Lab Top — 7 Questions with Esther Wambugu

Highlighting women in tech: meet Esther Wambugu, Industry Customer Advisor SAP S/4HANA Lead Africa at SAP. She used her problem-solving skills and perseverance to help implement digital banking in one of Ethiopia’s biggest banks

1. Please explain: What is your specific job?

Industry Customer Advisor SAP S/4HANA Lead Africa. I spend every day helping organizations achieve their strategic goals and visions through digital transformation. With such rapid growth in technology, organizations want to know what options they have to start or continue with on their digital journey and what the most efficient and fastest route to realize value is.

I’m responsible for working with these organizations to help them adopt SAP’s Next generation ERP (SAP S/4HANA) in the cloud.

2. Your initial inspiration to enter this industry?

It was during my industrial attachment when I developed an app that was meant to help Kenya perform natural disaster management. The app emerged third at the country’s International Engineering & Technology Fair (IEFT) expo and was piloted by the country’s national disaster management unit.

3. Your most exciting project to date?

Banking implementation in one of the biggest banks in Ethiopia. This project was exciting because we helped one of the biggest banks in Ethiopia transition from completely manual processes to digital ones. From teaching users how to switch on a computer, to how to use the systems and how to serve the bank customers.

4. Top skills that anyone who wants to work in tech needs?

Critical thinking and problem solving – Our role is to solve problems and give solutions. Therefore, having a logical and analytical approach to solving problems and resolving issues is paramount to being successful.

Perseverance and motivation - There will be challenges along the way but patience, perseverance and cheering yourself on will help you sail through without a hitch.

Curiosity - Technology changes so fast and being in the tech space you have to be willing to learn and apply the new technologies.

5. What advice would you give to young professionals starting in tech?

Be patient, open-minded and eager to learn and have fun while you’re at it.

6. Your biggest role models?

God and mum.

7. People or media to follow?

Indra Nooyi.