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 Tech is 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% of its workforce comprised of women, underscoring its strong dedication to gender diversity and inclusion at every level of the organization. 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 synergized tech ecosystems.
Sumar said, “Redington plays a pivotal role in driving digital excellence by fostering synergized 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 organizations 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 specialized 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, recognizing our key stakeholders for their outstanding contributions to the industry. The event celebrated individuals and organizations 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 organizations are increasingly recognizing 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 organizations across Kenya and Eastern Africa embrace digitalization, 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.”
