Discover the career of an Associate Director working within Telecommunications, Nigeria

What industry do you work in and what exactly are your skills?

I work in the Telecommunications industry and my skills are predominantly in Project Management;  Leadership & Training; Program development;  Brand Management  and Strategy planning.

What inspired you to get into this sort of industry?

As a kid growing up in the 1980’s, I had a pen pal in Namibia with whom I communicated  with via regular surface mail.  At the time, telephones were a luxury in some  parts of the world and it was difficult for me to comprehend as a young kid why her parents could not afford a telephone. I eventually understood the lapses in technology between us as a teenager and as we grew older, we eventually lost contact due to lack of telephonic and other fast mediums of communication available to her.The whole experience inspired me toward the possibility of making a difference for less fortunate kids that would like to keep steady contact with a childhood friend even across continents.

What qualifications and experience did you have to gain in order to establish yourself and therefore become  a professional  within your industry?

I have always aspired toward leadership roles in projects/workshops since adolescence. As a result, I opted for quality education in business management, accounting  and project management respectively . I have since gained quality leadership/management experiences  from the 2 biggest telecommunications firms in Canada (Telus Communications and Bell Canada)  in roles where I managed projects successfully within scope, budget and time.

To gain the much desired African experience and become exposed to situations affecting communities in some  parts of  Africa, I returned there as an expat in 2008 working for a Canadian Multinational (Ledcor Construction Group). I have since also received a Project Management Professional (PMP) designation from the Project Management Institute; acquired extensive training in SAP; Microsoft Project; Primavera; and numerous leadership workshops; and now on the verge of completing a Masters’ degree in Business Administration to ensure a continued career path growth.

What is the most challenging aspect within your field of work?

The most challenging part of my field of work is limiting my responsibilities. This is mostly an issue because I like to learn and support others through their endeavors for learning.

How do you manage and overcome these challenges?

I manage to overcome them by learning to prioritize my  time better.

What has been the highlight of your career?

I endeavor to put in an honest day’s work each day and encourage members of my crew to do the same. Unknown to me after the first 2 years, a  monitored attendance flat file was released comparing the performance of every crew. I was honoured lavishly by the Vice president  for having an exceptional team attendance record. This was the highlight moment of my career.

What could somebody expect to earn within your field at starting level or at trainee level?

$50,000 USD.

What could somebody expect to earn after working within your field after 10 years?

It will depend on many other factors like location, but in general about $150,000 USD.

Who is your role model and why?

Nelson Mandela. For teaching me that simplicity and truth is golden.

What motivates you to work this hard?

The desire for a successful career  record that guarantees safe retirement from active work by the age of 55.

What is your outlook within your industry over the next 5 years?

The Telecommunications industry is currently undergoing a huge growth and technology upgrades. Within the next 5 years, emerging ideas in the software and firmware industries will see the explosion of wireless technologies that benefit the end consumer with reduced pricing, better gains for shareholders and improved telephony technologies.

As you know, numerous African countries are being invested in due to their rich minerals. Which country within Africa do you think will be the next hot spot and why?

I strongly believe that Mozambique will be the next hot spot. This is because mineral resources are only now being tapped and much still remains to be explored. Small towns and second-tier cities like Pemba are beginning to see real development and potential mineral discoveries in this region will remain important. 

Please feel free to forward me your CV: zoe@caglobalint.com if you would like your profile published!