After four years in campus, I finally graduated and entered the job market full of hope and ambition. After two years of relentless job searching, my situation became increasingly dire. Unfortunately, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated my struggles. The pandemic brought unprecedented changes to everyone’s lives, mine included. Many companies were forced to downsize, leaving countless individuals jobless. At the time, I was working at my brother's business, which included a barbershop and a graphic design shop.
The government-imposed shutdowns, restrictions on businesses, and social distancing mandates led to the temporary closure of many establishments, including beauty salons and Barbershops. This hit the personal care services industry hard, severely affecting employment within the sector. As a result, I found myself out of work.
To make ends meet, I started working at Kazi Mtaani, a government initiative aimed at providing employment during the pandemic. This program was a lifeline for me during those challenging months, helping me get by while I continued my job search.
About a year later, as the COVID-19 vaccination rollout began, businesses started reopening. This change brought a glimmer of hope. I applied for a position at a start-up company called Navari Limited. My perseverance paid off when Navari employed me as an intern. Six months into the internship, I was absorbed into the company as a full-time employee.
The initial implementations were a bit tricky because there were many things I had to learn. My first project left me in utter disbelief as I struggled to understand why we needed to create an item before doing a transaction and why capturing extensive details about the Items, Customers or Suppliers was necessary.
The demands of the job seemed far beyond my academic preparation. The theoretical knowledge I had gained in school did not translate directly to the practical challenges I faced during Implementations.
However, with patience and persistence, I began to see the bigger picture. The meticulous details and processes that initially seemed redundant were crucial for the seamless functioning of the System. These steps ensured data accuracy, improved management, and enhanced overall efficiency. Slowly but surely, I started to appreciate the intricacies of the system and the logic behind each step.
After completing two or three implementations, I felt more confident in my role. Each project taught me something new, and I could see my skills and understanding growing with every challenge I overcame. I started to enjoy the problem-solving aspect of System Implementation. The satisfaction of finding solutions and seeing projects come to life fueled my passion.
Soon, I realized that System Implementation was more than just a job for me; it was my passion. I immersed myself in the field, continuously learning and improving. So far have successfully done more than 15 implementations both within Kenya and in other African countries. Each project came with its own set of challenges and learning opportunities.
Traveling across multiple countries in Africa has enriched my experience in ways I never imagined. It has allowed me to appreciate different cultures and their unique ways of doing business, which differ a bit from what I was used to. For example, working in Congo taught me the importance of swift adaptability and resilience, while in Burundi, I learned about the System integration with their Revenue Authority (OBR) and how Mining Industries work.
These experiences have broadened my perspective, making me a more versatile and empathetic Implementer. They have also highlighted the importance of cultural sensitivity and the need to tailor software solutions to meet the specific needs of different markets.
Looking ahead, I hope to travel beyond the African continent to provide better solutions to businesses across multiple industries. The prospect of applying my skills and knowledge in new environments excites me, and I am eager to learn from global practices and contribute to international projects.
I will always be grateful to Navari for giving me this platform to grow and achieve bigger things. The journey has been transformative, and I am excited about what the future holds. Navari's faith in my abilities and the opportunities they have provided have been instrumental in shaping my career and personal growth. I look forward to continuing this journey, pushing boundaries, and making meaningful contributions to the world of software development.
Amaizing experience