Adele, an Accounts Manager for Banks who joined Cellulant in July 2020, is a tenacious, versatile team player who is resourceful and dedicated the purpose. To her there are no impossibilities in life.
What attracted you to Cellulant?
When searching for an industry with growth prospects, I discovered fintech was one of them. So when I heard about the opening in Cellulant I wanted to be part of a company which is relevant now and in the future because of the role they play. My curiosity then led me to find out what Cellulant is all about. I discovered an African company which is determined to change the story of Africa by ensuring that Africa’s digital transformation is home brewed to solve the unique digital payment problems.
I thought to myself if this company is solving Africa’s digital payment problems, I wanted to be part of a mission that is creating transformation in Africa so I was sold.
Where and what did you study in university?
I studied Biological Science with a Major in Chemistry as a Bachelor of Science degree in the University of Cape Coast. Cape Coast the first capital City of Ghana is on the coast line of Ghana where the castles and forts built by British colonial masters are situated and was a major destination for the historic slave trade in Ghana.
What drives you?
Hope, Faith and the knowledge that someone depends on me for one thing or the other;
- Hope that one day I will get to my destination and achieve my goal
- Faith that I will surely get there and that I should never give up.
- Knowing that someone needs me to achieve a goal always gives me a kick.
What drove you towards Sales given your background in Chemistry?
For me I have always felt sales is intrinsic, a calling to tell someone about something, I see no reason why not to recommend something I have or have seen that will be beneficial to someone. That is the beginning of convincing someone that you have something they need.
However, I once met a woman called Margaret Mwanakatwe, a former CEO of Barclays Bank Ghana who demystified sales and presented it as the lifeline to an organization. My very first corporate sale in the bank was induced by her.
What would you say has been the most exciting part of the job?
- When I am able to pull resources together to resolve a service issue a customer is experiencing in the shortest possible time. This is exciting because the client builds trust in me and my company.
- When I am in a monthly review meeting and the customer has no queries or reports and no problems with the service I am rendering for the business.
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What’s the one problem you are solving for clients in this market?
I speak to my client and the general feedback I get is that each of them wants to be ahead of the competition by providing their customers with seamless, simple easy to integrate digital products which will promote stickiness of customers to their existing channels/products and attract new ones. That is the problem I solve by providing them with payment products like the Digital Payment Acquiring which will make a major difference in the way they collect and make payments. The problem I am solving is increasing client’s digital users from 60K to 100K in a year.
Will clients meet their revenue target for the year? Yes.
Are their customers happy using a seamless service? Yes
Problem solved!
What has been the most rewarding moment?
It has got to be my confirmation as a permanent staff member at Cellulant.
Six months after joining Cellulant I went through a review with my first line manager. According to her, I had done well during my probation period considering my background (Chemistry). I was really excited, I must say.
What has been the greatest challenge/learning opportunity about the job?
Working with Mobile Network Operators has been an important encounter in my daily job in my market because it has given me the opportunity to learn about their requirement for services consumed at Cellulant i.e. their speed and style of communication and the urgency with which they handle issue is something I am still coming to terms with.
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Can you describe your professional Journey in 150 words?
DREAM
I did not make medical school so I landed in biological science with chemistry as a major with the hope to one day create unique jewelry from combinations of metals on the periodic table or prepare wines or fragrances in the lab or even create detonators for the mining industry.
FINDING MY WAY
My first job after school was in the lab at Guinness Ghana Breweries then in search for a permanent job. I landed in Barclays Ghana Limited as a Tiller and Treasury Assistant. I later joined Mediareach OMD a multinational media agency to manage their FMCG brands like Indomie, Olam, Vodafone, Diageo, etc.
JUST PASSION
When I heard about an opening at Cellulant, I had no experience in telecommunication nor fintech, I only had a passion and a can-do spirit to stand up to the challenge of managing digital payment services for existing banks in the market and acquiring new business in the banking sector. It has been a short but challenging year and I have loved every bit of it because I have grown through the hurdles.
Who has been the biggest influence in your career & why?
Mama….my mother never attended university or college but she understands and appreciates the importance of moving with changing times. At age 55, she took up the challenge of taking a professional course just so that she can move to the next rank at the Government institution where she worked. She believes one must always move out of their comfort zone because when you start getting comfortable you start to go down. I have learnt from her that I must not have limitations in life, it is better to try and fail than not to try at all.
What do you love most about working at Cellulant?
- Cellulant gives me a sense of belonging, an environment where I don’t feel used, but rather my talents and abilities are harnessed.
- A place where growth is unlimited
- A place where everyone is exposed to the limitless possibilities of becoming something great…and it is fantastic!
How do you want to be remembered?
For my being active, helpful and collaborative in nature and finally for my tenacity.
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In your own words, what does Cellulant want to do in Africa and why is that inspirational for you?
For millions of Africans, life is hard and short because there is poverty and many do not have access to life’s basic needs because we have always depended on the global community for science and technology.
Cellulant is changing the narrative by building circles of trust through the power of connection. We believe in connecting all stakeholders in order to amplify our collective power from merchants, banks to consumers from Ghana to Zambia and everything in between, from Africa to the rest of the world. I am inspired to be a part of this journey because we are setting a strong foundation for digital payments locally and for the continent.
