1. Date : March, 01 , 2010 Publication : Risk SA Page Number: 20-22
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MDof
Spescom DataVoice (Ply) Ltd
KGABO
BADIMOKgobo, you took over as MD in Jury 2008 and hove had to weather quite a
stormy market since then. How hove you kept the rudder steady?
In 2009, we operated in one of the toughest morkets in living memory, but we were
pleased to have defended our morkel position. Because customers hove adopted
the approoch of 'sweating assets' and spending money on maintenance and service
for maximum operability, OoloVoice focused on improving on its customer support
services, thereby improving on annuity revenue.
We cemented a strategic partnership with on international vendor through our
OEM strategy to extend our international distribution. With the 'sweating of
assets' poromount within business today, o great deal of focus has swung to the
performance of people, being the most valuable osset of any compony. This has
led to a greater appreciation within the morkel of workforce optimisation. We have
propelled ourselves forward competitively in this space by odding integrated product
solutions to complement our global voice-recording technology, with took such
OS screen recording, quality management, eLeoming, workforce monogement,
customer research and ogent selection. Our professional consulting services, in
conjunction with these fools, put us in a powerful position to not only advise, but to
put into action ROl solutions that reolry do provide our customers with the oWity to
achieve more with less whilst increasing the bottom line at the same time.
March 2010 | RI SK:V* Magazine
Page 1 / 3 Size=328X2$8mm Circulation: 5814 Readership: 5814
2. Date : March, 01 , 2010 Publication : Risk SA Page Number: 20-22
What are your goals for 2010?
Our goal is lo drive our strategy within the
WFO and RM market space, focusing at
delivering the underlying technology that ossists
organisations to mitigate risk, compliance
and ultimately good corporate governance. It
is our intention to excel in this space through
our expertise and state-of-the-art technology.
In oddition to our products, our local support,
integration and development capabilities will
odd considerable value ond reduce the cost of
ownership for our customers.
This hos led us to another area of focus the
monoged services component of our business,
allowing us to drive onnuity income ond deliver
'value added' services to our customers through
support contracts.
You have qualifications from Universite do
Cleremont Ferrar and Universite de Caen
in France, University of the Keele in UK as
well as numerous qualifications from highly
regarded local institutions. How did you
end up studying in so many places?
My dream was to become a medical
doctor I applied to Wits Medical School
and wos accepted. However, I was refused
Ministerial Consent, due to laws ol that time
prohibiting black students from studying
at white universities. I went to Turfloop
(University of the North) intending to do
pre-medicine, which was a requirement for
blacks. However, at Turfloop, I ended up
studying BSc Computer Science (not that
I knew what computer science wos at thot
time - I just wanted a degree). With all the
uncertainty prevailing ot that time, I ended
up in France where I hod to study the French
languoge, and subsequently did Licence
D'informatique (BSc (Hons)) at Universite de
Caen. I went to the UK through the Luthuli
Foundation Scholarship ond completed my
MSc in doto engineering al the University of
Keele. Coming back to South Africa in 1992,
I went to do MCom (Information Systems) at
Wits; Executive Leadership at UNISA School of
Business Leadership; and Diploma in business
administration fWits Business School). All my
studies though were focused on computer
sciences disciplines.
You have headed up departments of
people (HR), as well as managed systems
ond technology. Would you say you ore o
people's person, or do you like the details?
My studies, training, experience ond
knowledge ore in information technology and
communications (ICT). However, during the early
days in my career, I made a conscious decision
to move into monogemenl but still within the ICT
environment. With a solid technicol background,
I needed 10 reinforce my people skills ond
business skills. I moved into HR, gaining
experience in people management, which at the
time, developed and honed my interpersonal
skills. With the next phase of my coreer
development, I focused on business ond business
development but still within on ICT environment.
All three phases of my career development
(ICT technical skills, human resources skills
ond business skills) combined have made me o
rounded ICT business executive.
'Our goal is to drive
our strategy within the
WFO and RM market
space, focusing at
delivering the underlying
technology that assists
organisations to mitigate
risk, compliance
and ultimately
good corporate
governance."
Your experience and involvement in
leadership roles at various companies and
institutions has taught you...?
My experience ond involvement in leodership
ond executive roles at various companies and
institutions has tought me, amongst other
lessons, live key attributes: courage, coring,
optimism, self-control and communication.
Courage. I leamt about the two kinds of
courage: literal ond moral. Moral courage
means standing up for my convictions ond values
while risking criticism or persecution. It meons
the willingness to risk loss of power, position,
possessions ond reputation. Moral courage
tought me to respect a selfless form of behaviour,
which is a sign of having overcome fear ond
token responsibility for one's actions.
Coring. To me, humans ore the resource with
the most overall potential in the company I hove
leaml over the years that by treating employees
with appreciation, understanding, courtesy,
attention, loyalty and encouragement, one is
rewarded with co-operative ond supportive
behaviour However, having a sincere interest in
and genuine concern for others does not mean
I should tolerate or ignore shoddy performance,
violations of company policies, bod attitudes,
dishonesty or slothfulness.
Optimism. I leamt to take the most hopeful ond
cheerful view of things, and to see opportunities,
possibilities ond silver linings in every situation
while still acknowledging the reality of the
situation. I believe thot my optimistic attitude
olso encourages my perseverance and patience.
When everything looks hopeless, my attitude can
cause me to keep pushing and driving ond not
give up.
Self-control. I leamt to control my emotions,
octions ond desires. I cultivate discipline in my
behaviour and lifestyle, and do things that have
a positive influence on others and avoid those
that have a negative influence. My seff-controt
has given me the drive ond initiative, os well
as a clear vision ond focus, to concentrate on
success-oriented, career-enhancing behaviours.
Thus, I have created a foundation for my long-
term personal achievement.
Communication. By learning effective direct
interpersonal interactions, I con reveal my
sincerity ond moke on emotional connection.
How can voice recording be used to benefit
a business, as well as the consumer?
On the risk mitigation side, recorded calls
con protect companies like financial service
providers, lawyers and heohh practitioners
March 2010 | RISK Magozine 21
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