committee Member of Young Scientists Kenya (YSK).
Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a business of Cassava Technologies is a pan-African technology group with capabilities across 14 countries, primarily in Sub-Saharan Africa. Established in 2005, Liquid has firmly established itself as the leading pan-African digital infrastructure provider. Liquid Intelligent Technologies is redefining Network, Cloud and Cyber Security offerings through strategic partnerships with leading global players, innovative business applications, intelligent cloud services and world-class security to the African continent.
Liquid is now a full one-stop-shop technology group that provides tailor-made digital solutions to businesses in the public and private sectors across the continent. The Group also operates state-of-the-art data centres in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Nairobi, Harare and Kigali, with a combined potential 19,000 square metres of rack space and 78 MW of power.
Through this combined offering, Liquid Intelligent Technologies is enhancing customers' experience on their digital journey.
You can learn more about Liquid Intelligent Technologies here:
https://www.liquid.tech/about-us/our_story
The podcast is sponsored by VMware.
Learn more about VMware here http://www.vmware.com
VMware leads in providing 5G, NFV and Telco Cloud infrastructure.
Learn more about VMware's telco solutions:
VMware Telco: https://telco.vmware.com
VMware Telco Cloud Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2qxoYekDqA
The podcast is hosted by Pure Infrastructure Limited
http://www.pureinfrastructure.com
Episode 9: George Murage, CTO, Cellulant
In the ninth episode of our podcast, we interview George Murage, CTO, Cellulant.
Cellulant is the largest payment aggregator in Kenya and one of the largest in Africa. Cellulant uses technology to connect people and their resources, making it easier to do business across Africa. Their goal is to facilitate more transactions between more people so that we can all live better lives.
You can learn more about Cellulant here:
https://cellulant.io
The podcast is sponsored by VMware.
Learn more about VMware here http://www.vmware.com
VMware is a leading provider of solutions to payment and financial services firms.
Learn more about VMware's fintech solutions:
VMware Financial Services IT Solutions: https://www.vmware.com/solutions/industry/financial-it-services.html
VMware Tanzu for FSI: https://tanzu.vmware.com/industries/financial-services
VMware Customer Case Study on Fintech: https://news.vmware.com/technologies/building-a-culture-of-innovation
The podcast is hosted by Pure Infrastructure Limited
http://www.pureinfrastructure.com
Episode 8: Dan Kwach, Managing Director, East Africa Region, Africa Datacenters Limited
In the eighth episode of our podcast, we interview Dan Kwach, Managing Director, East Africa Region at Africa Datacenters.
Africa Data Centres is Africa’s largest network of interconnected, carrier- and cloud-neutral data centre facilities. Bringing international experts to the pan-African market, we are your trusted partner for rapid and secure data centre services and interconnections across the African continent. Strategically located, our world-class facilities provide a home for all your business-critical data. Proudly African, we are dedicated to being the heart that beats your business.
You can learn more about Africa Datacenters here:
https://www.africadatacentres.com/about
The podcast is sponsored by VMware.
Learn more about VMware here http://www.vmware.com
VMware is a leading provider of datacenter solutions.
Learn more about VMware's datacenter solutions:
VMware Data Center Solutions: https://www.vmware.com/topics/glossary/content/data-center-solutions
VMware Software-Defined Datacenter: https://www.vmware.com/solutions/software-defined-datacenter/in-depth.html
VMware Data Center Virtualisation and Cloud Management: https://www.vmware.com/products/cloud-data-center-management.html
The podcast is hosted by Pure Infrastructure Limited
http://www.pureinfrastructure.com
Episode 7: Denis Karanja CTO, Savannah Informatics
In the seventh episode of our podcast, we interview Denis Karanja, Savannah Informatics. He's CTO at Savannah Informatics. Savannah Informatics is a Kenyan e-Health software company founded by clinicians and finance specialists to deliver interoperable, connected solutions for healthcare facilities, organisations and regions. Their vision is to enable a better healthcare future for Kenya through pioneering use of information technology and knowledge creation.
You can learn more about Savannah Informatics here: https://www.savannahinformatics.com/
The podcast is sponsored by VMware.
Learn more about VMware here http://www.vmware.com
VMware is a leading provider of IT to healthcare firms.
