Anne Nutsuklo on mobile technology

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The benefits of mobile technology in developed countries have been well acknowledged over the past few years. However, mobile technology could potentially have a much bigger impact on the lives of people in developing countries such as Ghana, depending on its growth.

Did you know? -

“Ghana was the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to launch a cellular mobile network in 1992.”

Ghanaians are gradually gaining more access to mobile devices and their usage is expanding rapidly. The mobile technology industry therefore has a bright future in terms of creating more jobs and generating revenue.

It is encouraging to know that some mobile technology companies in Ghana are undergoing steady growth under the leadership of women trying to change the African continent through their influence. One of such women is Anne Nutsuklo, co-founder of Nandimobile.

Anne had her secondary school education at St. Louis Secondary School in Ghana. She then obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). She joined Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) after school and started Nandimobile with two other co-founders after her training.

• Why Technology?

"After JSS, I spent a lot of time in my mum’s office where I was introduced to a computer. I played with it a lot and did a lot of experimenting with just Microsoft Word and PowerPoint. That was enough to make me want to learn more and be around computers.  Initially my parents and teachers wanted me to pursue Medicine in the university. I thought Engineering would be more appropriate since I loved Maths more than Biology or Chemistry. I ended up doing Computer Engineering due to my earlier curiosity about computers."

• How was your training at Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology beneficial to the birth of Nandimobile?

"It was a great learning environment that gave me the chance to experiment and learn a lot from others. I called it an enabling environment. It was not really about what was being taught but it was a great place to realize what my peers and other people have achieved. I got motivated to reach those heights or do better.

I also got the chance to form a partnership with equally talented people to start Nandimobile. I might not have met them or known about them anywhere else.

For me, it was a great place to learn about the business of software. There is nothing better than the experience because it gave me a head start to what to expect in pursuing a business.

The initial investment from them was kind of the validation to us that someone else also believed in our idea and we could make it work."

• What does Nandimobile offer nationally, and globally?

"Nandimobile seeks to bridge the gap between companies and their customers. We believe the mobile phone is a very powerful tool which can be used not just for communication with friends and loved ones but also serves as a great platform to get organizations closer and more involved with their customers. By using mobile apps and one of the most widely used mobile technologies (SMS), we create more customer centric businesses in Ghana and across the world."

• What are some of the challenges you have had to deal with?

"There are a lot of challenges not just in building software but also in running a business in Ghana. I will comment on two personal challenges.

One has been my personality, I was used to being a laid back person and it came across to some people as incompetence or not being confident. I have being working on being more present but still maintaining who I am.  In business you cannot just mind your own business and ignore what people think of you. You would have to work on projecting yourself well to everyone.

The second challenge has been getting the right talent on board. There are a few well trained people straight out of school. The best trained ones find more security in working for a bigger company. As a startup you would have to do a lot of training to get people to the level you need them to be. The training period eats up a lot of time and resources that could have been used in going to the next level."

• What has been the most significant phase of your career?

"The most significant phase for me was moving from reading and learning about all these great entrepreneurs to actually running a business. There is a big difference. Experience is always the best teacher. I have a learnt a lot from going through this process of moving an idea into a company. It has brought out the best and the worst in me."

• In your opinion, how can Technology help Ghana?

"There is a lot technology can be used for in Ghana. I would not limit technology to just software; technology covers a lot more. Technology is building tools and solutions to solve problems or make something more efficient or easily accessible. Ghana needs to be more innovative in creating solutions for our problems. Technology can be used to change almost every industry.

In agriculture which is our biggest industry, technology in general can be used to broadcast and teach better farming principles and also keep the farmers involved of new trends to improve that industry. More affordable farm implements could also be built for our climate if we are to take technology more seriously.

There is a big problem of access to up-to-date data and statistics in all industries. It is quite difficult for businesses to forecast or make predictions due to this problem. Technology can be used to gather this data in a more inclusive and accessible way.

Every industry could be better if we apply more innovation to technology to suit our peculiar needs."

• How can Ghana support the emergence of women in Technology?

"Technology is a male dominated career all over the world. To get more women we need to make the few ones who are involved more visible so that other women may consider it as an option and be motivated to take up the challenge. These role models could also put it upon themselves to train, develop and mentor at least one woman to get into technology. Programs could also be organized to raise more awareness and offer training. From then we can invest in the talents we create in women."

• There are so many young women looking up to you. Any advice for them on how to start a career in Technology?

"Find your passion and what you are good at. Learn and read a lot on it and just do it. Sometimes we over-analyze and it paralyses our ideas. Ideas are nothing if they are not implemented.  Ideas and visions are always clearer when you start implementing them."

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