Making A Name For Yourself
Vital Stats
- Player: Xoliswa Kakana
- Brand: ICT-Works
- Established: 1999
- Visit: ict-works.co.za
Xoliswa Kakana was a busy kid. While other children did chores to earn pocket money, she liked taking things apart to see how they worked, fixing people’s watches, irons and other electronics.
When she came across an article in the early 80s about a Japanese woman engineer who was also an astronaut, her mind was set and she signed up for an electronics engineering degree.
In 1999, she launched ICT-Works to create what she calls ‘an environment that would allow women ICT professionals the space and freedom to express themselves.’
Kakana reveals: “It was challenging when we started, but we persevered and ensured that we delivered on every contract we signed. Because it was critical to build a track record, we had to take on some projects that were not immediately profitable.”
The overarching challenge that Kakana faced was that people buy from people, so they buy from people they already have a relationship with. “Therefore, that’s where you feel most that you are a woman – because our male colleagues get to know each other on the golf course and other social spaces that women are not easily let into.
“Once you get past that hurdle, for most people the fundamentals are the same – they want assurances that the job will get done, and that they can rely on you to deliver,” explains Kakana.
Top Lesson
When I realised that I’d reached the capacity of my capabilities, I asked for help in the right places, inviting my business partners Sindile Ncala and Margaret Sibiya to leave their corporate jobs and join me.
When we were smaller, we relied a lot on fleet-footedness. We were opportunistic, chasing anything and everything that came our way. Our roles changed every day.
One moment I was a CEO who doubled as a sales person, the next I was a bid writer, and after that, the main delivery resource. I even swept the floor when necessary. You have to be willing to do anything in the early stages.
Now, we are an Oracle Platinum Partner, which is the second highest level of partnership, and few companies have that recognition in this country.