Africa: Careers in Technology

“Should I go open source?”

Contributing to open-source projects can be a really beneficial way for those with little professional experience to gain ‘visibility’ and ‘exposure’ within the technology field. It is like building a portfolio, you can really show any potential employers what you can do by contributing to some of the pivotal open-source projects that exist.

However, I would also advise these newcomers to be mindful of empty promises and companies that might say they are creating an ‘open-source’ project, but in fact are then using it to take advantage of free labour by making money from the product later.

What do we mean by open-source? It is any code that can be used and modified freely by anyone on the internet. However, it isn’t just any code that anybody writes. To be an open-source project, you need to have an open-source license.

Make open-source programming just one part of your game. Use it to get your name out there, but don’t sit waiting for a company to come shower you with money. Use it as an opportunity to gain experience, build a portfolio and demonstrate your skills. And if a company decides to employ you - then you’re lucky!

Making it on the global scene as a young African technologist

The key thing is to focus on developing your skill, becoming good at what you do, and staying focussed on your path. If networking is your thing, then stay focussed on it and keep on top of any new technologies and frameworks that will grow you within the networking field. For example, these days with cloud computing, your networking skills (which were previously best used for local networks) can be taken to a whole new level, like in cloud networking.

There is huge potential within Africa itself, without needing to look at other markets for answers. The best advice I can give people is rather than spending all of your young years desperately trying to win a job in a global company, see what difference you can make within technology in your country or region.

We are already seeing the growth and success of commercial African apps, from payments to delivery services. Within The Gambia, we see apps like TayBullPay, KashMa, and Chopser. The market in Africa is growing, and it is best that African people capitalise on that first, before other international players take over the scene. More importantly, however, African people need to use this key moment as an opportunity to learn high quality business practices and develop technology businesses that will make Africa leaders on the scene.

What makes a good business?

For many people who start businesses, their main focus is profitability. I would argue that this can work in the short term, but to make a robust, sustainable business, profitability is only the 4th or 5th factor on the list. Before you even start the business, you need to bring the correct mindset - a sharp focus on your customers, and on sustainability.

When you make customers the focus, you make sure that the business you develop is one that people actually need, and will therefore stay loyal to and keep coming back to. You build trusting relationships with these people, which will help grow your business over the long-term much more than giveaways and costly advertising initiatives.

Sustainability as a core focus is undeniably one of the most important parts of business that will last. We can talk about financial sustainability, in the context of having diverse income streams and strong mechanisms from the beginning that ensure that you won’t go bust after your initial funding rounds. However, we can extend the sustainability principle to look at how you manage your people (do you want your employees to be happy and healthy and stay with you for years, or to run after 6 months because of the exhausting conditions?), how we impact the business ecosystem (are we coming in fast to take over a market share?) and what factors we consider when creating our products (environmental, community and so on).

Though this may sound in opposition to traditional thinking around business, especially within the technology field these considerations are more important than any - we are now seeing the results of what happens when technology companies are left unregulated. Which brings us back to the topic of open-source technology.

The open-source mindset

A very animated discussion at the Civo Navigate conference on the state of open-source programming today, brought attention to some very important points about the consequences of different approaches to technology businesses. Open-source started with some key principles: maintaining a healthy and active community, being wholeheartedly transparent with information and materials, working in a totally collaborative environment, and being inclusive in its practices whilst also recognising and distinguishing quality programmers.

However, with the growth of technology and the accessibility of starting technology businesses, many of these principles have been taken over by commercial interests. Open-source programmers who have in the past continued maintaining projects without expectation of return, are now questioning why they are doing this when companies are profiting off their time.

My advice to any new technologists would be to see their career within technology as different pathways:

1. You can develop your own projects and contribute to open-source projects as a way of building your portfolio and skill, your personal brand. This can assist you in whatever you choose to do within technology.
2. You can take part in training and education programmes and apply for jobs within the technology market, though be aware that many of the global jobs are difficult to access for the average African.
3. You can create your own businesses, by providing IT services or developing a tech product that meets the needs of the consumer. This is one of the best pathways to support the long-term growth of technology in Africa.

Each of these pathways doesn’t guarantee anything except that you will level up in your skills and knowledge, and have a better chance of reaching your career goals. You can try each pathway and see which one suits you, though I would be wary of trying them all at once. And every step of the way, you should always remember that community is one of the most important ways you will reach success in the field - sitting alone with your computer will only get you so far. With community, you build not only your understanding, but also your network so you can start your business or find a job.

A final note - make sure you set up a LinkedIn and make it pop. You can check mine out here.

Author

Zaira Rasool is the Founder of Coderoots, on a mission to provide digital access and technology education to those that need it most. The majority of Coderoots’ work is focused on providing access to resources that will allow people to create their own pathways within technology and succeed in their careers as well as provide opportunities for their country. She is a Software Engineer with a decade’s experience in community development. Find out more on Instagram and via this video.