Exclusive Trusted Magazine Q&A with Charles Mutinda, Information Technology Manager @ Musoni Microfinance
How could you describe your career path in a few words?
At the start, many people are inspired by either their parents, friends or close relatives or even mentors to know what to pursue in life in form of a career. I had none of these but I had a great motivation from the inside to be different in paving my own path. Though I knew technology was the call for my life, starting with accounting intrigued me at first but over time debit and credit as the dominating principle felt mundane. Later when I joined the techspace things made sense as a whole from the base of finance and accounting. The evolution speed of tech is crazily fast and therefore there is a lot to keep tabs with to bring significance or relevance at the lowest. When I solve businesses, problems using technology it is fulfilling, this is what has built my wit for digital transformation. Currently exploring blockchain and artificial intelligence to make the world a better place. What one can achieve with the insights birthed from technology is limitless. Sometimes it is not about creating a new tech but best use of the current tech innovatively.
What was your most challenging experience and it has changed your mindset?
Technology front is a very fast paced environment therefore detachment and staying focused has to be something you will have to thrive in in order to evolve. Keeping at lead has been my and still remains a tough negotiation of skill and versatility, this is a prominent fact and state for many. Human intelligence has the ability to achieve almost infinite possibilities and experience unlimited outcomes in the process. In efforts to stay ahead it is very easy to lose track of the objects of why you started at first. I learnt to stay resilient and keep abreast with cores of the vision and mission of any undertaking and forge into using disruptors to my advantage. This means a continuous examination of what you have to be in control of and align your priorities.
When you get surprised by unusual or uncertain context, what do you think?
Uncertainty is a test of both judgement and faith on what drives you. I am a believer of the bible, when uncertainty shows up I remind myself of a single solid state, “Nothing new under the sun”. It is just a transformed perspective or challenge. With this I quickly tick the boxes of what I am in control of and what can I do with what I am in control of to influence the uncertainty. I am never afraid to ask others what they would think, someone might say something that triggers an excellent solution or thought. This is also the place to learn and get rid of the perfection mindset. It is the moment to re-invent how to do things and make mistakes while learning and perfecting.
What’s the most important key success factor for you based on your experience?
There can never be a better strength without communication. This carries a lot of weight from all other factors. If you have a strategy that you need adopted and goals accomplished it can never be done devoid of communication. When expressing every aspect, you will gather feedback that will make you sharper than you were before. You will understand risks, challenges and opportunities when you are able to articulate matters to other stakeholders. As important as communication is how you communicate. This will determine how clear you are with the objectives. It will either inspire clarity or induce ambiguity. When to communicate is also a key determinant of how the rest of the part of the function/business/task plays out. The frequency of communication keeps the team in touch with any development or possible
What would be the major pitfall that may undermine the success of a leader?
A leader who cannot replicate him/herself is not a solid leader but an insecure position holder. A “know it all” leader gives no room to be challenged and therefore will never know when things are falling apart because he only has his view. A good leader must acknowledge no one has a monopoly of knowledge. If one is to be a successful leader must be bold enough to take responsibility in order to transform environments. Responsibility means one is involved in the matter. A good leader is never afraid to fail as he/she acknowledges failures as lessons. To be a successful leader is never ignorant of competition.
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