Redington has brought its flagship initiative The Vertical Congress to Nairobi, Kenya. The event housed over 150 senior decision-makers from key industries, including BFSI (Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance), Education, Healthcare and Telco.
The Vertical Congress – Nairobi Edition featured industry titans such as Dell Technologies as the Diamond sponsor; Microsoft as the Gold sponsor; and Fortinet, DigiGlass, Palo Alto Networks and Vertiv as Silver sponsors.
Empowering the Next Generation of Women Leaders in Techis an important topic, one that was discussed at length in an engaging panel discussion at The Vertical Congress – Nairobi Edition.
Redington is deeply committed to empowering women and cultivating an inclusive, diverse workplace across all its offices on the African continent. The company takes great pride in having over 30 per cent of its workforce comprised of women, underscoring its strong dedication to gender diversity and inclusion at every level of the organisation. This commitment is not just a statistic, but a reflection of Redington’s ongoing efforts to ensure women are given equal opportunities to excel and lead in the tech sector.
The panel highlighted the need for more women leaders in shaping the future of technology and provided insights into the barriers and opportunities for women leaders in these fast-evolving sectors.
The panel featured industry veterans such as Lucy Njoroge, Managing Director at XRX Technologies; Irene. W Ndungu, Account Manager, Dell Technologies; Fiona Malmqvist, Commercial Sales Manager, Palo Alto Networks and Njambi Kimani, Field Marketing Manager, Vertiv. Moderated by Janees Reghelini, the Communications and Marketing Lead at Redington MEA, the panel focused on strategies, initiatives, and best practices to prepare young women for leadership roles in the tech industry.
Following the thought-provoking panel discussion, attendees were treated to inspiring keynote addresses from global technology leaders.
Zahid Sumar, Cluster Head, East Africa, Redington, explained the role Redington plays in driving digital excellence through synergised tech ecosystems.
Sumar said, “Redington plays a pivotal role in driving digital excellence by fostering synergised tech ecosystems that empower innovation, streamline processes, and unlock new opportunities for growth and transformation. By bridging the gap between the rapid pace of technological innovation and the rate of adoption, Redington reduces technology friction, enabling organisations to seamlessly integrate and leverage new technologies.”
Bernard Waweru, Director ICT Infrastructure at the Ministry of Information, Communications and The Digital Economy, Kenya, provided a detailed view into Kenya’s ambitious digital transformation plans and shared insights on leveraging technology to drive economic growth and improve citizens’ lives.
The digital revolution is being embraced with a clear vision for Kenya: technology is being leveraged as a catalyst for economic growth, innovation, and inclusivity, ensuring that the opportunity to participate in and benefit from the digital economy is extended to every Kenyan, regardless of location.
Dr. Carolyne Mbeneka’s, Services Lead for Southern East Africa at Dell Technologies, keynote on accelerating ideas into impactful innovation inspired attendees and highlighted the future of tech leadership.
These keynotes set the stage for an exciting day of collaboration and exploration of the latest innovations in the BFSI, Education, Telco, and Healthcare industries.
The event also included breakout sessions that covered a range of specialised topics, offering deep insights into how technology is transforming these critical sectors. Attendees engaged with experts, shared experiences, and discovered the latest trends and solutions.
The evening included an awards ceremony, recognising our key stakeholders for their outstanding contributions to the industry. The event celebrated individuals and organisations driving excellence and innovation in their fields. The Vertical Congress – Nairobi Edition then culminated in an unforgettable performance by Kidum, the renowned Burundian musical artist, and his talented band, captivating the audience with their dynamic energy and memorable melodies.
Redington MEA’s Vice President for Cloud Solutions Group, Nehal Sharma, shared, “We’ve seen firsthand the significant rise in cloud adoption across East African businesses and government sectors. Kenyan organisations are increasingly recognising the immense value of cloud solutions, from scalability to cost efficiency, and the drive for digital transformation. For us, hosting events such as The Vertical Congress are more than just opportunities to showcase our expertise and portfolio of solutions – they bring us closer to our customers and our ecosystem. We gain a deeper understanding of their unique challenges and aspirations, enabling us to refine and tailor our approach to better support their success. It’s moments like these that remind us of the power of collaboration and the impact we can have together.”
Dharshana Kosgalage, Executive Vice President of the Technology Solutions Group at Redington MEA, added, “The Vertical Congress – Nairobi Edition provided a valuable opportunity to connect with industries leading technological transformation. Through collaboration and thought leadership at such events, we aim to help organisations across Kenya and Eastern Africa embrace digitalisation, driving innovation and growth in their sectors. As Kenya continues to emerge as a digital leader in Africa, this shift is key to unlocking new growth opportunities and boosting global competitiveness. As an aggregator, Redington plays a crucial role in connecting technology providers with businesses, ensuring seamless access to the solutions that drive this transformation. By working together, we can create a future where technology drives meaningful progress for all.”
Sayantan Dev, President, Redington Middle East and Africa, said, “As Redington continues to expand its impact across the MEA region, The Vertical Congress – Nairobi Edition serves as a testament to our deep commitment to driving digital transformation across the continent. By collaborating with industry leaders, government entities, and our tech ecosystem, we are collectively working to unlock new opportunities, bridge technology gaps, and empower organisations in critical sectors such as BFSI, Education, Healthcare, and Telco. Our goal is to ensure these sectors can fully embrace the power of digital transformation, paving the way for sustainable growth, innovation, and a more inclusive future for the region.”
Viswanath Pallasena, Chief Executive Officer at Redington MEA, emphasised, “We firmly believe that technology holds the key to unlocking substantial growth and efficiency across diverse industries. At Redington, we are committed to reducing the barriers to technology adoption, enabling businesses to harness the full potential of digital transformation. The Vertical Congress – Nairobi Edition provided the perfect platform to showcase how we, together with our partners, are actively working to make technology more accessible, affordable, and impactful for organisations across various sectors. Through collaboration and innovation, we are empowering our customers to not only embrace new technologies but to thrive in the digital age. This event underscored our ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between cutting-edge solutions and the organisations that stand to benefit from them, ensuring that the journey towards digital transformation is one of growth, opportunity, and lasting success for all involved.”
The Nairobi edition of The Vertical Congress reflected Redington’s continued commitment to supporting the rapid digital transformation in emerging markets. By highlighting innovations in BFSI, Education, Telco, and Healthcare, the event became a catalyst for change, bringing industry leaders together to share knowledge and drive impactful solutions.
Looking ahead, Redington will host additional editions of The Vertical Congress in other countries, with the next event planned for Angola on 13th February 2025, focusing on innovations in BFSI, Government, Oil & Gas, and Telco industries.
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