Learn more about VMware's healthcare solutions:
VMware Healthcare IT: https://www.vmware.com/solutions/industry/healthcare-it-solutions.html
Digital Healthcare: https://www.vmware.com/solutions/industry/healthcare-it-solutions/digital-healthcare.html
VMware Tanzu in Healthcare: https://tanzu.vmware.com/industries/healthcare
The podcast is hosted by Pure Infrastructure Limited, learn more here:
http://www.pureinfrastructure.com
Episode 6: Bastian Blankenburg, CTO, utu technologies
In the sixth episode of our podcast, we interview Bastian Blankenburg, CTO, Utu Technologies. He holds an MSc and PhD from Saarland University in Germany. He's a co-founder and CTO at Maramoja transport and utu technologies. Utu is a leader in the trust ecosystem, having had one experience in the technology space. Having had one of the most successful ICOs in the region, Bastian is also an expert in cryptocurrencies, blockchain and trust in general. We had a long chat about his background, Maramoja taxis, Utu technologies, blockchain, bitcoin, cryptocurrencies and trust in general. The podcast is sponsored by VMware. Learn more about VMware here http://www.vmware.com VMware has blockchain solutions for the enterprise. Learn more about VMware's blockchain solutions: VMware Blockchain: https://www.vmware.com/products/blockchain.htmlVMware OCTO: https://octo.vmware.com/author/blockchain/
Episode 5: Tom Makau, Lead Consultant Scipio Systems
In the fifth episode of our podcast, we interview Tom Makau, Lead Consultant of Scipo Systems. He is an industry veteran with 20 years experience in the technology space. We had a long chat about building networks, how to avoid outages, how networks work and what led to the recent Facebook outage.
The podcast is sponsored by VMware.
Learn more about VMware here http://www.vmware.com
VMware also leads in providing 5G, NFV and Telco Cloud infrastructure.
Learn more about VMware's telco solutions:
VMware Telco: https://telco.vmware.com
VMware Telco Cloud Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2qxoYekDqA
Episode 4: Morten Bangsgaard, CTIO, Safaricom Limited
In the fourth episode of our podcast, we interview Morten Bangsgaard, CTIO of Safaricom Limited. We spoke about his background, Safaricom's evolution and it's long term tech strategy.
Safaricom PLC is a listed Kenyan mobile network operator headquartered at Nairobi, Kenya. It is the largest telecommunications provider in Kenya, and one of the most profitable companies in the East and Central Africa region. The company offers mobile telephony, mobile money transfer, payment, enterprise services, corporate voice, consumer electronics, ecommerce, cloud computing, data, music streaming, and fibre optic services. It is most renowned as the home of MPESA, a mobile banking SMS-based service.
Morten Bangsgaard joined Safaricom from Maxis, a Malaysia-based communications provider in November of 2020.
Prior to joining Maxis, Morten was Senior Vice President for Network Planning and Build with TDC, Denmark, responsible for planning, designing and building mobile, fixed and coax networks. Prior to that, he held various roles in TDC, including Chief Information Officer, Head of Network Development and Strategy as well as Head of Market Support. Before TDC, Morten held several roles at Ericsson Denmark, Sweden and UK.
Morten holds a Master in Mathematics and Economics from Aarhus University, Denmark.
Pure Infrastructure Limited is a company incorporated in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2020. We offer cloud consulting services, helping organisations to define and deploy their cloud technology strategies.
The podcast is sponsored by VMware. Learn more about VMware here http://www.vmware.com
VMware leads in providing datacenter solutions. Learn more about the VMware solutions:
https://www.vmware.com/solutions/soft...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHIER...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORv-k...
Episode 3: Ranjith Cherickel, CEO, iColo Limited
In this episode, we interview Ranjith Cherickel, CEO of iColo, the first fully carrier neutral datacenter operator in Kenya. We spoke about the the business of datacenter, why he got into them and their importance to internet connectivity and technology adoption. We also covered iColo's plans to build a 2400, 20MW datacenter, the largest in Sub Saharan Africa
Episode 2: Jeremiah Chunge, Head of Alternative Channels and Technology, Genghis Capital Limited
In the second episode of the podcast, Phares Kariuki interviews Jeremiah Chunge, Head of Alternative Channels and Technology at Genghis Capital Limited. He is an industry veteran with close to 20 years experience in the technology space. The podcast is sponsored by VMware. Learn more about VMware here http://www.vmware.com
VMware leads in providing collaboration solutions. Learn more about the VMware solutions Genghis Capital implemented here:
https://www.vmware.com/products/workspace-one.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LzIRUT4hu0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6_w5Ahi1Ow
A new episode every fortnight
Episode 1: Tom Makau, CEO, Scipio Systems
In the inaugural episode of our podcast, Phares Kariuki interview's Tom Makau, CEO of Scipio Systems. He is an industry veteran with 20 years experience in the technology space.
This podcast has been produced in conjunction with CIO East Africa.
The podcast is sponsored by VMware. Learn more about VMware here http://www.vmware.com
VMware also leads in providing 5G, NFV and Telco Cloud infrastructure. Learn more about VMware's telco solutions:
VMware Telco: https://telco.vmware.com
VMware Telco Cloud Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2qxoYekDqA
VMware Telco Cloud Automation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSiwQC2LII4 https://telco.vmware.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2qxoYekDqA