EDITORIAL | TECHNOLOGY IS FOREVER, PROFITS ARE FOR GOOD
Other corporate giants are focussing on enhancing
expand, started new ventures, secured jobs, and grew in
people’s skills sets, targeting vulnerable and marginalised
their current positions.
individuals. Accenture, one of the world’s largest business and IT consulting firms, has, for instance, developed a Skills
Some 48% of participants in the Digital Skills for Africa
to Succeed Academy. As a free and interactive online
programme so far are women. This is important because
training programme, it helps disadvantaged youths aged
women remain economically under-represented and,
15-24 boost and build relevant skills to grow their career
therefore, most affected by unemployment, poverty, and
prospects.
hunger. To add insult to injury, those who have jobs often earn less than men. South Africa is no exception, and the
Closer to home, JSE-listed IT company Business Connexion
2018/19 Global Wage Report by the International Labour
has partnered with the Cape Innovation and Technology
Organization (ILO) shows that female workers on average
Initiative (CiTi), Africa’s oldest tech incubator, to equip
earn 28% less than their male counterparts, The fact is
unemployed South Africans with skills vital to today’s
countries and economies can’t transform, grow, innovate,
workspace. Think geometrics, artificial intelligence (AI),
and bring about change if they continue to exclude women.
operations technology, and cybersecurity. Not only does this programme improve their chances of finding
Programmes like I am Remarkable and Women Will
meaningful employment and a ditto salary, but it also
aim to empower women by giving them critical
provides businesses in our country access to the scarce
entrepreneurship, workplace readiness, leadership, and
skills they need to grow, remain competitive, serve their
technology skills, as well as the interpersonal skills needed
customers, and make a difference.
to truly rise, and take other women along with them.
In many aspects, Accenture and Business Connexion, are hitting the nail on the head. Technology truly is the perfect vehicle to help people, business owners, NPOs, activists, start-ups and anyone else grow, enhance, and polish their skills sets. Innovation has the ability to bring knowledge closer to people, instead of the other way around. This allows you to learn anything from anywhere, at any time. All you need is internet connectivity. For example, Google’s Grow Stronger with Google initiative is helping to accelerate economic recovery through
There is a simple reason why more and more companies have shifted and continue to shift their attention from revenues to purpose through technology, and are putting social impact at the heart of their operations: as good corporate citizens, using our profits for good is our duty. The world in which we operate is not ours to keep.
providing people with the tools, skills and insights they need to grow their careers, start new businesses, and
Besides that, it is what our customers, suppliers, clients,
expand their existing ventures.
employees, and shareholders expect from us. Making a social impact is no longer a nice-to-have, but a must-
In the same vein, the Digital Skills for Africa programme
do. If we can’t meet their demands, closing down is
is providing young Africans with the skills they need to
just a matter of time. Being a super brand makes no
participate in the digital economy and either find jobs or
difference. Look at what happened to Kodak. Once
create their own. It also enables SMEs to take advantage
the biggest film and camera brand in the world, they
of the digital tools they need to be where their customers
failed to move with their customers’ demands and
are. So far 5 million young people and SMEs from 29
expectations. As a result, they are no more.
African countries have gone through the programme. Of these participants, 60% have seen their businesses
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2 0 TH E D I T I O N
The same thing can happen to any of us.
